The faint rays of a warm spring evening cut through the window, illuminating the dust dancing in the stillness of his room.
Ken had just woken from something that felt like a bad dream. Drenched in sweat, he lit a cigarette. Sitting alone, he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He listened intently for any sound outside, but his ears met only deafening silence.
He strained to remember the dream, but its edges slipped away, maddeningly out of reach.
He tried to grasp the meaning of this moment, but an overwhelming helplessness pressed down on him. With a sigh, he pulled on his worn-out jacket and stepped out the door.
The evening breeze hit him like a tidal wave, making him stumble. He steadied himself and slowly made his way to the beach. There, he collapsed into a sun-bleached chair and watched the waves crash endlessly against the coast.
He had no family left. The only thing that gave his life meaning now was the primal urge to survive. He worked part-time at a convenience store in the godforsaken coastal city he called home.
At 2000 hours, he made his way to the changing room behind the store, where he was greeted—awkwardly—by Shristi, a girl he worked with. He clocked in at 2015 and began stacking new drinks in the mini-fridge beside the counter.
Most of the customers were elderly women and cranky children—passing through quickly, occasionally chatting with Shristi about the little town gossip. Ken, on the other hand, was avoided like the plague. Maybe it was his uninviting demeanor. Maybe his shabby appearance. Either way, it didn’t matter to him. His shift was nearly over.
After work, he fed the stray dogs that lingered near the store at closing time. In their eyes, he could see something he rarely found in people: gratitude. This simple ritual gave him a quiet joy.
On his way home, he stopped at the railing outside his apartment complex, staring out at the sea. It looked rougher tonight. He lit another cigarette and let out a long, tired sigh.
His eyes were empty—devoid of meaning. For a brief moment, he nearly cried, but something in him held it back. A voice, deep within, reminded him that he was all he had. He couldn’t afford to dishearten the only warrior left in his corner.
He returned to his room and collapsed onto the bed, replaying the day’s events in his mind until he drifted into yet another nightmare.
Even sleep offered no solace to his troubled soul.
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