chapter 1: chance
"That's all for today, everyone. Don't forget to do your homework; it's due by Monday. If you don't hand it in, you'll lose points," the teacher reminded the class, her gaze sweeping over the students in front of her.
At the back of the classroom, Sam leaned over his desk, gathering books and notebooks with a relieved expression on his tired face. Standing at 5'9", he blended into the crowd of students, his messy brown hair falling into his eyes, yet he managed a faint smile. The math class had been as tedious as ever, but finally, it had come to an end.
His warm brown eyes glinted as he exchanged smiles with his close friends. Dressed in simple, comfortable clothes, Sam was known at school not for his looks but for his friendly demeanor and his friendships with nearly everyone. He wasn't the type to draw attention at first glance, but his calm presence and willingness to help others endeared him to many. Despite not standing out prominently, his personality and kindness left a positive mark on everyone around him.
With a sigh of relief, Sam tucked the last book into his bag and stood up from the desk. Slipping it casually over his shoulder, he headed towards the classroom exit. Walking through the bustling hallways, he exchanged brief words and smiles with familiar classmates, effortlessly fostering a friendly atmosphere around him. After bidding goodbye to his friends, he left the school with a smile, greeting passing students until he reached the exit.
A few blocks later, Sam ensured no one was nearby. Alone, his smile and warmth vanished abruptly. It was as if he had shed an outer shell, his face now devoid of expression and his vacant eyes seeming to ignore everything around him.
His distant gaze seemed lost in thoughts or unknown concerns. Leaving the school's familiar setting, he appeared to discard the facade he wore in public, revealing a darker, more intimate side of himself. With steady steps, he strolled down the empty street, immersed in his thoughts as the world around him slowly faded away.
Sam's footsteps echoed softly on the quiet pavement, the only sound in the otherwise silent night. Each step carried him deeper into the solitude he craved, away from the bustling noise of school life.
"Finally... The weekend is here," Sam sighed with relief. "No more worrying about playing that exhausting role for a few days."
As he reached a busy street, Sam paused, watching about thirty people cross after the traffic light turned green. Standing on the sidelines of the hurried crowd, he observed how each person moved, each lost in their own world, oblivious to one another's presence.
All these people, always in a rush, determined to achieve their goals, chasing targets that seemed so urgent in that fleeting moment. Whether going to work, heading home, shopping, or enjoying themselves, everyone appeared locked in a relentless race against time.
But Sam knew this cycle had no end. After a fleeting pause to enjoy the fruits of their labor, they would soon return to the same monotonous routine without realizing it.
And then, when they least expected it, time would have passed them by. They would be old, tired, replaced by new faces in life's relentless marathon. It was an unforgiving cycle, where the only certainty was the inevitability of death, patiently waiting at the finish line of every journey.
Even if he amassed wealth to escape the daily grind, life ultimately revolved around earning and spending money until the end. If he rose to power, influencing thousands and shaping futures with a word, he'd still be caught in this relentless cycle. Every decision, every transaction fed the craving for more. Wealth might bring fleeting satisfaction, but it always demanded greater sacrifices, binding him tighter to its pursuit. And in the end, amidst all the riches and influence, Sam would find himself in a gilded cage of his own making, forever chasing an elusive sense of fulfillment.
Yet, regardless of his wealth or influence, Sam understood he shared the same destiny as everyone else. Death, the great equalizer, spared no one. Neither riches nor power could delay its arrival or alter its course. It awaited patiently at the end of every life's journey, a stark reminder that in the grand scheme, all achievements and ambitions were fleeting. Even the mighty were humbled by its inevitability, their legacies fading as time marched on.
Lost in thought, Sam didn't notice the traffic light had turned red as he crossed the street. His mind was immersed in reflections on life and its limitations when he suddenly startled upon realizing a speeding truck heading towards him.
After the brutal impact, Sam found himself lying on the ground, semi-conscious. He could think, hear, and see, yet he was completely paralyzed, unable to speak, move, or even feel his own body. It was as if he were trapped in a liminal state between life and death, a silent witness to everything unfolding around him.
Gradually, distant voices began to penetrate his hazy consciousness. He recognized the sound of sirens, the worried murmurs of people nearby, and the continuous hum of traffic. Each passing moment seemed to stretch endlessly as he struggled to grasp what had happened.
"Ah, damn, I've been hit..." Sam sighed inwardly, bitterness seeping into his heart. "How fragile the human body is," he murmured resignedly, reflecting on his vulnerable state. This painful reality forced him to question the world's injustices, where lives can be shattered in an instant, while others carry on, oblivious to life's fragility.
As his consciousness blurred, Sam began to reminisce about his life. Memories flashed vividly: moments of being a dutiful son, always there for his family; his popularity at school, where he was beloved; the challenges and small triumphs that defined his ordinary existence. Objectively, Sam had led a good life.
However, despite all the achievements and shared smiles, what he felt now was immense bitterness and anger—a cocktail of frustration for unfulfilled dreams, resentment for injustices endured, and the missed opportunities along the way. The stark realization of his powerlessness in the face of life and impending death engulfed him, exposing a profound, gnawing pain.
He pondered if everything he had done until now had been worthwhile. If his choices had been the right ones. After all, where was he now, teetering on the precipice of the unknown, confronting the inevitable?
Darkness descended, his eyelids weighed heavy as lead. Sam yearned to surrender to the allure of sleep, yet his grip on life persisted for a few precious moments more. Reflecting on his existence, he arrived at a bitter conclusion: "I've done enough, but it's never been sufficient. There was never a chance to be enough. Death is relentless." A wry smile played on Sam's lips as he succumbed to the edge of unconsciousness. "If only I had a chance..."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone