"Hello, Jerry speaking. How can I help you?"

   "Hi Jerry, it's Analya. I'm not going to be able to make it in today. I had an asthma attack today at school," Analya said.

   "Analya, this makes the second day this week. I don't know if I'm going to be able to keep you on much longer," Jerry said.

   "I know Jerry, but I really don't think I would make it through the shift. I know it's frustrating, but please work with me a bit longer. I'm going to call the doctor and see if I can get in this week before work."

   "You can miss tonight, but the next time it happens, I will have to let you go. I'm sorry Analya," Analya listened to the phone click.

   She hung up the phone and looked for her doctor's number. She found it and called the doctor's office. She was able to schedule an appointment for the next day.

   That night she went to bed early. Sam was there, but she barely noticed him. She awoke the next morning and Sam took her to the doctor.

   The doctor put Analya on new medications. They were supposed to help. At least she would be able to go to work that afternoon.

   Although, no one at work would understand what it was like to have an attack, everyone would be asking her. She just didn't know how to explain really well what it was like. The best she could come up with was that it was like having a chain wrapped around you and a sumo wrestler on either end pulling in opposite directions. It was just hard to explain.

   When Analya showed up for work, Jerry wanted to talk to her.

   "Analya, I know what I told you yesterday, but I'm going to have to ask you to decide whether you think you can keep working here or not. Some of your co-workers are starting to feel that I'm giving you special treatment," Jerry informed her.

   "I don't understand. I told you that I would go to the doctor, and I did. I'm on new medications," Analya said confused.

   "I know, but as I said, some of you co-workers feel that you are getting off easy. I'll give you until next week to decide," Jerry said.

   The rest of the night, all Analya could think about was what Jerry had said to her. She really didn't want to give up. She enjoyed her work especially because she got to help people out. She had also been at the store for a year now and she hoped that Jerry had taken that into account. She was really going to have to think about it. Hopefully the medications would help.

   Without this job and the money, how would I pay for school? How would I help out mom and dad? she thought.

   Analya needed the job. She went to school part-time and lived on her own. Her parents needed her help too. Her father was currently in the hospital with pneumonia and who knew when he was going to get out. His health had been failing recently. Her mother wasn't much better either. Her mother couldn't do much on her own due to an accident when she was younger. Analya paid for the nurse that came by her parents two days a week to check in. She also bought groceries every week, not only for herself, but for her mom too. Analya could get by on ramen and soda, but her mom needs the food. Analya's pay wasn't much, but what she did get, she put to good use.

   She decided to talk it over with Sam over the phone that night.

   "Maybe he's right Analya. Maybe you're just taking on too much and Jerry is starting to realize that," Sam said.

   "He might be right, but I don't want to give up. I've never given up on anything. Besides, what would my parents do if I wasn't able to take care of them?" Analya asked.

   "I don't know, hun. I do think that you're spreading yourself too thin. Maybe you should cut back on volunteering at the shelter. Instead of being there each Saturday, volunteer one Saturday a month."

   "And what about holidays? Plus, I would feel that I'm letting them down."

   "You could still work the holidays. I know you would, but it might be what you need to let them down a bit so that you can work. It's either that or give up school," Sam said.

   "No, I will not do that. I guess I'm going to have to think about it. Thanks for you help, Sam. Night," Analya said.

   Analya hung up the phone and went to bed.

   A week went pass and Analya went into work. She had been there a couple of nights, and things seemed to work out. She was able to stay both nights and the new meds seemed to be working. She decided that she was going to keep the job. She had to take care of her parents and it was her last year of school before she got her Bachelor's Degree in writing. Her dream was to be a published writer. To get there, she needed this job to help her pay for school.

   On her next workday, she went up to Jerry and said, "I want to continue working here. I will do everything in my power to be at work everyday." He said with a smile, "Alright, Analya."

   Analya cut back her time at the shelter and made an agreement with her doctor to come in once a month for a check up. From then on, Analya was able to be at work everyday. She became stronger and was able to eventually get off of some of the medications. Her lungs became stronger because she wasn't under as much stress as before. She excelled at both work and school, and that spring she graduated with honors. She helped her mother after her father died of pneumonia. She set up for the nurse to be there four days a week instead of two and Analya checked in more often. She also wrote a book about her asthma and how to deal with it.

   It started off with:

When I was 24, I almost lost my job because