CHAPTER ONE
Alex woke up to the sound of his alarm blaring in his ear, the harsh tone piercing through the haze of sleep. He groggily reached over to slap the snooze button, but not before it had already jolted him awake. His dark hair was a tangled mess, and his eyes felt gritty from lack of sleep. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, revealing a hint of morning breath.
As he swung his legs over the side of the bed, the worn-out wooden floorboards creaked beneath his feet. The familiar sound was comforting, a reminder that he was still in his own little world. He stretched his arms, arching his back, and let out a deep yawn. The remnants of last night's Netflix binge were still playing in his head, but the harsh reality of the day ahead was slowly seeping in.
He shuffled into the kitchen, the worn-out soles of his sneakers scraping against the linoleum floor. He flipped on the coffee maker, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. As he waited for his morning fix, he scrolled through his phone, checking his bank balance for what felt like the hundredth time that month. His meager salary from the marketing firm wasn't exactly setting his world on fire.
The coffee maker beeped, and Alex poured himself a steaming cup. He added a dash of creamer, watching as the swirling white clouds dissipated into the dark liquid. Taking a sip, he let out a sigh – it was going to be one of those days. Another meeting with his boss about meeting "unrealistic targets" and another night spent juggling bills and budgeting spreadsheets.
As he sipped his coffee, Alex's gaze drifted out the window. The morning sunlight cast a warm glow over the neighborhood, but he couldn't shake the feeling of being stuck in neutral. He'd graduated a year ago, full of big dreams and ambitions, but the reality of adulting was slowly draining the excitement out of him. Still, he shuffled into the bathroom, flipping on the light switch. The mirror reflected his tired eyes, and he splashed some water on his face to wake himself up. After brushing his teeth and washing his face, Alex felt slightly more alert.
Next, he stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the remnants of the night. The water pressure was just right, and Alex felt his muscles relax. He shampooed his hair, scrubbed his body, and rinsed off, feeling refreshed.
After his shower, Alex got dressed in his usual attire – a crisp white shirt and dark jeans. He grabbed his backpack, and headed out the door – another day, another dollar.
He walked steadily on the side pavement, joining the sea of suits and briefcases rushing to start their day. The commute was a blur of weary faces, stale air, and the occasional delay. He stood squished among strangers, his eyes glazing over as he stared blankly at the subway map.
As he arrived at the office, the fluorescent lights overhead seemed to hum in sync with the monotony of his daily routine. Alex settled into his cubicle, the beige walls and gray desk a constant reminder of his 9-to-5 existence. He fired up his computer, the login screen flickering to life like a ritualistic incantation.
The day blurred into a series of meetings, emails, and spreadsheets. Alex's tasks became a never-ending cycle of data entry, report generation, and conference calls. His creativity and passion slowly draining with each passing minute just like every other day.
During his lunch break, Alex grabbed a sandwich from the deli downstairs, eating alone at his desk while scrolling through social media. Everyone else's highlight reel flashed before his eyes, making him wonder if he was the only one stuck in this rut.
The afternoon dragged on, meetings blending into one another like a never-ending loop. Alex's mind wandered, replaying the same thoughts he'd had for months: "Is this it? Is this all there is?" The clock ticked slowly, each minute feeling like an eternity.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
As the day drew to a close, Alex packed up his things and joined the exodus of office workers flooding the streets. The commute home was just as mind-numbing, his thoughts consumed by the evening's routine: dinner, TV, bed.
As Alex walked home from the office, the familiar routine was a comforting numbness. He'd done this walk hundreds of times, his feet tracing the same path like a well-worn groove. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional chirping of birds or rustling of leaves. Alex's mind began to wander, his thoughts drifting to the TV series he'd been binge-watching.
As he approached his house, he noticed a small child, no more than four or five years old, chasing after a balloon that had slipped from his grasp. The child's shouts filled the air as he tried to catch the elusive orb. Alex smiled, remembering the simple joys of childhood.
But his smile froze as the child darted into the street, his eyes fixed on the balloon as it danced in the breeze. Alex's gaze followed the child's, and his heart sank as he saw the car hurtling down the road, its speed unwavering. Time seemed to slow as Alex's instincts kicked in.
Without hesitation, Alex sprinted toward the child, his arms outstretched. The world narrowed to a single focus: saving this tiny human. The car's horn blared, a deafening sound that seemed to shatter the air. Alex's heart pounded in his chest as he lunged forward, his fingers brushing against the balloon.
In that split second, Alex's life flashed before his eyes. Memories long buried rose to the surface: childhood birthdays, lazy summer afternoons, and countless nights spent staring at the ceiling, wondering what the future held. He saw his parents, their faces etched with worry and love. He saw himself graduating, the pride and uncertainty etched on his face.
As the car bore down on him, Alex felt a sense of regret wash over him. He thought about the choices he'd made, the paths not taken, and the dreams he'd put on hold. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks: this was it. This was the end.
The impact was immense, a crushing force that seemed to compress his entire being into a tiny, dark space. Alex felt his consciousness slipping away, his thoughts growing disjointed and fragmented. And then, nothing.................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex's eyes snapped open, and he found himself back in his bed. His alarm was blaring, its shrill tone piercing through the silence. He sat up with a start, his heart racing like a jackrabbit. It took him a moment to realize it had all been a dream.
Or had it?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex's mind reeled as he tried to shake off the vividness of the dream. He clicked off the alarm and swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet dangling in the air. He grabbed his phone and checked the date. It was Tuesday 19th May 2021, a new day apparently. The room seemed to spin around him, the familiar surroundings feeling foreign and unsettling.
He stumbled out of bed and staggered to the bathroom, turning on the shower to wash away the remnants of the dream. The water cascaded down his body, a soothing balm for his frazzled nerves. But the image of the child, the car, and the balloon lingered, refusing to be washed away.
As he stood under the showerhead, the water pounding against his skin, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The dream had felt so real, so visceral. He thought about the choices he'd made, the paths not taken, and the dreams he'd put on hold.
As Alex stood under the showerhead, the water pounded against his skin, a soothing balm for his frazzled nerves. The dream still lingered in his mind, the image of the child, the car, and the balloon refusing to fade. Though it had felt incredibly real, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that it was just that – a dream.
He shrugged it off, attributing the vividness to lack of sleep and too much screen time from binge-watching his current favorite series "Stranger Things". "Must've been too much Netflix," he muttered to himself.
After his shower, Alex got dressed in his usual clothing. He grabbed his backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and headed out the door. The morning sunlight greeted him, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood.
As he walked to work, Alex's mind began to wander back to the dream. He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the day ahead. Another meeting, another report, another day at the office.
With a deep breath, Alex stepped into the familiar routine, ready to face another day just like the last. And with that, he disappeared into the sea of suits and briefcases, bound for the office, where the cycle would repeat once more.
