Last week, my coworker asked if I could swap my vacation dates with hers.
I told her I’d already booked everything and assumed that was the end of it.
But the very next day, my boss called me into an unexpected meeting and said, “I’ve been asked to reconsider the vacation schedule. Can you be flexible?”
I blinked in surprise. “Flexible how?”
He clasped his hands like a teacher about to reprimand a student. “Marina’s father is having surgery next week. She mentioned that if you could move your vacation to next month, it would really help her out.”
I was taken aback. Marina hadn’t said a word about her father’s health. She’d only talked about surprising her partner with a trip to Miami. I even remember her browsing hotel options during a Zoom call.
I opened my mouth to respond, then shut it.
Was she being dishonest? Or was I overreacting?
“I’ve already bought non-refundable tickets,” I finally explained. “My sister’s flying in from Vancouver to meet me. This isn’t just me being difficult — it’s been on my calendar for months.”
He nodded slowly. “I get it. But sometimes, we need to support each other as a team.”
I left the office feeling like I’d been scolded for refusing to donate an organ.
That evening, I called my sister Tala. “Is it really so wrong to say no to swapping vacation? It feels like a moral failing now.”
She laughed. “You’re talking to the wrong sister. I once hid a chocolate bar in Mom’s boots and pretended it melted. You’re fine.”
Her words grounded me a bit.
Still, something didn’t sit right.
So the next day, I asked Marina directly, “I heard your dad’s having surgery next week. Hope he’s okay?”
She hesitated and looked away. “Yeah… it’s complicated. Nothing serious. He just needs some support.”
Her tone didn’t match her words. It was the kind of vague answer people give when they’re hiding something.
That night, I did something I’m not proud of — I checked her Instagram.
Her latest story showed her relaxing at a resort in Cabo. Not next week, but right now.
There she was, with the beach behind her, clinking drinks with her partner.
Surgery? Yeah, right.
I screenshot the post and stared at it for hours. I wasn’t ready to send it to my boss yet.
But the next day at work, when my boss asked again about being flexible, I said, “Marina’s on a beach in Cabo. I saw it on her public Instagram. So I’m guessing her dad’s doing better?”
His expression went blank. “Cabo?”
“Yes, Cabo.”
That afternoon, Marina suddenly claimed she had food poisoning and left early.
Two days later, she was “working remotely” from an unknown location.
Here’s the twist.
I took my vacation as planned. Tala and I met in Sedona, and the trip was incredible. We hiked, stargazed, and had deep conversations like we hadn’t had in years.
On our third day, at a roadside diner, the waitress handed us the bill — and I recognized the name on her tag.
It was Marina’s mom.
I froze.
I said nothing, but once we got to the car, I looked Marina up again.
Turns out, Marina grew up nearby. Her parents divorced when she was thirteen. Her mom never remarried, and her dad lives in Florida.
Suddenly it all made sense. Marina wasn’t lying about her dad. She just wasn’t planning to care for him. She likely used his situation as a shield.
She could’ve just asked for the time off. Maybe she feared judgment for putting herself first. Maybe she thought no one would approve without a crisis.
When I returned to work, I didn’t confront her or mention a thing. But something inside me changed.
We all want understanding, but sometimes we hide behind stories instead of honesty because we’re afraid to hear “no.”
So now, I choose honesty. Last week when I needed a half day, I simply told my boss, “I need some mental space.”
He said yes. No questions asked.
Sometimes, that’s all it takes.
Life lesson? You don’t need a crisis to deserve peace. You just have to believe you’re worthy of it.