All my life I lived half-heartedly. I never found anything enjoyable. I had no reason to live.
Every.
Single.
Day.
My life would repeat as if in a cycle. Wake up, work, eat, sleep. An average life with underwhelming achievements. I was willing to die at any moment if the world decided to end me...
So why...
Why am I running towards her?
[1 Week Ago]
I typed in silence on my computer, ignoring the noise from my co-workers who were celebrating making a great deal with a multi-million dollar company. A stack of documents sat by my desk showing how much work I had left to do.
'Fucking bastard increased it again'. I silently thought as I glanced at a tall robust man who looked like the prince charming of the party.
Unfortunately, their eyes met, causing the man to smile slightly as he asked in a loud voice. "Come on Arthur, finish your quota and join us." The crowd finally noticed Arthur for the first time today, they sent words of encouragement and goodwill to him, but behind those words were faces of mockery.
My breathing gradually became ragged as the crowd looked at him, and his hand steered towards my drawer when the 'prince charming' suddenly clinked his glass of wine, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Attention everyone, as part of the deal, XX company sent a few of their people over just like we sent some of ours to them, without further ado, let me introduce them to you.
" First is Mr Don Lincoln, who has a Masters degree in astrophysics. he will be placed in the Physics departments, team C-5."
I ignored them and tried to finish my work faster to be able to go home early when a name suddenly resounded in my ears.
"Next, we have Dr Nelle Edwinson also with a Master's in Electrical Engineering. She will be placed in the Engineering department team D-3.
" Last but not..."
My mind muffled the man's voice as I tried to understand why I reacted to that name excluding the fact about her being put in his team.
'... It doesn't matter, just follow the cycle'.
[Next Day]
I reached for the keys the the door to the workstation, but then I noticed an anomaly. The door was already open.
'A thief?'
My eyes remained trained on the door as I grabbed a pocket knife from my pocket that was actually a key holder and walked in slowly.
'Hm?'
It was the new employee, she seemed to be engrossed in her work and hadn't noticed my presence. Isighed, placed my pocket knife back and walked to my station to work.
'At least now I won't be the only early one from now on'
.
.
"Um, sir? What do you think of my work?"
After an hour, the girl who had noticed me god knows when turned to show me her creation.
"It's a spider bot, I used to learn mechanics before I switched courses. Ah, don't worry I used my own components, and the contract allows me to use the workstation for personal purposes".
'She actually read through the T and C's? That's rare'. I was planning on distancing himself and remaining silent when I subconsciously uttered, "Steel or titanium alloy?"
[Two Days Later]
I took slow steps, my mind occupied by the work I had tomorrow. My house wasn't so far anyways. My train of thoughts was broken when someone tapped my shoulder.
It was the girl.
"...What?"
The girl pouted hearing my numb response.
"Won't you ask where I popped out from?"
Noticing a long conversation approaching, I ignored her and continued towards home.
"I was in the store a bit back, thanks for asking"
She couldn't read my signal and proceeded to tag along with me.
"My home's also this way, so I'm sure you won't have a problem if I just walk with you, right?"
...
"Ill take that as a yes! Hehe"
She giggled slightly.
I turned to look at her once again before I noticed something..
'A bit short'
[Two days later]
I walked through the streets holding a bag full of snacks and instant noodles when I suddenly crossed paths with the girl again.
'Oh for fucks sake, this can't be a coincidence'
At that moment, I contradicted his cruel words with a slight smile.
"Oh, it's nice to see you, Art! Are you coming from the mall?"
"..Art?"
"Arthur is a bit too long to say sometimes, so how bout Art? Or would you rather be Hur?"
"It's literally two syllables, how lazy can you get?" I hadn't noticed that I had begun speaking more because of her.
She ignored me and pointed at the bag, "What's that?"
I glanced uncomfortably at the amount of unhealthy food in the bag.
"I was stocking up on food, I'm just going back home."
"That's nice, I'm on my way home, too."
'Since when were we this close?'
I thought whilst I looked at the girl walking ahead of him.
'It's not bad'.
For the first time in years, Arthur's face showed a genuine smile of peace, not knowing of the days to come.
[Present day, a few moments ago]
"Ah crap, it's going to rain! I didn't bring an umbrella. Could we move a bit faster Arthur?"
"Arthur's face, which had started to show expressions again, looked slightly befuddled as he questioned, "Didn't you watch the forecast? A storm will start soon".
"Ah, I kinda... Wing it on stuff like forecasts, its not like they're always right". The girl awkwardly said as she started walking briskly to speed up.
The clouds gathered quickly, and heavy rain started pouring down. Luckily, Arthur had reached his home. The girl's house was two blocks away, and Arthur had neither the care nor courtesy to let her stay at his place during the storm. Not even giving her his umbrella.
"See you tomorrow!" The girl yelled and continued her race to the house. Suddenly, Arthur felt a heavy feeling in his heart, one that warned him of danger nearby,
Boom!
Lightning struck the ground near a moving truck, startling the driver and making him skid off the wet road. Arthur turned around, stretching his hands forward as he saw the truck approaching the girl...
.
.
" NELLE!!!"
.
.
I kneeled in the rain staring at the dying young woman as the sounds of an ambulance got closer.
"Look at the bright side... You finally said my name". I raised his head to the sky, looking straight up at the clouds.
"Hey.... Art, do me a favor.... if you could, please send my little sister to my cousin... She'll take good care of her..."
"... Do you ever think for yourself?" I muttered as I looked down at her with a drenched face masking my tears.
"There's no fun-Cough- in that. Life's supposed to be a fun adventure right? It's just... too bad I lost at the start line."
The ambulance was in sight and would arrive in a few seconds, but Nelle's breath became progressively weaker.
"I...I'm scared. "
.
"...It'll be fine... "
..
..
At the age of 24, Nelle Edwinson passed away, leaving behind her sister and a changed man, a man who vowed to fufill her life goal.
To Have Fun.