Chapter 1
"I just finished high school, and now I have nothing to do but wait for some college to accept me. Ugh... I'll just go to sleep." I climbed into bed out of sheer boredom.
You may be wondering who I am.
Well, here's the answer: I am nobody, or at least, that's how it feels.
But that's not entirely accurate either. I do have a name, but there's no need for you to know it.
I've spent my entire life pretending, acting, to the point where some of my emotions have disappeared.
The only pleasant moment I experience is the moment right before I fall asleep. It's somehow refreshing.
And now, I find myself lying in bed, enjoying this moment while my mind wanders.
"What am I even thinking about? I'll just sleep..." I mumbled before drifting into a deep slumber.
After waking up, I glanced around the room, sensing that something was off. "This isn't my room?" I thought, scanning my surroundings.
"Did I get kidnapped? No, that can't be possible," I reassured myself. Kidnappings are unheard of where I live, and if I were truly kidnapped, my hands or legs would be bound.
I stood up and walked toward the window, only to realize that the glass was blurry, obstructing my view.
Curiosity piqued, I opened the door and stepped out of the room. It became apparent that I was inside a house, but it was in a terrible state. I made my way to the main door and swung it open.
"What in the hell?!" I exclaimed, staring at the sky. It wasn't the familiar blue sky I was accustomed to; instead, it was choked with dirt and dust, obscuring the sun.
As I gazed at the polluted sky, a figure wearing a mask rushed out of the house towards me, shouting.
"Hamad, why did you go out without your mask? Are you insane?!" the girl screamed at me. I was taken aback, wondering how she knew my name.
"How do you know my name?" I asked, confusion evident on my face.
"This isn't the time to ask me anything. Let's go inside," she insisted.
"Wait... What are you doing?" I protested as the girl grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back into the house.
"Have you lost your mind? Going out without your mask... Don't you realize you'll get sick because of the pollution?" she scolded, tossing me inside the house.
As I rubbed my shoulder, I couldn't help but think, "What an incredible strength she has."
"Who are you? And what do you mean by pollution?" I inquired, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.
"What happened to you? Have you lost your memory?" the girl asked, pity in her voice.
"No, I haven't lost it," I replied.
"Do you know who I am?" she questioned.
"No," I responded.
"Then you have lost your memory," she concluded with certainty.
"Fine, let's say I lost my memory. Could you please tell me what's going on and who you are?" I asked, growing annoyed.
"This is truly bizarre, but I'll tell you what I know..." The girl began recounting information that left me dumbfounded.
"You can't live without an air filter. The pollution began many years ago, and the world has become a challenging place to survive. The sun only makes brief appearances now and then, causing plants to wither..." I struggled to comprehend how all of this had transpired while I was asleep.
"Hey, you said your name is Sara, right? What is today's date?" I asked, hoping