Late in the afternoon, under heavy rainfall, the usually crowded streets had been swept clean. A local café, often filled with lively chatter and the clatter of dishes, was echoed by the rain tapping against its windows. Far from the normal bustle, only a handful of customers were in the café.
"Welcome," a voice greeted the recently arrived customer. Recognizing the voice instantly, the customer started a conversation upon noticing the slight bags under the waiter's eyes.
"Another rough day, William?" He asked, a shared understanding of daily life hardships echoed in his tone.
A fatigued smile twitched on William's lips. His eyes were slightly red and dark circles were visible. He appeared unusually exhausted for his age. "It's all okay," he responded, a hint of a throat clearing in his voice. "We all have to make a living somehow."
Despite his effort to appear unruffled, exhaustion was etched across William's face. Like many of his peers, he was burdened by worries. Born into humble circumstances, his loving but financially struggling family had limited means.
In truth, William should consider himself lucky for having a family that supported him to the best of their abilities, striving to give him every possible opportunity, despite their limited resources.
His parents were strict but William quickly realized it was only to ensure he excelled academically, setting him up for a better future through college.
From his early childhood, they had saved for his college so that he wouldn't be constrained by financial woes and could focus on his studies. He chose to barely touch this money, deciding to work at a local café instead. Despite the long hours, he was glad to ease his parents' worries and lessen their burden, even at the expense of his own comfort.
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After a busy day at the café, William began his journey home. The streetlights guiding his path, his footsteps echoed through the vacant alleys, blending perfectly with the distant sounds of the city's nightlife.
Eventually, he reached a modest, somewhat worn-out part of the city, home to his apartment. He chose this location to stretch his limited budget as far as possible.
This was why William always walked, hardly ever using public transport. He was mindful not to spend unnecessarily, especially as the café was only half an hour's walk away. The college was a bit further but that didn't deter him. He considered walking to be an acceptable alternative to the gym.
However, as William entered an alley that offered a shortcut to his apartment, he halted abruptly as a masked figure appeared from behind, pressing a knife to his neck.
Dressed in a black hoodie and matching sweatpants, the figure's face was obscured by a mask. But the trembling hand clutching the knife caught William's attention. The figure's inexperience was betrayed by the trembling hand. The knife was close to his neck but not touching.
A sudden surge of determination and adrenaline prompted William into action. He jolted his head back, colliding with the robber's face while swiftly deflecting the knife downward. The surprise attack disoriented the assailant momentarily, affording William a few seconds of reprieve.
Seizing the momentary opportunity, William noticed an iron bar lying near his leg. He swiftly picked up the bar, slamming it into the attacker with all his might, striking the side of the robber's head.
The attacker collapsed unconscious, an ominously growing pool of blood forming beneath him. The fleeting smile on William's face disappeared, replaced by a creeping sense of dread. As he grappled with the irreversible consequences of his self-defense, panic overwhelmed him. His heart pounded like never before, his world falling apart.
Just then, another masked figure burst out from a nearby dumpster, brandishing a crowbar. Without hesitation, the second attacker landed a fatal blow to the back of William's head. The impact abruptly ended William's life. Unaware of the circumstances leading to his untimely death in his final moments, his existence was swallowed by the void of oblivion, a haunting testament to his harsh surroundings.