Day in, day out.

Every hour was filled with a looming sense of futility and monotony.

Monday through Friday, 8:00 am till 5:00 pm. The same routine. The same desk job. The same faces. The same commute to work. The same greetings and pleasantries.

Dull.

Before I knew it, I’d reached 30 years of age. Middle-aged.

A middle-aged office lady. Slowly turning into a career woman. Unmarried.

Comments about both my age and marital status were slowly increasing as the months and years went by. Queries into whether I’d ever settle down.

Settle down.

As if it were that simple. What, like get married to some rich guy and rely on him for everything? Tch. Like I’d ever trust someone to have that kind of power over me. Like I’d trust someone that much regardless. That would require letting someone get that close to you.

At the end of the day, the only person you could rely on was yourself. I maintained that philosophy, as it had served me better than other thoughts and attempts in the past.

Besides, there were younger women. Prettier. More friendly and entertaining. Less jaded. Perhaps not as intelligent or competent as myself, but those two were things you looked for in employees, not so much spouses. Probably, I think.

While the years hadn’t been particularly unkind to me, I could still see my face didn’t have that vibrant luster from my teens. Another 10 years and I’m sure the tell-tale signs of age would start creeping up on me. I’d brushed my black bangs to the side while standing before the bathroom mirror, inspecting my eyes for any anomalies. I never found any signs, but it was inevitable.

I’d psycho-analyzed the hell out of my personality for years now. I knew all my faults, issues, and strong points. My brain simply didn’t work in the same way as ‘normal’ people. Deep down, I wanted something to change.

And then, there was a change.

A small one that I made myself. Then a not so small one.

It was a simple adjustment to my evening pattern. Normally I would head home, arrive at my condo between 5:34 pm and 5:36 pm. The third key from my keychain opened both locks and I’d put my shoes on the rack next to the door before hanging up my jacket. Then I headed to my room, changing into more comfortable clothes. On Wednesdays, I would do laundry. Typically I would spend the evenings alone doing work projects, watching TV dramas, playing games or reading.

Normally I’d be in bed at 10:30 pm, tablet in hand looking over either finances or a random news story that seemed vaguely interesting. ‘Normally’.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Tonight, however, I decided to take a walk.

I wasn’t entirely sure why I chose a walk to shake up the routine, but it was accessible enough an activity. It didn’t require people or planning other than by myself.

It was a bit chilly, but I went to the local park. Street lamps kept the well-maintained lawn and cobblestone pathway illuminated. It was a city-owned park, taking up two square blocks near downtown. There was a small pond in the center, with a black gated fence and a few wooden benches along the walkways. I decided to sit on them and stargaze for a moment.

Light pollution prevented me from gazing at a truly breathtaking sky, but it was relaxing nonetheless. A light chill in the air, the dim twinkle of the stars. I’d had my eyes half closed, reflecting on life.

The next time I opened them, my eyes grew wide.

Amidst all the hustle and bustle of city light, amidst all the light that was strangling the beauty from the sky, I saw it—a comet.

A wispy bluish-white tail that was completely ephemeral in nature. It was only going to last for a few seconds, but I remembered something my mother would tell me growing up.

If you ever see a falling star, make a wish. If you’re lucky and God is listening, it may just come true.

God, huh? For an agnostic like me, that didn’t have much meaning. But still, it was a nice thought. So I wished.

“If you’re really out there, I wish that I could change my life. I wish for something truly exciting, to have my heart beat faster again after all these years.”

The comet was gone by the time I’d even started my wish. Supposedly if you didn’t finish in time it meant the wish wouldn’t come true. Not sure where I heard that one, but I just laughed it off as more nonsense.

The only person you can rely on for change is yourself. Wishing was just a fun distraction. That’s all.

A small smile broke upon my face as I mentally chastised my own silliness, before hiking my jacket up and heading home.

I slept well that night, though with vivid thoughts and dreams. Or at least, I think I did. They’d already slipped through my consciousness and were lost. The comfort remained, however.

I began to get worried. My body was telling me something was off, as if I’d slept in far too long. Tomorrow was Thursday, and as such I had work. I kept two alarms set, so I sincerely doubted I had overslept. I hadn’t done so in years. But it didn’t explain my strange sense of rest, especially considering I’d been up an hour late.

When I tried to open my eyes, I realized that something was wrong with my body. I was having trouble moving and felt oddly cold. Did the thermostat malfunction?

I heard a ding! which I assumed was a notification on my phone, but when I looked towards my bed stand on my left, I realized I was currently lacking both my home furniture and a working arm to grab my phone with.

Curious. Something was blinking in my peripheral vision that I initially assumed was my computer’s router. I must’ve fallen off the bed somehow. Did I injure myself? I wasn’t in pain.

I tried to roll over, but all I heard was a quiet squelch! noise. It was like a puddle of water against laminate flooring.

I was deeply confused by this point. I tried looking towards that dimly blinking light again, only for something to go from my peripheral vision to directly in front of me. It was a pale green rectangle, opaque and with a fuzzy border.

Congratulations

You are now a Level 1 Tiny Slime. Please enjoy an exciting, heart-pounding adventure. That is all.

Oh. Well, that makes more sense now I suppose. I’ve gone crazy.