Prologue

  Ethan Walker’s life was one of routine, a rhythm that had never faltered since he could remember. New York—his city—was a place of constant motion, its streets always teeming with people.

  Skyscrapers cast long shadows over crowded intersections, and the low hum of the city was a constant presence in the background of every day. Yet, despite the energy surrounding him, Ethan never felt quite like a part of it. He wasn’t interested in the hustle or the ambition that drove so many others.

  His life was simple, straightforward, and predictable.

  He spent his days delivering packages across the city, running errands for various clients, and keeping a low profile. His job didn’t require much interaction with anyone, and that was just how Ethan liked it. It was just enough to pay the bills and keep the family afloat. In a world where people’s dreams were often big but their realities were small, Ethan found solace in the quiet certainty of his own existence.

  Home, though, was where things were different.

  Their apartment wasn’t much—just a small space on the outskirts of the city. The walls were peeling, the furniture secondhand, but it was warm. It was safe. And it was home.

  “Ethan, dinner’s ready!” His mother’s voice cut through the quiet of the apartment, and he smiled to himself. Sarah Walker had always known how to make the best out of what they had. She had a way of making their small home feel welcoming, despite the city’s coldness.

  “Coming, Mom,” he called, stretching as he stood up from the couch. He made his way to the kitchen, where his mother was setting the table.

  His father, Robert Walker, sat at the table, silently reading the paper. Robert was a man of few words, but when he did speak, his words carried weight. A former soldier, he had seen too much of the world to be fooled by illusions of comfort. Now, he spent his days working odd jobs around the city, anything to keep their heads above water. His wariness of the world had rubbed off on Ethan, who had learned to approach life with the same quiet reserve.

  “How was work today?” Robert asked, not looking up from the newspaper.

  “Same as usual,” Ethan replied, shrugging. “A few deliveries here and there. Nothing exciting.”

  Robert gave a small grunt, a sound of acknowledgment. “Good. Keep your head down. The city’s got enough trouble without adding to it.”

  Ethan didn’t respond. He had heard that line a thousand times. His father wasn’t wrong. Life in Nova York wasn’t easy. There were always rumors of gang activity in the lower districts, petty thefts happening here and there, and the constant buzz of people scraping by, trying to survive.

  “Dinner’s ready,” his mother said cheerfully, setting the plates down. “How’s everything at work, honey? Still getting those deliveries done on time?”

  Ethan nodded as he sat down. “Yeah. Everything’s fine. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

  They ate in silence, the familiar comfort of family filling the room. Ethan’s mother always managed to find the bright side of things, no matter how grim the world around them seemed. And his father… well, his father had his own way of dealing with things. Even after years of struggling, Robert Walker had never let anything completely break him. Ethan admired that strength, though it wasn’t the kind of strength he openly talked about.

  After dinner, he helped clean up, as he always did. His mother offered him a warm smile as she dried the dishes. “You’re such a good boy, Ethan. Always helping out. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

  Ethan simply smiled back, though it didn’t reach his eyes. He didn’t need praise. He didn’t need much of anything. The world outside was noisy, chaotic, and full of people all chasing after something—success, fame, wealth. Ethan had no interest in any of that. What mattered to him was his family and getting through the day without too much trouble.

  Later that evening, after his parents had gone to bed, Ethan found himself on the rooftop of their apartment building. He had always liked the view from up here—quiet, distant, a rare moment of peace in the heart of the city. The night sky stretched endlessly above him, and for a moment, he could almost forget the weight of everything below.

  He pulled out his phone, checking the time. Just another evening. The usual.

  Ethan had a few friends, though he didn’t consider any of them particularly close. Most of them had their own ambitions and paths they were determined to follow. Sarah, though, was different. She’d been his best friend since childhood, and while Ethan had always preferred the quiet, Sarah had always been a dreamer.

  “Ethan, you’ve got to stop being so passive about everything,” she often told him. “The world’s out there. There’s so much more than what we see here.”

  Ethan would just shake his head and smile. “I’m fine right here, Sarah. No need for any of that big picture stuff.”

  But Sarah didn’t give up. She was always talking about change, about doing something bigger than themselves. Even now, despite everything going on in the world, she believed something could be done to fix the broken parts of their city. She saw potential where others saw failure.

  But Ethan wasn’t like her. He didn’t want to change the world; he just wanted to live in it without getting caught in the chaos. The city had its issues, sure, but it wasn’t broken—just flawed, like everything else. And sometimes, it seemed to him that fixing everything would be far more trouble than it was worth.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  The next morning started like any other. The sun barely peeked over the horizon as Ethan slipped into his worn-out sneakers and grabbed his bag. The subway station was crowded, but not uncomfortably so. The usual faces filled the platform, lost in their own thoughts, their own routines.

  Ethan didn’t mind the crowd. He didn’t mind the chaos. It was just another part of his day. The train arrived with a screech of metal on metal, and the mass of commuters shuffled forward, their footsteps like a soft roar as they made their way inside.

  He found an empty seat near the window and sat down, letting his gaze wander as the train pulled into motion. Outside, the city came alive—people hurrying to work, street vendors setting up their carts, traffic already beginning to build.

  He pulled out his phone, scrolled through his messages. There was one from Sarah.

  “Hey, when are you free? We need to talk about something important.”

  Ethan rolled his eyes. It wasn’t the first time Sarah had something “important” to discuss. She always had a cause, a new idea, a plan to save the world. To Ethan, it always felt like a waste of time.

  “I’m working today, same as always. Catch you later.”

  He put the phone back in his pocket and leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes for a moment. The hum of the train was soothing. It was a small comfort in a world that rarely stopped moving.

  The rest of the morning passed in a blur of deliveries. Ethan’s job was simple: pick up packages from various warehouses around the city and deliver them to the right people. It wasn’t glamorous, but it paid the bills. It was enough.

  As he walked through the industrial district, he bumped into Tom, a guy from one of the nearby shops. Tom was loud, always had something to say, and never seemed to care what anyone thought.

  “Walker, right?” Tom said, his voice booming across the street. “What’s up, man? Busy day?”

  “Always,” Ethan replied, adjusting the strap on his shoulder. “You know how it is.”

  Tom grinned. “Yeah, I do. Delivering packages to people who don’t even appreciate it. So, what’s the deal? You ever think about moving up? You know, doing something with yourself? There’s more to life than just this.”

  Ethan shrugged, noncommittal. “I’m fine where I’m at.”

  Tom didn’t seem satisfied with that answer. “Come on, don’t tell me you’re happy just doing this. I heard about the promotions over at the logistics company. They’re looking for someone who knows the city inside and out. You’d be perfect for it.”

  Ethan raised an eyebrow, giving him a half-smile. “Not interested.”

  Tom shrugged, but there was a glint of something—maybe pity—in his eyes. “Well, suit yourself. Just don’t come complaining when you’re still stuck in the same place in five years.”

  “I won’t,” Ethan said, already turning away. He didn’t need the reminder. He wasn’t like Tom. Ethan didn’t care about climbing some corporate ladder. All he cared about was getting through the day.

  By midday, Ethan had completed a few deliveries and stopped by a café for a quick lunch. He wasn’t much for sitting in noisy restaurants, but the little café around the corner was quiet and cozy. He found a corner table, ordered a simple sandwich, and let his mind wander.

  The barista, Maria, a young woman with short red hair and an easy smile, handed him his coffee with a wink. “You always order the same thing. I’m starting to think you’re predictable, Walker.”

  Ethan chuckled, accepting the cup. “I’m a creature of habit.”

  She leaned on the counter, her eyes twinkling. “I get it. But you know, life’s more fun when you shake things up a little.”

  “I’m good,” Ethan said with a smile. “I like things how they are.”

  “Suit yourself,” Maria said, still grinning. “You’re a regular. Don’t let me catch you getting too comfortable, though.”

  Ethan shook his head, amused. He didn’t mind the banter. People like Maria were part of the small comfort he found in the city. She was cheerful, always in a good mood, and never seemed to mind the drudgery of her job. To her, it was just another part of life.

  He sipped his coffee and watched the people pass by, lost in thought for a moment. The city felt distant in a way, even though he was right in the middle of it. Everyone had their own lives, their own struggles. But no one seemed to notice him. And that was just how he liked it.

  Later that afternoon, Ethan ran into Sarah on his way to the next stop. She was standing outside a bookstore, arms crossed, a frown on her face. When she spotted him, her face softened, and she waved him over.

  “Hey, Ethan!” she called, walking over to him.

  “What’s up?” he asked, eyeing her curiously. She looked like she had something on her mind. She always did.

  “I was just talking to a guy at the community center,” Sarah said, her voice a little too eager. “He’s got connections with some local organizations that are trying to make a difference. They’re looking for volunteers.”

  Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Volunteers? For what?”

  “Change, Ethan,” she said, her voice passionate. “There’s so much wrong with the city, and we could be a part of fixing it. It’s about making a real difference.”

  Ethan shook his head. “Sarah, you know I’m not into that. I don’t need to be a part of some grand movement. I’m just trying to get by.”

  Sarah’s eyes softened, but she didn’t give up. “I get it. You want to stay out of it. But don’t you want to feel like you’re doing something? Even just a little bit?”

  He sighed, trying to avoid the conversation. “I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me.”

  She studied him for a moment, then sighed herself. “Okay, okay. But don’t forget what I said. The world’s bigger than just getting by, Ethan.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he replied, forcing a smile. “I’ll think about it.”

  But he wouldn’t. Ethan didn’t need to change the world. He was fine with his own little corner of it.

  The rest of the day passed quietly, and by evening, Ethan was back at home, helping his mother with dinner. His father was reading the paper again, his focus deep on whatever article he was skimming. The silence between them was comfortable, familiar.

  Over dinner, his mother chatted about a neighbor who had recently moved away. She was always up to date on the small details of everyone’s life, even if they didn’t think anyone was paying attention.

  “Did you hear about the new family down the hall?” she asked Ethan between bites. “They’ve got a little girl about your age.”

  Ethan nodded, chewing thoughtfully. “Yeah, I saw them moving in. Don’t know them, though.”

  His mother smiled. “Well, you should introduce yourself sometime. It’s good to have more people to talk to.”

  Ethan didn’t answer. It wasn’t that he didn’t like meeting new people; he just never saw the point in it. He had what he needed: his family, his work, his routine. That was enough.

  After dinner, he returned to his room, pulled up the blanket, and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The city roared outside, but inside, all was still. Life was predictable. Stable. And, to Ethan, that was all he wanted.