I've always thought this world was a cruel one.
I've also always thought that the fact we are humans is cruel.
The fact that we have the intelligence to understand that life itself isn't fair.
The fact that we have the imagination to dream of another world. A better world. But without any way or power to act upon it.
Though we as humans are constantly tortured by this very idea, we know that it isn't achievable.
We know that there is no escape.
And it's cruel.
I, Akio Sato, have now been living in this cruel world for 35 years as of today.
When I was younger, I used to think that by now I would be happy. That I would have anything I wanted. That this world would
bow beneath me.
Just thinking of it now makes me laugh.
How wrong could I have been?
Firstly, I'm not happy. I am stuck in a company that overworks me everyday with minimal pay and have been for 17 years now.
Secondly, having everything I want? That most certainly isn't the case. In fact, I can barely afford to keep up with my living costs.
And lastly, for the world to bow beneath me? How deluded must I have been to think that would ever be the case.
Well, that's enough thinking of the impossible for now.
The time is 00:30am in the morning and the only light being emitted is from the dim, old tube light above me and the flickering
screen of my computer. The place I am sat in is empty, with the last person leaving around an hour ago.
Finally, I finish my work for the day.
I switch the work office desktop off and make sure to push the chair under the table so that my not-so-benevolent boss won't
shout at me in the morning like the last time I forgot to.
I pick my coat up from underneath me and walk towards the exit.
Though I was supposed to end work at 11pm today, I got the news that I would have to handle the uncompleted files of my
absent colleague from my boss just as I was about to leave at the regular time (which hasn't been so regular ever).
I have accepted working unpaid overtime as a part of my normal life now, though it pains me to admit. I have lost the strength
to even complain anymore.
So much for having fun after school playing games and watching anime as I did when I was a kid...
As I think to myself of how useless my life has truly become, I turn the rusty doorknob and exit the building.
Outside, the darkness of the street is only relieved slightly by the pale, dim light of the moon.
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It's going to take around 30 minutes to walk home from my workplace and whilst I do so, I try to not think of the inevitable day full of work I despise waiting for me tomorrow.
Tears fall.
Not because of the depressing reality of my situation-my heart and emotions have hardened long ago-but because of the cold
air irritating my already strained eyes.
Instead of wiping them away, I leave them to trickle down my frozen skin holding onto the miniscule chance the world will take
pity on me and free me from this life. But a few minutes pass and I realise that there really is no way it would happen.
Can't I at least be afforded a little chance to hope for something good to occur though?
I'm tired. My eyes start shutting of their own accord as I am walking but I force them open.
Just 25 minutes longer. Then I can sleep.
As I slap my face to force myself back into consciousness, I realise that I don't know where I'm going anymore.
The only source of light available which was the moon is now nowhere to be seen and I can't remember which direction I am going.
With no light to guide me, I continue walking in the way I am facing, hoping that it will take me to the familiar orange tinted streetlamp right beside my house.
A minute or so later I can see it.
Finally.
I take a few seconds to catch my breath, thinking of my warm cosy bed I will be laying in soon.
I force my closed eyes open again and am about to start walking towards my house but notice something.
Though I haven't moved, hasn't the light gotten closer to me by itself?
Though I find it odd, I dismiss the thought and think of it being an illusion due to my exhaustion and continue to walk further.
The light continues to come towards me at an abnormal pace though my own is fairly slow.
I'm just tired and seeing things, that's all there is to it, I convince myself again.
A few seconds later, the light is finally about 3 metres away from me. Finally, I'm nearly home.
But as I look further upwards I notice something is...different.
The body of the streetlamp that is supposed to be slender is huge in width and height.
Not to mention it's emitting a loud sound that of an engine makes.
It's... a truck. And it's headed right towards me!
They say your life flashes before your eyes when you die but now I have received the achievement of proving it false.
Just before I can think of how pathetically my life will come to an end...
It's over already.