I'm walking home from the art supply store in the rain. At first, my hood is up to guard me against the elements, but I change my mind halfway home and pull it back, allowing the condensation to soak my hair, my clothes. The cold droplets running down my face help cool the sting of embarrassment left over from my "job interview" yesterday.

Somewhere uptown, a billionaire is laughing at me.

I'm a girl in a long line of girls who have probably laid down on that couch and fallen prey to the most ...