Simone's Story | Chapter 2 - Where Do I Go From Here

The weeks blurred into one another. Nothing had changed for Simone. If anything, she felt more disconnected from herself and her work - a territory she had never experienced before.

Through journaling, she had begun to notice patterns. She had identified areas that needed to change. It brought her a sense of comfort, stopping her thoughts from spiralling out of control.

At lunchtime, Simone sat in her usual coffee spot, watching people pass by, each absorbed in their own world. She wondered what it would feel like to be free. Free from the constraints that left her feeling this way.

She let herself drift into a familiar fantasy. Standing in front of her own team. A team she had built. A team aligned with her vision and ambitions. The excitement rose within her, so vivid it almost felt real. How she wished it was her reality.

She ate her lukewarm jacket potato slowly, delaying the inevitable return to the office.

Rising from her seat, she glanced up at the cloudy sky. It felt as though the grey followed her wherever she went. She longed for a silver lining.

Five minutes later, she was back at the office.

In the lift, her anxiety began to creep in. No. This isn’t right. The doors opened onto the open-plan office. Simone walked to her office, placing her bag on the chair just as a knock sounded against her door. Richard stood there.

“Can I have a word?” he asked.

“Yeah, sure,” Simone replied.

“In my office.” He motioned for her to follow. Uneasy, Simone followed him inside.

“Shut the door, please,” he said. She did, then took a seat by the window, waiting. “Is everything okay with you, Simone?” Richard asked.

“Yeah… why do you ask?”

“Well, we’ve noticed a dip in performance. You seem slightly disconnected. The team has picked up on it. So I thought I’d ask what the problem is.”

“Everything is fine,” Simone replied automatically. The words felt hollow, more appeasement than truth. Then something shifted. “Actually… no. No, everything isn’t okay.” She paused. “How long have I worked for you, Richard?”

“Seven… coming up to eight years.”

“And how has my work been, in your opinion?”

“You’re one of our best.”

“Then why -” her voice sharpened, “ - was I bypassed for that promotion? A role I’ve effectively been doing for over a year?”

Richard hesitated. “We… we decided to bring in some fresh blood. A different perspective.”

“A boy half my age? With barely any experience?” Simone leaned forward. “And yet you expect me to train him?” There was silence. “Do you remember the idea he presented in the last meeting? The one you praised?” She held his gaze. “That was my idea. I brought it to you months ago. You dismissed it.”

Richard shifted uncomfortably. “This is a team effort, Simone.”

“Really?” she replied. “And where exactly do I fit into this ‘team’ now?”

“You’re a valued member. We just need you to re-engage. Reignite that spark that made you stand out.”

“Valued?” She let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “How am I supposed to do that when I don’t feel valued? My contributions are overlooked, and I’ve clearly hit the ceiling here. And let’s be honest… this isn’t just about me. It’s a pattern. Especially for women.”

“That’s not true,” Richard said quickly. “Opportunities are open to everyone. Equal chance. You just have to keep trying.”

“And yet women still struggle to progress.”

His expression didn’t change. That told her everything.

“Right,” Simone said, standing. “If that’s your answer, I have work to do.”

“I do hope we see the old Simone return,” Richard added. “Otherwise, we’ll need to start monitoring your performance.”

Simone looked at him, something hard flashing in her eyes before she softened it into something almost polite.

“Yes, sir,” she said coolly. “Because clearly, my thoughts and feelings don’t matter. Just the outcomes, right?” She turned and walked out.

Simone stormed back to her desk, dropping her notebook with a sharp thud.

“Monitoring me? For what?” she muttered.

The company had always been male-dominated and outcome-driven. People weren’t valued - they were numbers on a payroll. As long as they performed, nothing else mattered.

Women rose to a certain level… and stopped.

Team building consisted of pub gatherings where women often felt like outsiders.

Until now, Simone had believed she was the exception. That her hard work would be recognised. She saw it clearly now. She wasn’t valued. She was replaceable.

And that was the moment it clicked. It was time to leave. She didn’t know where she was going yet - but she knew staying would only breed resentment.

That evening, she waited at home for Leonard, getting ready to meet the girls.

The front door opened.

“Hey, Sim. Meeting the girls?” Leonard called.

“Yeah,” she replied, applying the final touches to her makeup. “How was your day?”

“Not bad. We had a meeting with Neill’s Communications. Might lead to a partnership.”

“That sounds great,” she smiled. “Fingers crossed.”

“And you?”

She hesitated. “Not great. I got called into the boss’s office. Apparently, my performance has dipped. Honestly… I’m struggling with motivation. They don’t value me. I’m seriously thinking about leaving.”

“Well… what else would you do?” Leonard shrugged. “It’s not like you need to work. We’re fine. You could just relax a bit.”

Simone turned sharply. “That’s not the point.”

“I didn’t mean - ”

“You met me when I was ambitious. Independent. That’s what you liked about me.” Her voice tightened. “Then life happened. Kids. Responsibilities. I adapted. I took that job because it fit our life - but it was never my dream.” She held his gaze. “You know I’ve always wanted to start my own business. And now the kids are grown… maybe this is my time.”

Leonard frowned slightly. “Do you really want to start again? At this stage? It’s not easy.”

“I see,” Simone said quietly. “You don’t think I can do it.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It’s exactly what you meant.”

She grabbed her jacket. “I’ll see you later.”

“Simone, we’re not finished -”

“I am.” She paused at the door. “I supported your dream,” she said softly. “It’s a shame you can’t support mine.” Then she left.

The girls were already there, her favourite drink waiting.

“You’re late,” Aisha said.

Simone wrapped her hands around her glass, staring into it before speaking.

“I told Leonard I’m thinking of quitting,” she said. “Starting my own business.”

There was a brief pause.

“And?” Aisha asked.

“He thinks I’m being unrealistic,” Simone replied. “Said it’s not easy… especially now.”

Danielle shook her head. “It’s never ‘not easy’ when it’s their ambition, though, is it?”

Simone gave a faint smile. “I don’t even know if I’m overreacting. Maybe I’ve just built this up in my head.”

Priya leaned forward slightly, her tone calm but deliberate. “Or maybe you’ve been conditioned to question yourself.”

Simone looked up.

Priya continued, “Think about it. We’re raised to be responsible, steady, realistic. To consider everyone else before we make a move. Ambition is fine… as long as it doesn’t disrupt anything.”

Priya nodded. “Especially once you’ve had kids. Then it’s like your role’s already been decided.”

“Exactly,” Aisha said. “It’s not just about confidence. It’s expectations. Social, cultural… all of it. You start editing yourself without even realising.”

That landed heavier than Simone expected.

For years, she had done exactly that.

Adjusted. Compromised. Waited.

“For the right time,” Simone said quietly.

“For permission,” Danielle added.

“For certainty,” Aisha finished.

Simone exhaled slowly. None of it had come.

“What’s actually stopping me?” she asked.

This time, the silence felt different. Intentional.

Then Priya gave a small shrug. “Nothing… except everything you’ve been taught to believe about where you’re supposed to stop.”

Aisha leaned in slightly, her voice softer now.

“So what are you going to do about it?”

That was it. A question she could no longer avoid.

Simone sat back, something shifting into place.

Then, slowly, a smile formed.

“Watch this space.”

Simone felt lighter as the evening settled in. With the girls by her side, she felt more confident about pursuing her dreams. She wasn’t mad or delusional, just clear. For the first time in ages, everything made sense. Sometimes we second-guess ourselves because of what we’ve been told or who we’re expected to be, but that doesn’t, and shouldn’t define us. The girls reminded her: if you have a dream, go for it.

That weekend, Simone opened her journal and began mapping out her exit. For the first time in a long time, she felt excited about the future. Leonard was still hesitant, but he had agreed to support her whatever she decided. As she wrote, something reignited within her. This wasn’t just an idea anymore. It was the beginning of something new. A life she would finally take control of.

Final Thoughts

For Simone, the evening marked more than just a conversation with friends - it was a turning point. Journaling had given her the clarity to recognise patterns in her life and untangle the knots of doubt and frustration. Writing her thoughts down didn’t just stop them from spiralling; it helped her see what she truly wanted and where she needed to take action.

Equally, the support of people who understood her made all the difference. Her friends didn’t judge, didn’t dismiss her ambitions, they reminded her of her worth and encouraged her to trust herself again. Connection, she realised, was a necessity. Being seen, heard, and understood gave her courage to act and resilience to keep going when the world, or even familiar people made her question her own value.

For the first time in a long time, Simone felt both grounded and empowered. With her journal in hand and her circle of support behind her, she was ready to step into the next chapter of her life, on her own terms, guided by her dreams, not the expectations of others.

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