I Lost My Job — Please Help Me Keep a Roof Over My Head INTRODUCTION — WHEN LIFE CHANGES IN A SECOND I never imagined I would one day have to write something like this. I never thought I would be in a position where asking for help was the only option left. Life has a way of humbling you so quietly, so suddenly, and so painfully that you don’t even realize the ground beneath your feet has shifted until you are already falling. Just a few months ago, my life was simple. Not perfect — but stable. I woke up every morning, went to work, budgeted my bills, cooked my meals, and carried on with the quiet certainty that tomorrow would look somewhat like today. I never expected to lose that certainty. I never expected that one phone call… one decision… one unexpected turn… would leave me staring at my ceiling at night, wondering how I will pay rent, how I will buy groceries, and how I will make it through another week. But that is where I am now. This is the story of how my life fell apart piece by piece — and how I am trying, with all the strength I have left, to rebuild it before everything collapses completely. CHAPTER 1 — THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED It started on a Monday morning. A quiet one. I arrived at work the same way I always did — early, with a coffee in my hand, exhausted but grateful for the paycheck that kept my life going. I noticed the tension the moment I walked in. Whispers in the hallway. People avoiding eye contact. A strange heaviness in the air that made my palms sweat. Then my manager called me in. I still remember the look on his face — a mixture of discomfort, guilt, and resignation. “There have been cost cuts,” he said. “We have to let you go.” “It’s not your performance.” “Today is your last day.” The words didn’t feel real. I sat there numb, blinking at him, trying to understand how everything I worked for, everything I depended on, everything I built my daily stability on, could disappear in a 3-minute conversation. I walked out carrying a small cardboard box with my belongings — a notebook, a mug, a plant I had been nurturing for months. People watched me with sympathetic eyes, but no one said anything. I don’t blame them. Nobody ever knows what to say when witnessing someone’s life unravel. When I stepped outside, the morning sun felt unusually harsh. I stood on the sidewalk with my box, my heart heavy, my mind blank, my future suddenly uncertain. That was the moment I realized: I had no plan B. CHAPTER 2 — THE FIGHT TO STAY AFLOAT Losing your job doesn’t hit you all at once. The panic comes slowly, sneaking in after the shock wears off. At first, I tried to stay positive. “I’ll find another job quickly.” “Everything will be fine.” “This is temporary.” I filled out applications until my eyes burned. I checked my email every hour. I refreshed job portals like they were lottery results. But days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. I received rejections. More rejections. Sometimes no response at all. I watched my savings — already small — shrink rapidly. Every bill became heavier. Every grocery purchase felt like an anxious calculation. Rent became a monthly question mark instead of a routine payment. The stress seeped into everything. Sleep became a stranger. Appetite disappeared. My confidence slowly broke apart under the weight of worry. Every “We regret to inform you…” felt like a punch to the stomach. People often say, “Just get any job,” as if jobs grow on trees. They don’t understand the desperation of applying everywhere — from supermarkets to delivery apps — and still hearing nothing back. I wasn’t looking for comfort. I was just looking for survival. CHAPTER 3 — THE LONELINESS OF STRUGGLING IN SILENCE One thing no one tells you about hardship is how lonely it is. It’s not easy to admit you’re struggling. It’s not easy to say, “I can’t afford groceries this week.” It’s not easy to say, “I don’t know how I will pay rent next month.” Friends have their own lives. Family isn’t always able to help. People offer sympathy, but sympathy doesn’t keep the lights on. So you learn to smile even when your heart is heavy. You pretend everything is fine even when everything is falling apart. I learned to survive on one meal a day. I learned to stretch groceries longer than they were meant to last. I learned to cut corners everywhere, even where it hurt. But no matter how much I tried to make things work on my own, life kept tightening around me like a fist. One evening, I sat in the dark because I wanted to save on electricity. I listened to the quiet apartment around me and felt like I was disappearing into my own silence. That was the night I admitted something to myself: I can’t do this alone. I need help. CHAPTER 4 — WHY I AM ASKING FOR HELP NOW I never thought I would turn to fundraising. I always believed I had to figure things out myself. I always felt asking for help was failing. But I now understand something deeply: Sometimes, asking for help is the bravest thing you can do. I am not asking for luxury. I am not asking for comfort. I am asking for survival — temporary support so I don’t lose everything while I am trying to get back on my feet. Your donation will help me with: ✔ Rent for the next 1–2 months ✔ Groceries and essential food items ✔ Utilities like electricity, water, and internet (needed for job applications) ✔ Transportation for interviews Every small amount — even $2, $5, or $10 — makes a massive difference. I am actively applying to jobs every single day. I am not giving up. I just need a little time, a little support, a little cushion so I don’t fall into homelessness while trying to rebuild my life. CHAPTER 5 — THE MOMENT I BROKE DOWN A few weeks ago, I had a moment I will never forget. I was standing in a grocery store with a small basket: Rice. Bread. Eggs. A few vegetables. Simple, basic necessities. When the cashier told me the total, my heart dropped. I was short by just a few dollars. I quietly took out the vegetables and placed them aside. People behind me stared. My throat tightened. I felt tears burning behind my eyes, but I swallowed them down. I walked home with a half-empty bag and a heart full of shame. When I reached my apartment, I sat on the floor and cried — not because of the groceries, but because I realized how quickly life can go from stable to impossible. That moment broke me. But it also pushed me to finally ask for help. CHAPTER 6 — MY FEAR OF LOSING MY HOME The biggest fear that keeps me awake at night is the thought of losing my home. Rent is due soon. My savings are almost gone. I am doing everything I can — but it isn’t enough. I don’t want to choose between eating and having a roof over my head. I don’t want to pack my belongings into bags. I don’t want to sleep on someone’s couch. I don’t want to end up on the street. I just want stability long enough to find a job and start fresh. Your kindness could literally stop me from becoming homeless CHAPTER 7 — WHAT YOUR HELP MEANS TO ME When you donate, you are not just giving money. You are giving: ✨ A chance to breathe ✨ A moment of relief ✨ A meal I don’t have to skip ✨ A roof that stays over my head ✨ The strength to keep applying, keep going, keep trying You’re giving me hope — something I haven’t felt in a long time. Every donation, no matter how small, tells me: “You're not alone. Your life matters. Keep going.” And that is priceless. CHAPTER 8 — MY PROMISE I promise: ✔ I will continue applying for jobs daily ✔ I will use the funds only for rent, groceries, and essentials ✔ I will update everyone who supports me ✔ I will get back on my feet ✔ And when I do, I will pay this kindness forward I am not giving up. I just need help to survive this difficult period. CHAPTER 9 — A FINAL WORD FROM MY HEART If you are reading this, thank you. Thank you for taking the time to understand my journey. Thank you for listening to my story. Thank you for even considering helping me. I never imagined I would be here. But life humbles us in ways we cannot predict. I believe with all my heart that kindness from strangers can keep someone alive — not just physically, but emotionally. If you can donate, please know that your support could be the reason I make it through this dark chapter. If you cannot donate, even sharing my story means the world to me. Thank you for giving me hope when I desperately need it. Thank you for helping me hold on. With all my gratitude, and all the strength I have left, I thank you. You can help me through paypal.me. https://paypal.me/PRITAMJAGTAP790?locale.x=en_GB&country.x=IN