The winner of our current Short Story Competition is published in the July|August issue of Irish Country Magazine. This story came in second place and was written by Sinéad Nolan.
The fluorescent lights of Sterling & Stern hummed with a monotonous buzz, a soundtrack to Amelia’s daily torment.
At 36, she was a meticulous accountant, her spreadsheets a testament to her precision and dedication. Yet, for the past five years, her manager, Richard, had chipped away at her confidence like a relentless sculptor, each cruel remark a deliberate strike.
“Amelia, darling,” he’d sneer, his voice dripping with false sweetness, “did you actually pass your accounting exams, or did they just feel sorry for you?” The laughter of his cronies would echo around the open-plan office, each chuckle a tiny shard piercing Amelia’s already fragile self-esteem.
He’d publicly dismiss her ideas in meetings, attributing them to other team members later. He’d overload her with last-minute tasks, knowing she’d stay late, her evenings dissolving into a blur of numbers and resentment. He’d scrutinise her every comma, every decimal point, magnifying minor errors into monumental failures.
Amelia had tried to ignore it, to bury herself in her work, but the constant barrage of negativity was a corrosive acid, eating away at her spirit. She’d started having trouble sleeping, the taunts replaying in her mind like a broken record. Her once vibrant personality had dimmed, replaced by a hesitant quietness.
The annual Sterling & Stern corporate Away Day was usually something Amelia dreaded, a forced march into awkward team-building exercises and strained social interactions. This year, however, it was being held at “Adventure Ascend,” an outdoor activity centre nestled in the Wicklow Mountains. A wave of anxiety washed over Amelia as the email announcement landed in her inbox. The thought of navigating obstacle courses and pretending to enjoy forced camaraderie with Richard and his sycophants filled her with dread.
On the day itself, the air was crisp and carried the scent of pine. The Sterling & Stern team, a motley crew in ill-fitting tracksuits, gathered nervously as a cheerful instructor named Liam outlined the day’s activities. Amelia kept to the fringes, hoping to remain invisible.
The first few activities were predictably awkward. Amelia fumbled during the “trust fall,” feeling a surge of panic as she leaned back, only to be caught by a pair of unfamiliar hands. During the “human knot,” Richard made a pointed comment about her “inability to untangle even the simplest of problems,” earning him the usual smattering of sycophantic laughter.
Lunch was a quiet affair for Amelia. She sat alone, picking at a soggy sandwich, the sounds of her colleagues’ forced merriment a dull hum in the background. She considered faking illness to get out of the afternoon’s main event: the “Summit Challenge,” a team-based trek to a scenic viewpoint, involving some light rock scrambling.
Liam, noticing Amelia’s isolation, approached her. “Everything alright?” he asked, his eyes kind.
Amelia hesitated. “Just… not really an outdoorsy person,” she mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
Liam smiled gently. “It’s not about being an expert climber, Amelia. It’s about working together, supporting each other. You might surprise yourself.”
Reluctantly, Amelia joined the group as they began the ascent. The initial part of the trek was relatively easy, a winding path through the trees. But as they climbed higher, the terrain became more challenging, the path steeper and rockier.
Richard, predictably, took the lead, barking orders and criticising anyone who wasn’t keeping up his pace. Amelia struggled, her lack of confidence manifesting as physical awkwardness. She stumbled on loose stones, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
“Come on, Amelia, try to keep up,” Richard called back impatiently, rolling his eyes at his cronies. “Wouldn’t want you holding up the ‘real’ team.”
His words, though familiar, stung more in this exposed environment. Amelia felt a familiar wave of humiliation wash over her. She wanted to disappear, to melt into the rugged landscape.
Suddenly, as she reached for a handhold, a loose rock shifted beneath her weight. She gasped, her footing lost. For a terrifying moment, she dangled precariously, her fingers scrabbling for purchase on the unforgiving stone.
Panic seized her. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the fall.
Then, she felt a strong hand grip hers.
“Grab on!” It was Sarah from Marketing, a woman Amelia barely knew. Her grip was firm, her face etched with concern.
Another hand joined Sarah’s – it was Mark from IT, a quiet man who usually kept to himself. Together, they held her steady.
“Take a deep breath, Amelia,” Sarah said calmly. “Just try to find a foothold below you.”
Slowly, painstakingly, Amelia followed their instructions. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but the steady presence of their hands gave her a sliver of courage. Finally, her foot found a solid rock. With their combined strength, Sarah and Mark pulled her back to safety.
Amelia leaned against the rock face, trembling, her breath catching in her throat. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Sarah smiled warmly. “No problem at all. That’s what we do, right? Teamwork.”
Mark nodded in agreement.
Richard, who had been several metres ahead, finally noticed the commotion. He sauntered back, a look of mild annoyance on his face. “Honestly, Amelia, some of us are trying to get to the top. Try to be more careful.”
But something had shifted. The small act of genuine support from Sarah and Mark had created a subtle but significant change in the dynamic. For the first time, Richard’s words didn’t land with their usual crushing weight.
As they continued the ascent, the terrain remained challenging, but now Amelia didn’t feel so alone. Sarah stayed close, offering encouragement and pointing out secure footholds. Mark, surprisingly agile, helped her navigate a particularly tricky section.
Even some of Richard’s usual allies seemed to have been affected by the incident. They offered small gestures of help, a steadying hand here, a word of encouragement there. It was as if the shared experience of Amelia’s near-fall had stripped away the superficial layers of office politics, revealing a basic human empathy.
When they finally reached the viewpoint, the panoramic vista of the Wicklow Mountains spread out before them, breathtaking in its beauty. Amelia stood slightly apart, still feeling a little shaky, but a quiet sense of gratitude warmed her.
Sarah came over and stood beside her. “Amazing view, isn’t it?”
Amelia nodded, a genuine smile touching her lips. “It is.”
Richard, puffing slightly, joined them. “Well, we made it. Despite some… setbacks.” He glanced pointedly at Amelia. But this time, Sarah didn’t laugh. Mark, standing nearby, cleared his throat softly. The usual chorus of agreement was absent.
On the descent, Amelia found herself walking alongside Sarah and Mark. They talked easily, about their families, their hobbies, their lives outside the confines of Sterling & Stern. Amelia found herself opening up, sharing small anecdotes she usually kept hidden. She even managed a few jokes, and Sarah and Mark laughed genuinely.
As they boarded the bus back to the city, Amelia sat next to Sarah. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “For helping me back there.”
Sarah squeezed her arm. “We’re a team, Amelia. Even if Richard sometimes forgets that.”
Mark, sitting in the seat in front of them, turned around and offered a small, shy smile.
The change wasn’t dramatic. Richard remained Richard. But something had shifted within Amelia, and perhaps, subtly, within the team dynamic. She noticed small acts of solidarity – a shared glance between Sarah and Mark when Richard made a particularly cutting remark, a colleague offering to help her with a heavy file.
The Summit Challenge hadn’t magically transformed her into a confident extrovert, but it had shown her that even in the most unlikely of places, among people she thought were indifferent, there was the potential for connection, for support, for belonging. Amelia still had a long way to go in reclaiming her confidence, but for the first time in a long time, she felt a flicker of hope. She was finally starting to feel like one of the team.
You can read the winning short story in the July|August issue of Irish Country Magazine, in shops now. Click here for details on how to enter our Sept|Oct competition.
