Beep, beep, beep.
Nolan woke up. He stretched out his hand and turned off the alarm. Then he stood up and looked around his room. He picked up his phone.
It hit him—I have to get to work. I have to go clean, he muttered.
Just then, he heard the familiar sound of his neighbors—a couple always arguing.
"Ugh, those two again…" he muttered, pulling on his hoodie. "Whatever. I've got to get to work."
He quickly took off his clothes and rushed into the bathroom. His eyes were still saggy—he'd slept around 5 a.m., playing video games again. His face always looked like that. Day by day.
He grabbed his bag with his janitor clothes, picked up his music player, wrapped it around his neck, connected it to his headset, and immediately left the apartment.
Downstairs, he took his bike and started riding to school.
Shit, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.
When he finally arrived and got off his bike, his former teacher was standing at the gate, waiting for him. He changed his mood quickly as he approached.
"Hello, good morning," Nolan said.
"Why do you always come late? You're supposed to be here very early. By six, you should already be cleaning," Angela said.
"I know. I was really busy. Last night I didn't get enough sleep," he replied.
"Well, whatever. Just go inside and get to work."
He didn't say another word. He walked in, took off his headset, let it hang around his neck, and headed inside the school.
He went to the staff changing room, changed into his janitor clothes, grabbed a mop and bucket, and started cleaning the hallway.
"Today is Friday. Tomorrow I'll be free. Not much work. I'm going to visit the orphanage like I do every Saturday. I'll buy toys for the kids, then go home and continue playing games," he thought.
It wasn't that he played games because he loved them—it was just the only thing he could do.
Nolan was someone who wished for a normal life. Even if he lived alone, he just wanted peace. Most people looked down on him, insulted him. His parents didn't like him. He had wanted their attention when he was younger—but they never gave it. Now, he had accepted that.
But Nolan was kind. He often didn't realize the good things he'd done—like saving a woman whose purse was stolen, or helping an old lady cross the street. He never thought much of it.
He was still lost in thought when two students—about 14 years old—walked by. They glanced at him.
"Hey, hey, see that dude who graduated from our school? He's now our fucking janitor," one of them said, laughing.
Nolan didn't notice them at first. Then they kicked his bucket of water. That snapped him out of it.
"You pest!" he shouted, but they ran off, laughing.
"Well, whatever. I just have to finish my job and go home, as usual. Every day is still the same," Nolan said as he cleaned up the spilled water and refilled the bucket. Finally, he was done.
He moved on to clean the toilets, then took out his phone and checked the time.
"I have to go home and continue playing my game. But not just that—there's a limited-edition game out: Sumo Adventurer. I have to buy it before it's sold out. Last time, it was sold out. I hope today's different," he said.
He finished his work quickly, went back to the changing room, took off his janitor clothes, packed them in his bag, and changed into his regular clothes.
It was already 2:30—thirty minutes before school closed.
He signed out, grabbed his bicycle, and rushed to the game store. After a 15-minute ride, he arrived.
"Finally, it's here," he said.
He walked in and asked the receptionist, "Where's the game?" His excitement was obvious.
She shook her head. "It's been sold out—not long ago."
He looked around and saw the sign: SOLD OUT. His excitement crashed. He walked out of the store, disappointed.
Then he saw a young girl playing with a toy. It slipped from her hand and rolled into the middle of the road. She ran after it.
Nolan stood watching—until he looked left and saw a van speeding toward her.
People were shouting, "Get away! Get away!" but no one moved.
He rushed forward.
What am I doing? I have to save that girl, was the only thing on his mind.
As he reached out to push her away, a huge yellow light surrounded him. A glowing circle formed—and he vanished.
He appeared in a place covered in blue light, tiny sparks floating all around. He looked around, confused.
"Where am I? What is this?"
His body was glowing, and he wasn't wearing any clothes.
Then a voice spoke: "You are having a dream."
He turned and saw a man with long hair and a huge smile.
"Who are you?" Nolan asked.
"I am what you would call an angel," the man replied.
"Then… does that mean I died? But you said this is a dream."
"Yes, this is a dream. You didn't die. When you wake up, you'll find yourself in a forest," the angel said.
"What do you mean? Why?" Nolan asked.
"You were summoned by mistake—which I'm really sorry for. In a village called Sindra, a church was performing a ritual to summon a hero. They succeeded—but you were also caught in the process and summoned to a forest," the angel explained.
"A hero…? I don't get it," Nolan said.
"You'll understand when you wake up. I've seen your life—no recognition from your family and all that. Here, you can live your life however you want. A quiet life, in a place of your choosing. You'll make friends, find a companion… because I know the life you'll choose. A world where magic exists. But when you wake up, everything will become clear. And as an apology for dragging you into this, I'll give you an ability no one else has," the angel said, slowly fading.
"Wait—what about the little girl I was trying to save? Did she get out?" Nolan asked.
"She's safe. Before the van could hit her, the driver stopped. Her mom took her away," the angel said.
"Stop! Are you going? Why are you fading?!" Nolan shouted.
The angel didn't answer. He only smiled… and disappeared.
Nolan—now lying on the ground—suddenly raised his head, breathing fast.
He had finally woken up.
He looked around… and saw that he was in a forest.