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Dante: “It’s a slow day at the gym.”

He’s replying in regards to a previous message. One that started early this morning before I even went swimming.

Me: “I’m in class.”

That’s all I say as I slide the phone back into the pocket of my jacket.

The professor is mid-sentence when the phone vibrates again.

I don’t reach for it yet. There’s a rhythm to lectures, and interrupting it feels inefficient. I’ve already broken that rule for Dante. Whatever it is, he can wait.

When the lights brighten and Kline announces the end of his lesson, the room exhales as one. Chairs shift, and voices rise, ready to storm the classroom.

I gather my things before reaching into my pocket and pulling out my phone, screen lighting up in my hand.

One new email.

Sender: Phantom Productions.

Phantom Productions… the fuck? My eyes shoot up, scanning the room as if the email came from one of them. The lecture hall buzzes with moving bodies bottlenecking at the door. My gaze falls back down onto my phone.

It’s not hard to recall who and what they are exactly, but what fails me is why they are reaching out. Clearly not for marketing purposes because it fucking states: Interview Request—Photography Position. The words sit there, clean and neutral. All professional with intent.

My jaw tightens, molars grinding so intensely it could turn stone to dust.

“Remember students. You still have one last big assignment for the year. Make it count,” Kline proclaims despite half the class already gone.

I stay seated until the last person disappears, then stand, slinging my bag over my shoulder. The phone’s still tight in my grip as I move towards the door.

Once outside, the air hits cooler, and the campus sounds spread out instead of stacking on top of each other.

I stop under a tree near the parking lot, fully reading the email now.

From: Phantom Productions

Subject: Interview Request – Photography Position

Dear Adrian Summers,

Thank you for your interest in Phantom Productions. After reviewing your portfolio, we would like to invite you to an in-person interview this week to discuss a potential collaboration.

Your work demonstrates a strong command of atmosphere, composition, and narrative under low-light conditions. We believe your background specifically offers a perspective well-suited to the environments we curate.

Photography gigs typically range between $1,200 and $1,800 per event, depending on the scope and coverage required.

Please let us know your availability between Thursday and Saturday.

Best regards,

Recruitment Team

Phantom Productions

What the actual fuck is going on? I lock my phone, shoving it back into my jacket.

The gears in my head start turning in overdrive, scenario after scenario of how Phantom Productions landed in my fucking mailbox, with the idea that I am interested in working for them. My thoughts reach back to that day at the rock-climbing gym. The poster in all its purple, black, and orange glory.

My attention stays folded inward as I cross the parking lot, circling the same point from different angles.