It was morning again, and I slowly woke up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. As the sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, I got out of bed and began getting ready for the day ahead. Even though it was Sunday, the routine of preparing for work still lingered in my mind, pulling me into motion despite the weekend's promise of rest.
Following a long and exhausting day, I arrived at the café and began working on my tasks. After spending some time there focused and productive, I eventually made my way home to relax and recharge.
As I was walking home, a stranger suddenly ran toward me and handed me a small device. On its screen, a message flashed: "You've been selected for a top-secret mission. Read the details quickly — this device will self-destruct in 10 seconds."
Startled , I began reading as fast as I could. Just as I reached the end, I felt the device heating up in my hands. Realizing what was about to happen, I instinctively threw it away. A moment later, it exploded in mid-air.
"Was this an impossible mission ?"
I stopped overthinking and headed to my apartment. Waiting for me at the door was my rude landlord, Ms. Fitz, who was always strict about getting the rent on time.
"I don't have the money right now," I said hesitantly.
Ms. Fitz narrowed her eyes and snapped, "Pay your rent, Ella."
"I said, give me a few weeks, Ms. Fitz. I promise I'll pay your rent ".
Ms. Fitz said she would give me one week to pay the rent. If I don't pay by then, she warned that she will have no choice but to evict me .
Ms Fitz went away from a place I stepped into my apartment, the door clicking shut behind me with a dull finality. The weight of the day bore down on me, heavy and relentless. Without thinking, I dropped to the floor, my body sinking onto the cold tiles as I leaned back against the wall. The silence in the room was deafening, amplifying the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind. I pulled my knees close to my chest, trying to steady my breathing, but the tension refused to leave. It clung to me like a second skin—tight, suffocating, unshakable.
My mind was racing , looping the encounter
With the strangers over and over like a film reel I couldn't Pause. Who were they , Why did they approach me?what did they want?
I questioned every detail, every word, every glance—searching for meaning, for clues I might have missed. Was I too trusting? Too cold? Did I say something wrong? Doubt crept in, followed by unease. I buried my face in my hands, trying to silence the endless stream of questions echoing in my head, but the tension only grew stronger, curling tighter around me like a storm refusing to pass.
Exhaustion slowly crept in, dulling the sharp edges of my thoughts but never quite silencing them. I stayed there on the floor, my back against the wall, too tired to move, too restless to find peace. The quiet hum of the apartment surrounded me, but inside, my mind was anything but quiet. I closed my eyes, just for a moment, hoping to escape the weight of my thoughts. My body felt heavy, my limbs sinking deeper into the floor as if gravity was pulling me into the earth. The questions still circled, softer now, like whispers in the dark. Eventually, without realizing it, I drifted off right there—curled up on the cold floor, the tension still lingering in my chest, sleep washing over me not like comfort, but like surrender.
The next morning, I woke up ...