The Last One Eliminated

Summary

There were eight of us in the department. Only seven spots remained.

The voting results were in. Seven votes, all pointing directly at me.

Valerie held the tally sheet up for the entire room to see. She took a red marker, circled my name twice, and pinned the paper to the whiteboard.

A relieved, triumphant smile spread across her face. She looked right at me, asking if I had any objections to being the one eliminated.

I glanced around the conference table. Brittany was staring intently at her phone, pretending to be busy. Phillip was looking up at the ceiling tiles.