Ethan Cole stepped out of the bookstore, stretching his arms behind him with a deep sigh.

'It's been a tiring day,' he thought.

The sky above Novan City was beautifully changing colors, with shades of orange and pink. The setting sun created long shadows on the busy streets below.

The city was alive with activity; people rushed to catch their trains, groups of teenagers shared laughs, and street vendors tried to attract the attention of people walking by.

Glancing at his phone, Ethan noticed it was 8:13 p.m. His workday had just ended, and despite it being the beginning of his summer break, he felt far from relaxed.

He had spent his whole day restocking shelves, working the cash register, and dealing with demanding customers. It was far from the break he had been looking forward to.

Ethan was managing with his part-time job, which helped cover his family's groceries and some bills, but it always felt like it wasn't enough.

While lost in thought, his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a message from his mom.

Mom: [Hey honey, can you grab some groceries on your way home? The landlord stopped by again. We need to pay the rent by Friday. Can I ask you to help this month?]

Ethan paused, looking at the message, feeling a wave of tiredness wash over him. He thought, 'How can I manage this time?'

He then opened his phone's banking app, Novan Trust, to check his balance. "Let's see what I have..." he muttered, waiting for the app to update. Upon seeing his account balance, he sighed deeply.

[Account Balance: $1,370.80]

Ethan felt the pressure. Although he wanted to help, the weight of responsibility was overwhelming, coming at him from all sides.

At twenty, Ethan had hoped this summer would be a break from the relentless demands of university life. Instead, he felt trapped, with the supposed break merely adding to his stress.

"I'll find ways to help," he reassured himself, trying to ease the growing worry in his mind. With a sigh, he put his phone away and began to walk down the crowded street.

As evening approached, the city began to light up. Novan City had its charms, yet it was a place of stark contrasts.

In the distance, skyscrapers and affluent areas sparkled, a vivid contrast to the older, rundown neighborhoods like Edgewater, where Ethan's family resided.

Edgewater was a tough place. Here, people worked tirelessly just to get by, and the dream of a better life seemed out of reach for most.

Lost in thought, Ethan wandered aimlessly until a loud honk snapped him back to reality as he crossed the street.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, kid!" yelled the driver of a grey Honda City, narrowly missing Ethan as he sped away.

"I'm sorry!" Ethan quickly apologized, raising his hand even though the driver had already sped away. He continued walking, a familiar sense of tiredness creeping in.

Working wasn't the issue for Ethan. He didn't mind it.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The problem was that he seemed to always work just to survive without making any real progress. Whether it was his part-time job at the convenience store, tutoring local kids or fellow university students, or the occasional programming project, it all felt like treading water.

It was as if he was standing still, watching the world rush by him.

As Ethan reached Briggs Street, he suddenly heard someone calling his name from behind.

"Ethan! Wait up, man!"

Turning around, he saw Jordan, a good friend from high school, jogging towards him.

Jordan was the type who always seemed at ease, with a smile that could lighten any mood and a charisma that made him well-liked wherever he went.

"Hey," Ethan greeted, catching Jordan's attention just as he caught up, slightly panting from the effort.

"Man, I thought you'd already left for home. Did your shift just end?" Jordan inquired, brushing his hair away from his face.

"Yep, just finished. I'm on my way to pick up some groceries for my mom," Ethan explained, looking around as the evening light began to dim.

"Groceries, huh? Mind if I join you? I was about to go for a coffee, but that can wait," Jordan offered.

Ethan gave a nonchalant shrug. "Sure, why not?"

They walked together through the bustling streets, heading to a nearby grocery store. Having been friends since their freshman year of high school, their bond was cemented by a mutual sense of humor and a relaxed, effortless friendship.

Jordan decided to take a break after high school to explore and better understand himself before entering college. Meanwhile, Ethan chose a different path and went straight to university. In the middle of his degree, Ethan began questioning his decision.

As they walked down Clementine Avenue, Jordan brought up the summer plans. "So, what's the plan for this summer? Besides working your tail off, that is," he asked.

Ethan responded with a light laugh, though it lacked real amusement. "Not much, really. Just trying to save up some money, help at home, and hopefully get a little break here and there."

Jordan, surprised, replied, "Dude, you're only twenty. You should be out having fun, not working all the time. How about we hit the beach next weekend, grab drinks, and enjoy ourselves?"

Ethan shook his head, "I wish I could. But I need to cover this month's rent; my mom's been worrying about the bills. Plus, I've got tuition payments coming up."

Concerned for his friend, Jordan said, "You still need to find time for yourself, man. If you don't, you'll be completely burnt out when school starts back up."

Ethan managed a faint smile in response to Jordan, even though he knew Jordan was making a valid point.

He wasn't opposed to the idea of taking it easy; every time he considered the possibility of a break, the harsh reality of his circumstances would come flooding back. He was overwhelmed by mounting bills, rent, and loans, and it seemed like there was no way out.

Soon after, they found themselves at the quaint grocery store on the street's corner. The store's neon sign was slightly flickering as they entered.

Ethan picked up a shopping basket and began filling it with basic necessities: milk, bread, eggs, and various canned goods.

Jordan trailed behind him, somewhat absentmindedly browsing the aisles. Eventually, Jordan reached for some candies placed on the shelves.

Jordan leaned in closer as they walked towards the checkout and whispered, "Did you hear about the robbery at the electronics store down the block?"

Ethan looked surprised and asked, "Robbery? When did that happen?"

"It was last night. A group of thieves broke in after the store closed and completely emptied it. And the weirdest part? Nobody heard or saw anything until it was all over."

"That's odd," Ethan remarked, ringing up his items.

"Yeah, it really makes you think," Jordan lowered his voice even further, almost as if he were sharing a secret. "What if it wasn't just ordinary thieves? What if it was, you know, professionals?"

Ethan laughed a bit at that. "Sounds like you've been watching too many heist films."

"But hey, you never know," Jordan responded with a wide grin. "The world is full of surprises."

Ethan finished paying for his groceries and thanked the cashier before grabbing his bag. He and Jordan stepped back into the street, noticing the cooler air of the evening settling in.

Ethan took a moment to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

As they parted ways, Jordan gave Ethan a few friendly pats on the shoulder and said, "Anyway, I'll catch you later. Think about the beach, yeah? You could use some time off."

Ethan responded, "Yeah, I'll think about it," even though he wasn't sure he'd actually be able to make it.

Jordan waved goodbye and walked off in the opposite direction, leaving Ethan alone on the quiet street.

Ethan adjusted his grip on the grocery bag and started walking back toward his home in Edgewater, his thoughts drifting as they often did lately.

The city had a different feel at night. The lights seemed softer, and the usual noises were quieter.

For a short while, Ethan felt the heavy burdens of work, family responsibilities, and the constant hustle just a bit lighter. But this moment of relief was brief.

As he got closer to his apartment building, the harsh reality of his daily life came flooding back.

Taking a deep breath, Ethan climbed the stairs, mentally preparing himself for another long night.