It was a normal Wednesday morning filled with emails and departmental meetings. Before my bi-monthly one-on-one with my boss, I passed my desk to collect a report that I planned to share like I regularly do when we meet. However, as soon as I walked into my director’s office I knew something was off. The report would wait. Seated on her couch, her appearance was solemn and emotionally constricted. A moment later I learned why.

I was being laid off. Ugh.