Ethan Cole stepped out of the bookstore, stretching his arms behind him with a deep sigh.

'It's been a tiring day,' he thought.

The sky above Novan City was beautifully changing colors, with shades of orange and pink. The setting sun created long shadows on the busy streets below.

The city buzzed with its usual evening chaos. Commuters hurried to catch trains, their footsteps blending into the rhythm of the streets.

"Move it. I'll miss my train!" shouted someone in the bustling crowd.

Ethan watched the rush with a mix of curiosity and dread. 'Is this what life will be like after graduation? How dull.'

Nearby, a group of teenagers laughed loudly at a café, their carefree joy standing out amidst the calls of street vendors and the hum of passing cars.

Ethan took his phone out of his pocket. He glanced at the time. It was 7:13 p.m. His shift just ended. But he knew the weight of responsibilities on him was far from over.

Summer break had officially begun. However, there was no break for him. Even the idea of it felt laughable. Just before the break started, he called the bookstore where he previously worked part-time.

Luckily, the boss, Mr. Parker, had no problem in letting him work there. Then, his day had been nothing other than restocking the stationery, checking the inventories, making copies of papers, and, of course, handling the disgruntled customers.

It was monotonous and demanding. This summer was nothing like I had imagined.

The part-time job helped, though. It chipped away at the groceries and a few bills, offering some relief to his parents. But no matter how hard he worked, that nagging feeling of "not enough" followed him home like a shadow.

As Ethan walked, the thoughts swirled in his mind, heavy and unrelenting. Then, a familiar buzz in his pocket snapped him out of his haze. He pulled out his phone.

It was a voice message from his mother.

Mom (Voice Message): Hey honey, can you grab some groceries on your way home? The usual, and... the landlord stopped by again. We need to pay the rent by Friday. Can I ask you to help this month, too?

Ethan paused, looking at the message, feeling a wave of tiredness wash over him. He thought, 'How can I manage this time?'

He then opened his phone's banking app, Novan Trust, to check his balance. "Let's see what I have..." he muttered, waiting for the app to load.

Upon seeing his account balance, he sighed deeply.

[Account Balance: $1,370.80]

Ethan felt the pressure. Although he wanted to help, the weight of responsibility was overwhelming, coming at him from all sides.

At twenty, Ethan had hoped this summer would be a break from the relentless demands of university life. Instead, he felt trapped, with the supposed break merely adding to his stress.

"I'll figure something out," Ethan murmured under his breath as if the words could anchor the worry swirling in his mind.

The promise felt both reassuring and heavy, a quiet determination settling in his chest. With a sigh, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and joined the flow of the bustling street.

As evening approached, the city began to light up. Novan City had its charms, yet it was a place of stark contrasts.

In the distance, skyscrapers and affluent areas sparkled, a vivid contrast to the older, rundown neighborhoods like Edgewater, where Ethan's family resided.

Edgewater was not an easy place to live. It was a city where people ground themselves to the bone just to stay afloat, and the idea of a better life often felt like a cruel joke, dangled just out of reach.

Ethan walked on, his thoughts tangled, his steps aimless. A sudden blaring car horn jolted him back to reality.

"Hey! Watch it, kid!" a driver barked from a grey car as it zipped past, the sound of its tires slicing through the evening air.

Ethan froze mid-step, and his heart pounded.

"I'm sorry!" Ethan quickly apologized, raising his hand even though the driver had already sped away.

He continued walking, a familiar sense of tiredness creeping in. Working wasn't the issue for Ethan. He didn't mind it. But what had become a problem was that no matter how hard he worked, he could only survive.

He was not making any real progress.

Ethan felt that no matter what he did, be it his part-time job, tutoring, or programming projects, it was all just to keep him alive.

The cruel fact was that the world kept moving forward while he was stuck and left behind.

As he turned onto Briggs Street, a familiar voice called out from behind.

"Ethan! Hold up, man!"

He turned to see Jordan jogging toward him, his athletic frame moving with ease. Even slightly out of breath, Jordan radiated that effortless charm he was known for—a grin ready to brighten any situation, the kind of presence that made people gravitate toward him.

"Hey," Ethan said, offering a small smile as Jordan caught up, brushing a hand through his hair and catching his breath.

"Man, I thought you'd already left for home. Did your shift just end?" Jordan inquired, brushing his hair away from his face.

"Yep, just finished. I'm on my way to pick up some groceries for my mom," Ethan explained, looking around as the evening light began to dim.

"Groceries, huh? Mind if I join you? I was about to go for a coffee, but that can wait," Jordan offered.

Ethan gave a nonchalant shrug. "Let's go. I need to quickly get home."

Their destination was a nearby grocery store, but the walk itself felt as much a part of their routine as the errand.

Friends since high school, their bond had grown naturally, built on shared laughs and unspoken ease that made their time together feel effortless.

Jordan had taken a different path after high school, choosing to pause and explore who he was before diving into college.

It was a decision Ethan had always respected, even admired, though he couldn't help but wonder what Jordan might uncover in the process.

As they walked down Clementine Avenue, Jordan brought up the summer plans. "So, what's the plan for this summer? Besides working your tail off, that is," he asked.

Ethan responded with a light laugh, though it lacked real amusement. "Not much, really. Just trying to save up some money, help at home, and hopefully get a little break here and there."

Jordan, surprised, replied, "Dude, you're only twenty. You should be out having fun, not working all the time. How about we hit the beach next weekend, grab drinks, and enjoy ourselves?"

Ethan shook his head, "I wish I could. But I need to cover this month's rent; my mom's been worrying about the bills. Plus, I've got tuition payments coming up."

Concerned for his friend, Jordan said, "You still need to find time for yourself, man. If you don't, you'll be completely burnt out when university starts back up."

Ethan managed a faint smile in response to Jordan, even though he knew Jordan was making a valid point.

Ethan didn't mind the idea of slowing down now and then—it was tempting, even—but every time the thought crept in, reality crashed over him like a cold wave.

Bills were piling up, rent was due soon, and loans felt like a weight Ethan couldn't shake. Taking it easy wasn't an option—not when survival came first.

Ethan's shoulders sagged as he thought about the mounting bills, the rent due soon, and the endless weight of loans hanging over him.

Taking it easy? That wasn't even on the table.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the small grocery store. It was located at the corner of the block. It was modest with a no longer readable signboard.

But everyone in the neighborhood knew it was the only place that offered the cheapest essentials.

Nobody quite understood how the owner managed to keep prices so low—maybe he cared more about helping the community than making a profit.

Ethan pushed open the door, the bell overhead letting out a soft jingle. "Welcome," the cashier muttered, looking bored out of his mind. Even his phone seemed to have lost its appeal.

Ethan and Jordan nodded at him. Ethan was familiar with the layout of the store and quickly made his move along the shelves stocked with the basics.

He grabbed a basket near the cashier and started to pick the usuals—milk, bread, eggs, and a few cans of vegetables. Each item felt carefully chosen, the way you shop when every dollar has to count.

Jordan trailed behind, casually browsing the shelves. A pack of sour candies caught his eye, and he tossed it into Ethan's basket.

Ethan glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "Candy? Seriously?"

Jordan grinned, his usual carefree self. "Hey, man, it's called balance. Life needs some sweetness."

Jordan leaned in closer as they walked towards the checkout and whispered, "Did you hear about the robbery at the electronics store down the block?"

Ethan looked surprised and asked, "Robbery? When did that happen?"

"It was last night. A group of thieves broke in after the store closed and completely emptied it. And the weirdest part? Nobody heard or saw anything until it was all over."

"That's odd," Ethan remarked, ringing up his items.

"Yeah, it really makes you think," Jordan lowered his voice even further, almost as if he were sharing a secret. "What if it wasn't just ordinary thieves? What if it was, you know, professionals or people with... unique abilities?"

Ethan chuckled. "Dude, you need to stop watching movies."

Jordan grinned broadly. "Hey, you never know. Life's full of surprises."

With that, Ethan handed over the cash for his groceries, nodding a polite thanks to the weary cashier. Jordan wanted to pay for his candies, but Ethan gestured not to. It was only a dollar.

He grabbed his bag, pulled out the candies, and threw it to Jordan. "Thanks, Ethan," said Jordan with a grin.

They then made their way out. The air outside had grown cooler. Somehow, Ethan felt like this was what he needed. It was becoming more peaceful, too.

For a moment, Ethan let himself enjoy it—the peace, the simplicity of a quiet street, and the weight of the evening sky.

As they reached the corner where their paths diverged, Jordan clapped him on the shoulder, his usual easygoing smile firmly in place. "Anyway, think about the beach. You could really use a break, man."

Ethan's mouth lifted in a faint smile. "I don't promise, but I'll think about it."

"Cool. Just ring me up," Jordan said with a smile before adding, "I'm going now. See you later, Cole."

Jordan started his light jog, his figure fading into the glow of the streetlights. Ethan stood silent for a moment, watching him go.

'Is his life the kind of life that I'm missing?'

Ethan had a lot on his mind, but he chose not to think too much about it. He adjusted the grocery bag in his hand and started to walk back home.

The quiet of the street wrapped around him like a blanket, but his thoughts were far from still, swirling as they often did these days.

The city had a different feel at night. The lights seemed softer, and the usual noises were quieter.

For a short while, Ethan felt the heavy burdens of work, family responsibilities, and the constant hustle just a bit lighter. But this moment of relief was brief.

As Ethan approached his apartment building, the weight of his reality settled back on his shoulders, pressing down like an old, familiar burden.

He paused for a moment. The stairs seemed too high for him to climb. Each step reminded him of the long night that lay ahead.

Author's Note:

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for reading the first chapter of my web series. It means a lot to me that you've decided to give this story a chance.

I wanted to share that this series starts off with a lot of slice-of-life moments—getting to know the characters and their world. But don't worry! Things will pick up as the story unfolds, with action, drama, and plenty of twists along the way.

Thanks for being here at the very beginning of this journey. Your support means everything, and I can't wait to hear what you think as the story grows.

Happy reading,

Noah Caelum