It wasn't really anything new, was it?
And it didn't even feel strange when you saw it happening right before your eyes. It had become a norm at some point- something met with a good laugh, an indulgent smile, an acknowledgment of how adorable it all was.
Even with all the evolving evidences around us, and people still fighting to break the gender-role stereotypes. Yet a six-year-old girl dreaming of her wedding day and cradling baby dolls to nurture, is hardly a wake-up call that we all wanted a fairy tale at some point in our lives.
So where did it all go, ladies?
"Let me stop you right there, Amy!"
Ms. Caryn said after dropping the paper carrying the hot topic for discussion and rose from her station before walking toward Amy, who stood by the door- un-bothered to an infuriating degree.
"You think feminism is a joke?" Ms. Caryn asked, struggling to repress her anger and disappointment. Amy was a girl she had personally trained for the job. She should have known better than to even suggest Ms Caryn would back her up on that.
"You think if all those working women before you had just gotten married and popped out babies at home, you'd be here right now? Enjoying your work, connecting with people, earning your keep- having a life?"
"That's not my intention and you know it," Winnie spoke for the angry signing Amy. "This is a media! We don't pick a side nor hide a fact. We show it how it's seen and trust the people to work on the rest"
Ms. Caryn snorted. "So what is it then? To lose viewers? Or gain haters, darling?"
"I intend to listen," Amy countered, her blood pressure rising. "When I introduced this talk show five years ago and said that it's going to be provoking- what was your comment on it?"
"If it ain't broken, why tempt the cracks," Ms. Caryn replied, visibly embarrassed. Amy had proven the entire country wrong. The show's success had skyrocketed so dramatically it earned its own TV channel.
Who knew- the elephant in the room, was a sexy name to people of all kinds.
"And this is five years later. Still the people's choice," Amy pressed. "Can you trust me enough to run this idea by my team first? If they say no, we'll switch to women in politics for Mother's Day."
Ms. Caryn exhaled. "Fine. That's settled. Now…" Her tone softened. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking," Amy signed awkwardly. Lying to your Boss/bestfriend that you've a family emergency on her son's wedding could do that to a person.
Ms. Caryn was too observant- or maybe Amy was just painfully obvious.
"For your information," Ms. Caryn added casually, "I paid for the wedding, and I want you there as my plus one."
Amy chuckled. If only Ms. Caryn knew the real reason why Amy refused to go.
"So you hate your daughter-in-law so much that you want her to meet me tipsy on a Saturday afternoon?" Amy teased.
Ms. Caryn laughed. "She's a lovely girl. She just could've done better in finding a man."
"Ouch, boss- that's your son that you just burned there" Amy signed, and Ms. Caryn doubled over in laughter before feigning a pout.
"That's why she should've believed me!"
"You're crazy," Amy said with a smile, "and she's lucky to have you as a mother."
What Amy didn't say was how much she had always imagined them as mother and daughter-in-law- duo.
"Don't tell Christina this," Ms. Caryn said quietly, "but I always thought you'd be Jonathan's wife someday. With how close you two were."
"Well," Amy signed lightly, "too bad I've heard him talk."
"Too bad he's an idiot" Agreed Ms Caryn with a sad sigh.
"Happy Mother's day, Boss" Signed Amy with a smile earning Ms Caryn's tired gaze, "Thank you, dear,"
Amy waved goodbye and left the office with Winnie on tow. She had never been good at faking emotions. One second longer with Ms. Caryn, and she would've spilled- half a lifetime of secrets into the open.
Who would understand that with a single no to a ring, she lost a partner, her best friend, and her passion for work?
"I still think resigning after tonight's show is a dick move," Winnie said as they walked toward the studio.
"Oh yeah? Well, I'm a dick," Amy replied, rolling her eyes. "Christina studied for this shit. They'll be fine."
"So I'm fired?" Winnie asked, scanning the set- taking it all in, just in case. Everyone loved and respected them. And that made it worse.
"It means you're ready to produce a show," Amy signed, before handing Winnie her own ID.
"What about you?" Winnie asked surprised, not taking it.
"I'll be offline," Amy signed. "So don't bother looking for me."
When it was obvious that Winnie wasn't receptive of the promotion, Amy dropped the ID and stormed out.
She had been fine before Jonathan.
She would be fine again.
And first things first- relocation.