...98,99,100. I've been counting sheep for the past 15 minutes. Another night of misery where I can't seem to fall asleep. It's been happening for the past week but work has been stressing me out, my coworker left abruptly without telling anyone so I have to be working overtime. I don't blame her though it sucks here, too many hours and not enough pay.

I'm barely surviving...Well, I'm being a bit dramatic. I live in a nice house, have a decent car, and a decent salary. Sometimes I like to be dramatic but the truth is I'm bored. Bored with this life but then again it's a boring world. We're probably in the matrix. So every night I lay awake thinking about a world where we don't act like robots.

Heck, we're probably robots. CRAP! What if we're robots or worse aliens?, what if I'm not real? I start laughing at myself because I'm being ridiculous as usual. I seriously need to sleep. After overthinking for the millionth time tonight I finally fell asleep.

The buzzing of the alarm lets me know that I've lived to see another day which I am grateful for so I thank the Lord as I get up out of bed and get ready for work. The walk to the closet is another routine in my life, another never-ending repetition to go to my boring job as a customer service agent.

Where all the customers do is call and complain about whatever random product they are having problems with. All I ever seem to get is the high-rate ones, for instance Mrs. Billings, a 45-year-old widow who always shops at the local Walmart. Every time she shops she complains about being robbed and then proceeds to tell me about her husband that used to cheat on her until he passed away.

She says she's happy that he died but I think she's just sad and lonely like the rest of us, but that's just the reality of life. Anyways, I'm getting way too ahead of myself and the time is running as I take a look at the old-time retro clock that hangs on my blue wall, 7:48 Am. I have less than 30 minutes to reach to work or that old grumpy Mr. Stone will have my head, there have been two incidents where I have been late.

Late on the first day of the job: I had been in the early Monday traffic where all the drivers seem to do is cut in line. Long story short, I came in at 9 Am.

Late on the second week of work: I accidentally set my alarm clock to 9 Am. So I woke up late and ended up arriving at work at 10 Am.

Let's just say that Mr. Stone took it as a personal duty to be hard on me ever since. The drive to work is the same as usual. The radio 198 FM has the best Jams. A new artist Cole Harrison is being interviewed by Ms. Fame, a popular radio celebrity about his new EP coming up.

As I drove to work, the radio played in the background, and I listened to Cole Harrison's interview tapping my fingers on the steering as I watch multiple cars drift by, but suddenly he said, "It's just the beginning of something new," the words instantly sending a shiver down my spine. A powerful wave of déjà vu washed over me, almost like a premonition. I was so lost in my thoughts, trying to grasp the significance of that moment, that I didn't notice the truck hurtling toward me. By the time I looked up, it was too late to react.

"Help! Help!" ,"Is he dead?" I heard bits and pieces of voices. I tried moving my mouth to ask them what was going on but I couldn't, I couldn't feel anything. That was all I remembered. The next time I heard a voice was some time later not sure when but it was dark and then out of nowhere came a blinding light and the voice said "It's just the start of a new beginning" and then I woke up to someone touching me and calling my name.

I slowly opened my eyes to see a lady in a white coat with a stethoscope around her neck smiling at me. "You're awake Francis, You scared us for a bit there. " water", I managed to say as my voice croaked. A straw was immediately placed at my mouth by another female in blue scrubs who I'm assuming is the nurse, so I gulped down several sips. "

How are you feeling? Do you remember what happened? "She asked after I finished drinking. I rose up in the bed but immediately felt a buzzing feeling in my head and in my shoulders an immediate sharp pain arose. "Be careful, lie back down, you are suffering from a concussion because you met in an accident".

" Accident?".

" Yes, you were in a car accident. You were going pretty fast down the opposite lane. Luckily, that truck didn't cause any serious damage or else you could've died". This was a very alarming speech as I remember nothing of the sort and the last thing I remembered was the conversation of Kole and that random voice I heard. Who was that? How I ended up on the opposite lane was a foreign action as I am normally a very skilled driver.

"Nurse Lane ", I heard the doctor called. The nurse who had been talking to me turned to the doctor " Mr. Black needs to rest now", the nurse then turned to me and gently placed her hands on my shoulders. " Get some rest, ring the bell if you need anything ", she walks out of the room leaving me to my thoughts.

Buzzzzz, buzzzz. I heard my phone ringing, so I looked over to the bedside table to see my phone. I take it up and see 200 missed calls and 100 messages. I scrolled through the phone and realized that the messages were from my coworkers and the calls were from my boss. I visibly roll my eyes. Maybe I should have died. I didn't bother listening to the voicemails he left and just called him back. After 2 rings he picks up and immediately starts shouting in my ear.

" IT HAS BEEN 10 HOURS AND YOU DIDN'T LEAVE A NOTE TO SAY YOU AREN'T COMING TO WORK. YOU KNOW WE ARE LOW ON STAFF YET YOU PULL THIS STUNT. GIVE ME ONE REASON WHY I SHOULDN'T FIRE YOU RIGHT NOW?".

" I met in an accident, I was on my way to work and a truck hit the side of my car. I just have a concussion and my shoulder is bruised but other than that I'm fine." " oh I'm sorry to hear that son, but you should've driven better. I'm still short on staff. What will I do now?. This isn't good for business....Well since you just have a concussion can you come in tomorrow?"

"I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, YOU DON'T EVEN CARE THAT I COULD HAVE DIED. YOU ARE A PATHETIC PIECE OF CRAP AND ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES HATE YOU.

I QUIT! " I shouted. Then proceeded to hang up the phone. I wished it were one of those phones I could slam on the post so I could gain some sort of satisfaction from the banging noise I would hear from the impact. I placed my phone on the bedside table and then turned to sleep.

I arose to a person sitting next to my bed in a chair, Kyle Larson, my best friend since high school. He looks up from his phone to see that I'm awake. " Hey, how are you feeling?"." Not too bad" ,he nods and then proceeds to get up from his chair to grab something. " I heard from the boss that you met in a car accident, well more like overheard as he was blasting your name up in the office like it's your local advertisement speaker".

Of course he would do that, I don't think he would be able to live one day without my name in his mouth, I wonder how much longer he's gonna survive without me in the office anymore."

" You know I think he secretly admires you" Kyle said while laughing. " and maybe that's just how he shows his love". "Yeah right and pigs can fly, I'm pretty sure he just hates me, But Kyle I quit my job". Kyle turned to me. " Took you long enough, I wondered how much longer it would take you to leave that place. Now that you are no longer there it's not much longer before I will leave too.

I wonder how Lorna is going to feel when you're not at the office anymore ", he smiled mischievously. I shook my head. " Stop, you know we're not together". " But you know that she has liked you since the day you drank coffee and nearly spilled it over yourself while waiting to be interviewed ".

" She's okay but she's just not my type, She's beautiful alright but there's just something special I'm looking for". Kyle looked at me with an eyebrow raised. " Special? Like the new menu at Barney's. You've never had a girlfriend before. You are a 23 year old virgin". An immediate blush came up on my face as I took up the little plush pillow to throw on him. He dodged the pillow and said

"But seriously you need to get laid it's starting to show in your everyday life. You are miserable and as I said it shows. As a matter of fact, research has shown that if you have sex often it increases your chances of a happier life. I mean look at me, I am living proof." Sure, Kyle, sure. "At least I don't have to take an STD test every 3 months to ensure I'm not being a mode of transmission".

" Whatever, I'm Clean".

" That's what they all say, anyway how is Clair?"

Just then the doctor and the nurse came in. The nurse gave me a tray of food and the doctor told me that I could be discharged today. So I ate, did some paperwork, and finally got to leave by evening. Kyle decided that he would babysit me because as my knight in shining armor, it is his duty. His words, not mine. So he drove me home and I hopped in the shower to relax my aching muscles.

After which we ordered some Chinese takeout and watched Kyle's favorite series, Bridgerton, for the 100th time. 2 hours in and I glanced over from the television to look at Kyle who to my surprise was asleep, Wow! Ain't that a sight for sore eyes, Kyle was sleeping while Bridgerton was on. Seeing him so vulnerable makes me just think about how strong he is. His parents were horrible to him, I don't understand how
anyone would hurt him though but

because of that he has a lot of walls up. He might seem like he's happy and full of love but he has his days. One day in high school I found him crying in the bathroom with bruises all over. I tried talking to him however, he didn't open up at first but eventually he did and we have been best friends ever since.

So he sleeps around, I guess it's a coping mechanism, he wants to feel as much love as possible so he can make up for the love he didn't get in his childhood. Claire, his on-and-off girlfriend, was the first girl he loved. But their relationship is a bit toxic because they constantly cheat on each other. I guess that's how they love.

Clair had worn him out or that
Stone, with his raving orders of coffee and donuts from that little Café downtown. I yawned as I walked over to the television, shut it off, and walked to my room for some sleep. It was a little close to midnight when I heard that voice again. "It's just the start of a new beginning" and suddenly I was awake in this random place.

It was bright this time like a room but all the walls were white then suddenly I started seeing flashes of pictures on the walls. But they were coming and going too fast for me to see. I could barely make out the images, everything was blurred. However, I heard horses running and neighing.

And then there was this in writing "It's just the start of a new beginning" on the wall all around me. I just stood there shocked because it felt like reality but I knew it was a dream. It looks and feels so real. It was like something was calling at me, begging me to listen. That was the last thing I remembered before my alarm went off.

" crap, crap", I shouted. I forgot to turn off my alarm. I reached over to turn off the thing. Just then the door burst open and Kyle's figure appeared. " Hey morning, how are you feeling now?" " As healthy as a rat on poison", he looked at me with a cringed expression.

" I'm fine, why are you up so early?". " I don't live here, remember. I have to go to Clair's place for the rest of my clothes, we're on a break". I wonder how many of those breaks they're gonna take before it's permanent. I thought , " Okay, drive safely, that 's what got me in this position". " yeah sure, see you later, rest up". With that, he took his leave.

3:55 Pm It was time for my favorite talk show to come on and I was currently seated on the couch. When the host Jimmy Neutral came on " Welcome back to this show, today we have a new guest with us, Joel Linton. The new actor hosted for a new series called " Griz", come on out Joel".

" Thank you for having me Jimmy".

'' So Joel, how is the new show going?"" I love this new movie, Jimmy. It's just the start of a new beginning and experience for me as I have never done anything remotely close. All the sky diving, endless boat rid-", a buzzing noise came the moment I heard that same sentence and then the dizziness came, it felt as if my head was shifting. I closed my eyes then opened it.

A figure shifted past me "Francis it whispered, come home to me, Francis." Just as it said my name I felt a slight breeze blowing. I might be crazy but I swear I felt hands touch my face. I ran from the figure as the figure kept on repeating the same thing as it came closer and closer. The closer it came the more I backed up until my back hit the wall and the figure whispered in my ear " I'm waiting on you," I felt my heart stop as I fainted.

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