"...I was always curious about the world around me. I was fascinated by the inner workings of everyday items. I guess that's why I choose to pursue a career in engineering." - I spoke confidently but the expression on the face of the job recruiter was that of absolute boredom and disappointment.
I expected that reaction from his looks. He had no unique features. His whole look could only be described as the average of all the business people I ever met. My thoughts were interrupted when he spoke.
"With that question the interview is concluded for today. We will continue the interview tomorrow at 8 o'clock."
Disappointed by the response, but still hopeful, I left the building and headed towards the metro station to go back home. I couldn't afford to own a car, not without a job at least.
I got there at 22:18 and the metro was supposed to arrive at 22:30 so I took a seat and waited. I took out my phone to hopefully pass the time faster. The seconds turned into minutes and quickly the clock showed 22:30. There was no metro in sight and then the speakers rang out:
"Due to technical difficulties on the tracks the metro will be delayed."
This wasn't uncommon and I kind of expected it, but it was still infuriating. I had no other option but to wait and thus another 10 minutes passed, but no metro. And then another 10 minutes, but the station was still empty. It was only at 23:08 that it actually arrived. There were little to no passengers as to be expected at this time.
By the time I actually got home it was already 30 minutes past midnight.
"I should get some sleep, I still have to make it in time for the interview in the morning." - I thought as I got ready to enter the bed.
I got comfortable in bed and let my thoughts wander.
"I really need this job, without it I won't be able to pay rent." - And with those final thoughts I fell asleep.
…
A beeping of an alarm woke me up. At first I tried to ignore it but its volume only increased with time. At the moment I couldn't bear it anymore, I reached out to stop it but I knocked it over in the process and it fell on the floor. I didn't want to get up because the bed felt so much nicer today than usual. The pillow felt like it was custom made just for my head. The blanket was warm. The only thing that was disturbing my peace at the moment was the blaring alarm. I had to make a decision, I either get up now, stop the alarm and resign myself to get ready for the interview or to ignore my responsibilities and attempt to stop the alarm from the comfort of the bed.
In my sleepy state there was only really one option. So I tried to stretch my arm from the side of the bed and grab the alarm. But my perfect plan to stay a bit longer in the bed backfired and I fell. The perceived safety of the comfortable bed betrayed me. As I was falling I instinctively grabbed the desk located next to my bed but it too betrayed my trust. The only thing that my desperate attempt to salvage the current situation did was tip the desk off balance and send it falling alongside me. Before I could attempt anything else I felt a distinctive pain originating from my neck. This wasn't a simple hit to the floor, there was more to it. The pain didn't allow me to concentrate much on anything. I grabbed my neck immediately and felt a second wave of pain. I also felt a fluid on my palms. It was too viscous to be sweat and in the moment of morbid curiosity I took a look at one of my hands. It was covered in blood. I never saw so much blood in my life. My hand was red from fingertip to wrist and the blood was dripping on the floor. I recoiled in shock, well at least I tried but my body didn't move. I started losing strength. The hand I was holding up was on the floor. At the moment I had a thousand thoughts going through my mind.
"Am I dying?"
"How did I get hurt?"
"Why now?"
"Why me?"
…
…
In the final moments, as my vision was going dark I had a sudden realization:
"My neck landed on the alarm clock"
I tried to curse the world but I already blacked out.