Slowly, he began to drift off to sleep. His body was exhausted, and his mind was ready for rest. He surrendered to the darkness, and he let himself drift away.And as he slept, he dreamt of his old life, where there was poverty and strife. When the man woke up, he felt a strange mix of emotions. On the one hand, he felt rested and refreshed, but on the other hand, he felt a sense of loss. He had dreamed of his old life, a life where he was free from the responsibilities and pressures of his current life. But now, as he returned to reality, he realized that his life was only a dream. He felt a pang of sadness, and he wondered if he would ever be able to truly escape this current life and return to his horrible past.The man had everything he could possibly want, but it all felt so hollow. He had dreamed of a life of luxury, but he hadn't realized how much he would miss his old life. Even though it had been difficult and painful, it had been meaningful. He had lived a life of magic and knights, of dragons and quests. He had lived a life of honor and purpose. And now, all of that was gone.He felt adrift, like he was floating in a sea of emptiness. He had traded one life for another, but he wasn't sure if the trade had been worth it. He missed the feeling of freedom, but no, he had escaped certain death, all was good, he would rather live and blend into this life. As the man sat there, mulling over his situation, he began to realize that he still had a choice. He could choose to accept his new life, to make the best of it, and to find happiness within its parameters. Or, he could choose to change stay like he was, wallowing in his misfortunes.He wasn't sure which path to take, but he knew that he had to make a decision. He couldn't continue to live in limbo, unable to fully accept or reject his new life. He had to choose one path or the other, and he had to commit to it. As the man sat there, trying to decide what to do, he felt the need to move. He got up and began to walk around the room, and as he did, he stumbled and fell against a large, flat object. He looked up, he had accidentally bumped into a television.It was a strange, new device, and he had no idea what it was for. The screen seemed to have captured enchanted moving pictures, emitting sounds he couldn't fathom. He approached it, his fingers tentatively brushing against its shiny surface, expecting an electric shock or some arcane trickery, but nothing happened. He pressed a few buttons on the remote that was placed behind it's display, and suddenly, images and sounds began to appear on the screen. He was shocked and amazed, and he sat down to watch, entranced by the images that were playing before his eyes. As the man watched, he realized that the images on the screen were showing stories, just like the ones he had heard as a child. He watched, transfixed, as one story after another played out before him. He saw knights battling dragons, wizards casting spells, and princesses locked in towers. He saw bravery and sacrifice, love and loss, carriages without horses, the future, other worlds. He saw the entire range of human emotion, played out in front of him.And as he watched, he began to feel something. He began to feel like he wasn't alone anymore. The stories he was watching reminded him of his own life, and of the choices he had. As Alsies watched the stories unfold, he felt something else as well. He began to feel a sense of purpose, a sense that his life had meaning. He began to realize that he could use the stories he was seeing to help him make his own choices, to find his own way. And as he thought about this, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. He knew what he had to do. However he never got up from the couch and never walked towards the door. He knew that there was a world out there, a world full of possibility. He knew that he had to go out and find his place in it, but this box of moving pictures could teach all he needed to know about this world. The man stayed in his house, watching story after story on the television. The days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months. He rarely left the room, and when he did, it was only to get food or drink from the kitchen. He became a virtual shut-in, unable or unwilling to leave the room. But as he watched the stories, he began to change. He began to see things differently, to see the world differently. He began to see that there was more to life than what he had known before. And as he changed, so too did his world.One day, as the man was watching a story about a wizard who used his magic to help those in need, he had a sudden realization. He had never tried to do magic since he had woken up in this new world. He had simply accepted that it was gone, that he was no longer able to do the things he had once done. But what if he was wrong? What if his magic was still there, just waiting to be used?. The thought was like a spark, igniting something within him. He felt a surge of energy, and he rose to his feet. He held out his hand, and, something strange began to happen. A small, flickering light appeared in his palm, like a tiny flame. The light grew brighter and brighter, until it was the size of a candle flame. The man stared at it, in wonder and disbelief. He had done it. He had used magic. But as he stared at the light, something else happened. The flame began to change color, shifting from white to blue to green to purple. And as it changed color, the man felt something else change as well. He felt a sense of calm, of peace, that he had never felt. And as the flame continued to change colors, the man felt something else happen. He felt his mind clear, and he began to see things with a new perspective. He saw the world around him as if for the first time, and he saw his own life in a new light. He saw the mistakes he had made, and he saw the choices he could make to change his future. And as he watched the flame, he knew what he had to do. He had to leave this room, and he had to go out into the world. He had to use his magic to help others, to make a difference. The man had made his decision. He was going to start a new company, one that would focus on exploring the unexplored, on finding new and better ways to do things. He knew it would be a challenge, but he was ready for it. He had a new lease on life, and he was going to make the most of it.He took a deep breath, and he headed for the door. He opened it and stepped out into the hallway, and he saw that the world was waiting for him. He smiled, and he knew that this was just the beginning. As the man walked down the hallway, he thought about the possibilities. He could start a new technology company, or a new service company. He could focus on clean energy, or on improving education.