The gentle rocking of the raft lulled Jason from his slumber. His eyes fluttered open, squinting against the harsh sunlight reflecting off the endless expanse of ocean. He groaned, stretching his lanky limbs as far as the small raft would allow.

"Another day in paradise," he muttered, his voice already hoarse from disuse.

Jason sat up slowly, his piercing blue eyes scanning the horizon out of habit. Nothing but water as far as the eye could see. He ran a hand through his shaggy dark hair, grimacing at the salt-crusted tangles.

"Alright, let's see how we're doing today," he said to himself, crawling over to check the desalination equipment.

His nimble engineer's fingers traced the makeshift contraption, checking for any issues. Finding none, he adjusted a few components and collected the precious fresh water that had accumulated for the last day.

"Not bad," Jason mused, allowing himself a small smile. "Looks like we'll stay hydrated for another day at least."

With that task complete, he turned his attention to preparing for the daily fishing routine. He gathered his cobbled-together gear, noting with a sigh the fraying lines and rusted hook.

He had lost his shard of glass long ago.

"You've seen better days," he told the fishing rod. "Then again, so have I."

Jason cast his line with practiced ease, settling in for the long wait. His mind wandered as he fished, thinking back to his life before this calamity mission. The normalcy of being an engineering student seemed like a distant dream now.

Hours passed, the sun climbing higher in the sky. Just as Jason was about to give up for the morning, he felt a familiar tug on the line.

"Finally!" he exclaimed, his excitement building. "Come on, little fishy. Don't fight it."

With painstaking care, Jason reeled in his catch, his movements slow and deliberate. He couldn't afford to lose this one - it might be his only meal for the day.

"Gotcha!" he cried triumphantly as he pulled a decent-sized fish onto the raft. "Looks like dinner is served."

As he prepared to clean his catch, Jason couldn't help but reflect on how much his life had changed in just one year. From a normal student to a survivor on an endless ocean - it was a transformation he never could have imagined.

Jason's dull knife scraped against the fish scales, the familiar rhythm of cleaning his catch almost meditative. The pungent smell of the ocean mingled with the metallic scent of fish blood as he worked.

"Not too shabby," he muttered, admiring his handiwork. "A year ago, I couldn't even fillet a fish properly. Now look at me - a regular seafood chef."

He chuckled dryly at his own joke, the sound quickly swallowed by the vast expanse of water surrounding him. As he prepared his simple meal, Jason's eyes wandered to the debris floating nearby.

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"Wonder if any of that junk could be useful," he mused, popping a morsel of fish into his mouth. The taste, though bland, was a welcome respite from his constant hunger. "Maybe I could fashion a better knife... or reinforce the raft somehow."

Each bite was savored, Jason acutely aware of how precious this sustenance was. As he ate, a sense of gratitude washed over him.

"Thank you, little fish," he said softly. "Your sacrifice is appreciated."

After finishing his meal, Jason sighed and reached for his makeshift fishing rod again. "Round two, I guess. Dinner isn't going to catch itself."

As the afternoon wore on, Jason turned his attention to raft maintenance. He ran his hands along the edges, checking for weak spots.

"Alright, old girl," he addressed the raft. "Let's see what we can do to keep you afloat another day."

He pulled out some scavenged materials - bits of some material looking like plastic and frayed rope - and began patching up the areas that needed attention. His engineering background, once seemingly useless in this situation, now proved invaluable as he kept on problem-solving with limited resources.

"Never thought I'd be grateful for those endless hours in the lab," Jason muttered with a wry smile.

As the sun began its descent towards the horizon, Jason stood up on his raft, stretching his lean frame. Despite the limited space, he was determined to maintain some semblance of physical fitness.

"Alright, Keller," he said to himself, "time for the world's smallest gym session."

He began with some basic stretches, feeling the pull in his muscles. Then, carefully balancing on the gently rocking raft, he started a series of push-ups.

"One... two..." Jason counted under his breath, his arms trembling slightly. "Come on, just a few more."

As he exercised, his mind wandered to his life before this endless ocean. "Wonder what the guys at uni would think if they could see me now," he chuckled between labored breaths.

Finishing his routine, Jason sat up, wiping sweat from his brow. "Not exactly a bodybuilder's workout, but it'll have to do."

He couldn't do much anyway, as his water or food reserves weren't the fullest ones.

The sky began to transform, painting itself in vibrant hues of orange and pink. Jason's blue eyes widened, taking in the spectacle.

"Now that's a view you can't get from a dorm room," he whispered, a rare smile crossing his face.

As darkness fell, Jason began his nightly routine. He checked the raft's tethers, ensuring everything was secure.

"Let's hope for calm seas tonight," he murmured, tightening a knot. "I could use a good night's sleep for once."

He arranged his meager belongings, placing his precious water container within easy reach.

"Another day down," Jason sighed, settling onto his back. "Wonder what tomorrow will bring. More of the same, I suppose. But hey, at least I'm still here to see it."

Jason lay down on the makeshift bed he'd fashioned from salvaged materials, his lean frame fitting snugly in the small space. The gentle lapping of waves against the raft provided a soothing rhythm, a constant companion in his solitude.

"Good night, ocean," he whispered, a habit he'd developed over the past year. "Don't get too rowdy while I'm sleeping, alright?"

He chuckled softly at his own bad joke, the sound quickly swallowed by the vast expanse around him. As he gazed up at the star-studded sky, his thoughts drifted.

"Another day, another dollar," Jason mused, his voice barely audible above the water's whisper. "If only I was actually getting paid for this."

He shifted slightly, trying to find a comfortable position. The raft creaked beneath him, a familiar sound that no longer startled him as it once had.

"I wonder if anyone's still looking for me," he thought, a pang of loneliness hitting him. "Mom, Dad... do you guys still have hope?"

Jason closed his eyes, willing sleep to come. "Maybe tomorrow will be the day. Maybe I'll see a ship on the horizon, or a plane overhead."

He yawned, feeling the pull of exhaustion. "Or maybe it'll just be another day of fishing and talking to myself. Either way, I'll be here. Surviving."

As consciousness began to slip away, Jason's last coherent thought was a mixture of determination and weariness. "One more day down. One day closer to... something. Gotta keep going. No other choice."

With that, he drifted off to sleep, the endless ocean cradling him in its vast, indifferent embrace.