The Escapist

So I quit my job today.

I was fully planning on sticking in there until the company crashed (and it will), but I was accused of something I did not do. Trying to avoid histrionics here, but in short, we're talking humiliation and defamation of character. I gave my two weeks. They kicked me out today instead (while giving me my two weeks' pay, which was nice of them)...I filed a hostile work environment complaint with HR on the way out.

And that is that.

I am free.

So. I have a new apartment in OC. I need to get insurance. I have some savings, and obviously I can dig into that freelance gig while trying to find something else. I'm thinking part-time...or hopefully I can spring this into freelancing. I desperately want to be my own boss, for once, not answering to anyone but me.

And so let it be.

I feel slightly directionless right now. My friends there are furious with how it turned out. I myself am not very amused. I told my bosses flat out they had the wrong girl...but I am not sticking around in a place where HIGHER-UPS perpetuate rumors. I have more self-respect than that.

I did call my parents before I did it, asking if they would help me financially if I needed it. They said yes. What got to them, I think, was my boss calling out the "bad apples" of the group while looking at me and my friend.

"Mom, he called me a bad apple."

She started shrieking in the middle of the supermarket.

"GET OUT OF THERE," she said. "THAT IS IT."

I have complained bitterly about this place for over a year. I have stayed there because it's the right thing to do - unemployment is high, things are crazy, but at some point enough is enough. Life is too short to wonder about your relationship, and it's also too damned short to waste it in a cesspit of misery like that.

Now I just have to figure out how the hell to do things.

I'm going to apply to part-time work and freelance gigs. I'm going to polish up my novel and submit it. And I'm going to work hard at the gig I already have. It alone won't pull out the same funding as the day job, but...it's something.

I am in the process of writing up a report that I may file with the EOC. I almost just want to ignore the crap and be done with it, but serious shit went down at that company - is still going down - and maybe it doesn't hurt to notify the right authorities.

In the meantime, I'm officially my own boss.

And it feels damn good.