Alivia flicked her thick black side swept bangs out of her emerald green eyes and looked out the window of her 2001 tomato sienna van. For now this would have be her home. She sighed as she thought back over the last month and the pain it had brought. Her loving parents had disappeared mysteriously the day before her eighteenth birthday. She had searched everywhere but could not find them. They didn't answer her texts or calls. It was as if they never were. Alivia believed she was failing them by not finding them. But where else could she look? Yesterday she had used her last few dollars to take a bus to her grandma's home. Sadly, her sweet grandma had passed many years ago, but sometimes her mom would work in the garden in the back yard. It was Alivia's last hope. She was finally faced with the fact that she had to move on, at least for now. So today she decided to look for a job. Being on her own so suddenly had brought some challenges, but she was tough. She was also a christian and although she was struggling to see God's plan, she trusted Him. Being homeschooled, Alivia had no idea where she was compared to a public school kid. She had graduated at sixteen and was doing online collage classes. She took an IQ test for the first time ever and was astonished to find she was off the charts! She retook it several times just to be sure. The results were the same. "It doesn't matter," she told herself, "I'm still not smart enough to find my parents." BUZZ! Her phone vibrated in her pocket. It was a reminder that she had a test today. No problem, it was in technology, her best subject! She was a bit of a tech geek and loved inventing. She also loved languages and math. Really she loved learning. She got that from her parents. Alivia set her jaw. She would find them, one day.

Sitting on a park bench under the light of a street lamp, Alivia felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation. She had secured her first job interview at a local computer repair shop and it was almost time for it to start.

Dressed in her signature outfit—a black leather jacket, black tactical boots and jeans—Alivia rehearsed her answers over and over in her head. She prayed the interview would go well. Glancing at her watch, she realized she still had thirty minuets before her interview. She wondered how much of her unnatural brilliance she should reveal. After the IQ test a few nights ago, she had come to the conclusion that God had given her an unusual gift and she should use it to His glory, and not hers.

As she packed her laptop and research notes into her backpack, a gentle sense of peace washed over her. She whispered a quick prayer for guidance and wisdom, trusting that God had a plan even amidst the storms in her life.

When she arrived at the shop, the warm scent of coffee and solder filled the air. The walls were adorned with posters of the latest tech, and a few employees were working on computers in the corner. Alivia smiled at the sight; it felt welcoming—a place she could see herself working at.

She approached the counter, where a friendly-looking man in his thirties greeted her with a broad smile. “You must be Alivia! I’m Lucas, the owner. Ready for your interview?”

“Absolutely!” she replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

Lucas led her to a small back room filled with tools, computer parts, and vibrant sketches of tech ideas pinned to the walls. As they sat down, he asked her about her experience. Alivia spoke about her online courses, and the many tech books she had read.

“Tech is all about problem-solving,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “I love figuring things out, especially when it involves helping others.”

Lucas nodded, but was still unpressed. “That’s a good start, but I need people with skill, not just ambition.” He ruffly replies.

Alivia quickly replied, “I understand! Here, check out my watch I created.”

She handed him a digital watch that looked ordinary on the outside. The watch was made from lightweight titanium with sapphire glass, making it both durable and chic. It was also water-resistant.

“I started with your typical smart watch,” she continued, “then went from there. First off, it has a built-in AI assistant. I have customized it to help with everything from navigating my route to giving me real-time updates on important communications and translating different languages! It also has advanced secure comm features so I can send encrypted voice messages or texts and ensure that my conversations are private and secure. One of my favorite features is the augmented reality display. This heads-up display has the ability to show me contextual information while I’m on the go—like routes and notifications—so I can stay aware of my surroundings without needing to pull out my phone constantly. To keep everything safe, I added biometric security, like fingerprint and retinal scanning. This ensures that only I or authorized users can access all the sensitive information stored in the watch. I have also outfitted the watch with advanced location tracking and a stealth mode that makes it undetectable. And I just couldn’t stop there. It has environmental sensors that can detect temperature, humidity, radiation, and air quality, helping me assess my surroundings for any potential risks. You’ll also find a tiny camera module for recording video and snapping photos. Plus, there's a voice modulation function that alters my voice in real-time, just for fun! Oh, and the battery life? It’s solar-powered! So, I won’t be constantly recharging."

As they continued the conversation, Alivia sensed that Lucas was deeply impressed. His demeanor relaxed as the interview went on.

As the interview wrapped up, Lucas offered her the job on the spot, appreciating her enthusiasm and tech skills. “Welcome aboard, Alivia! I think you’ll fit in quite well here.”

Grateful and excited, Alivia thanked him, her mind already whirling with possibilities.