No other day had the walk home been this confusing for him. Thinking everything out took him longer than he anticipated as the questions he was asking himself were ones that could not be answered, or so he deduced.

He continued thinking even late at night, at a time which he would normally be sound asleep.

“Do I really need to do something extraordinary to stand out? If so, what is it? Why is it so hard to find out?”

And like a great thinker he started contemplating his own existence which at the time seemed to be ever so slowly fading away without any signs of stopping.

In the end, he couldn’t resist the natural urge to sleep which brought him unconscious at an unknown, but certainly too late, time.

The first opening of his eyes and the first sound picked up by his ears would reveal to him the fact that he was awake…or would it?

Getting up for his usual morning routine felt somehow…unusual. His attempt at putting that feeling aside would reveal to be mildly unsuccessful.

The first irregular thing he noticed was…well, the giant mirrors which appeared on both sides. Covering the entirety of his east and west wall, they didn’t spare his regular first person field of view which was now thoroughly distorted.

As he felt all the while more confused he couldn’t help but notice the fact that he started seeing more and more of his room, as if he was getting taller. That, however, would soon reveal itself to be an illusion, as what was happening in actuality was what could be described as his soul exiting its vessel. The even more surprising part would turn out to be the fact that his body had continued moving, even after he had seemingly lost control over it.

His precious body had started to run away from him, or it kind of seemed that way at first until he realized that it was just continuing his morning routine.

By now anyone could have guessed that this is a dream, a lucid one at that, and he had caught on like he was expected to.

He decided to play along, not that he had any other choice.

What he was observing was his average day.

After he woke up he went to brush his teeth and had a sandwich. He dressed up and set off for work, nothing unusual…yet that was the problem.

“So average, so…pathetic, really.”

Now you could imagine that one would probably feel uncomfortable speaking so about themselves, however when you are well aware of it, it becomes sort of a regular and not so disturbing thing.

That is not to say that he was content with it, just that he was more or less aware of his situation.

“It is not so bad though…”

Just when he was saying that he saw the worst part of it all.

Passing by his colleagues, he would not even say hi to them, well…they didn’t know him, did they?

Even the ones whom he was sitting next to didn’t know him! No one did! He was alone and that was driving him crazy.

Observing his boring, seemingly useless existence was so devastating to him that he could not even bare to watch any more. It may seem as an over exaggeration, but those feelings were really ripping into him to the point where he would wake up from the dream, which one could call a nightmare, covered in sweat and tears. The grim reality was driving into him, the feeling of emptiness and uselessness was penetrating his very skin and affecting him physically. Like a predator sinking their teeth into prey that was up until a few moments ago running for its life, though the situation here proves to be quite difficult as we are not sure as to who the predator is, but we for sure do know that the prey is slowly dying.

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He decided that he would do something about his stalemate of a life, however he didn’t know what.

“I will better myself! I might as well start by getting to know my colleagues.”

…

He was set, he was ready to improve. Just one more day, such a short period of time left for him to prepare. That would not stop him, he was determined, something which he had not felt in ages.

Yet life wouldn’t go easy on him, even just this once. He was already playing on hard mode and there was no way for him to reset his settings.

Once judgment day came, he felt quite a bit more discouraged, though not enough to make him give up, the determination which he had that day paled when compared to the one a day prior.

Nevertheless, he continued on his usual route to work.

He arrived there just like he would any other day-perfectly on time. He did not want to get in trouble for being late, nor did he want confusing attention directed towards him if he were to get there too early.

“Going smooth so far! Not that there was anything I could have messed up…”

With two light slaps to his cheeks, as if to wake himself up, he gathered courage and with a “Here we go!” he started approaching one of his colleagues who sits right beside him.

“U-uh, hi Steve! How are you?”

After uttering those barely understandable words, his head inner self started cheering with enthusiasm as if watching a successful rocket launch.

The reaction of the recipient, however, wasn’t quite what was expected.

With a confused look, Steve turned around and answered:

“Well, I’m fine, but how do you know my name? Not to sound rude, however I really do not know you? Have we met somewhere? ”

Like a stab right through the heart those words pierced his ears.

“I see your struggle.

I feel your pain.

Come and snuggle

Before you go insane.

Running away is now futile.

Accept your eternal exile. “

He turned left.

He turned right.

He realized that was the voice in his mind. He knew that, he was well aware of it and yet, he could not fight it. Like an itch which he could not scratch, like a pain which would not fade.

It enveloped him.

                             It knew him.

It knew he was weak.

He grasped his mouth and as if unable to breathe he started to faint backwards.

“What’s wrong with him? Why did he suddenly approach me?

“Now he is falling back. Seriously, what’s up with this dude? Weird…”

Everyone shunned him. Though muffled, their voices reached him.

That was it. He was destined to fail…

not yet.

“Shouldn’t we help him? He’s looking dizzy, he might be ill!”

A calming, yet worried voice tickled his eardrums. It was familiar.

“Could it be, the chicken nugget goddess!?”

She rushed over to catch him. His hand over her shoulders she helped him onto his chair.

“He looks familiar…”-she said to herself

“Hey, are you alright? You spaced out a bit.”

“I’m alright now, thank you for helping me!”

It was indeed the one and only savior of his, the chicken nugget goddess.

“You look familiar, I think we’ve seen each other before.”

“She remembers me? How is that even possible? Well…she did pay for my meal.”

“Ah, yes. I didn’t really get to thank you for paying for my meal. Let me return the money to you.”

“I didn’t come here to ask for money, I came here to help you! I remember who you are now, don’t bother with the money, it was nothing, really!”

“Thank you for your kindness, but I really must repay you back somehow! My guilt won’t let me live!”

“Hm. If you really wish so, you could help me out a bit with getting adjusted to work. I’m new here!”

“Is that so? Well if that’s all that you want I’d be happy to help!”

For some odd reason he had no trouble talking to her. The calmness and kindness in her tone was soothing.

After finishing his own project he helped her out with work. He had a great time overall, much better than what would have happened if she wasn’t there.

Like the moon lighting up the night sky

Seemingly impossible to reach, too far

You shine a light into my eye

And I feel like in the sky has appeared-

another star.