A Sunny Day.

  The city breathed lazily under the embrace of spring warmth. A light breeze stirred the few scattered clouds in the high blue sky. The day seemed so serene it was hard to believe anything could go wrong.

  A young man, twenty-five years old, walked along the sidewalk, savoring a rare moment of tranquility. August Dante couldn’t even quite say why he felt especially cheerful today.

  Glancing around, he walked along the right side of the street, anticipating a good meal.

  — Today, a feast awaits me among these gray days, — August muttered with a light smile.

  By an old green bench, his gaze caught a curious scene: two pigeons clumsily chased a dignified crow, trying to reclaim a lost piece of bread. The crow merely cawed lazily in response:

  — Caw-caw.

  — The weak and clumsy pigeon lost... He should’ve called for reinforcements, — August commented thoughtfully, pausing in the shade of a tree.

  Such a sad sight... I hope next time he finds a way to protect his bread. Though... I doubt it, he thought with mild regret.

  The corners of his mouth twitched in a faint smile, though his eyes remained calm.

  Walking on, he melted into the crowd, rushing in all directions — to transport, errands, unknown destinations.

  — If only the education system and politicians cared even a little about students... ehh, — August muttered, shaking his head.

  Passing by a few houses, a butcher shop, and a small market, he finally spotted the place he was looking for — a modest pizzeria, where about eight people were already gathered by the door.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  — My pizza awaits, — August thought with quiet glee, picking up his pace.

  Opening the door, he approached the counter, maintaining his calm expression.

  — A pepperoni and mushroom pizza, regular fries, and potato dips, please.

  The woman behind the counter, around thirty years old, smiled and asked:

  — Would you like sauce? Cheese sauce?

  August nodded wearily:

  — No, it’s not necessary.

  — Thank you for your order. Please wait about ten minutes, — she replied, handing him the receipt.

  — Understood, — he said briefly and sat down at an empty table.

  The wait stretched out to a full fifteen minutes.

  I'm not even surprised... thought August, squinting slightly. Something must have gone wrong in the kitchen again.

  Finally, they called him.

  — Thank you for waiting! Here's your order.

  — Thank you, — August replied, picking up the tray.

  Sitting at the table, he inhaled the warm aroma of food with satisfaction.

  Magnificent... I can already taste it, he thought, purring to himself.

  After eating a slice of pizza, August reached for the fries.

  For a moment, he closed his eyes.

  August opened his eyes.

  ***

  There were no walls, no people, no city, no streets — only an endless ocean of light, shimmering with every color of the rainbow, from pure white to deep black.

  He stood — or perhaps floated — above a surface he could not discern.

  — My God... — breathed August Dante.

  Looking up, he beheld something beyond description: a world filled with countless tiny lights, moving in strange unity. They seemed familiar, almost kin to him.

  All of them... the same, he realized.

  His gaze drifted even higher — toward what might have been the Heavens. August froze in awe: never before had he seen anything so breathtakingly beautiful.

  — There is nothing more beautiful in this mortal world... — he whispered.

  Lowering his eyes, he looked at his hands. They glowed with an iridescent light, revealing bones and flesh within. His whole body blazed with the same energy as the distant lights.

  A strange sense of destiny stirred within him.

  — Something incredible awaits me... — August whispered.

  Before he could finish the thought, his eyes closed involuntarily.

  When he opened them again, a new, even more wondrous scene unfolded before him.