PART 22
A year later,
a sudden and unexpected financial crisis hit the country,
affecting many local businesses.
The investment firm where Ryan worked part-time as a consultant announced massive layoffs,
cutting budgets drastically.
Ryan's position was eliminated,
leaving the family without their primary source of income overnight.
It was a test,
a cosmic challenge to see if the old anxiety and anger would return under financial pressure.
Years ago,
a loss of income would have turned Ryan into a monster of stress,
shouting at walls and blaming everyone around him.
On the evening he received the news,
he sat at the kitchen table,
looking at the severance paperwork with a calm expression.
Emma walked in,
having heard the news from his brief phone call earlier.
She sat across from him,
her face tense,
bracing herself for the fallout,
remembering how his identity used to be tied to his bank account.
Ryan looked up,
saw her worry,
and immediately reached out to take her hands.
"Hey,"
he said softly,
a reassuring smile breaking across his face.
"It's just a job,
Emma,
it's just numbers on a piece of paper."
"Are you okay?"
she asked,
scanning his face for hidden panic.
"I am completely fine,"
he answered without hesitation.
"We have savings,
we have your art income,
and most importantly,
we have our health."
He leaned across the table,
kissing her forehead gently,
erasing the fear from her mind.
"We can sell the car if we need to,
we can downsize,
May you like
but as long as we are under the same roof,
we are rich."
