There are days when you think the universe has a plan for you. Like, a grand plan, something incredible. Maybe you're destined to become a legend, a hero whose praises will be sung for centuries.
And then there are days like this, where you realize the universe hates you.
Aaron stood staring at his phone screen, the pale light illuminating his face as he read a text that couldn't have been clearer. His boss — well, ex-boss now — had sent a message that was short and to the point, like a slap in the face without the courtesy of a hand.
"Sorry, Aaron. We have to let you go. You're fired. Return the scooter tomorrow."
He let out a sigh, heavy with resignation. This was the third time in two months. The third job he'd lost due to what some might call "bad luck." But Aaron knew better. This wasn't just bad luck. It was catastrophic luck, the kind that would make karma roll over in its grave if it were a tangible concept.
He slid his phone back into his pocket, not even bothering to reply. What could he say, anyway? "Thanks for reminding me I'm a walking failure"? Or maybe, "Great, now I can finally focus on my non-existent showbiz career." There was nothing to say. Nothing to do either. Just another night spent in his crappy apartment, imagining what his life could have been.
With a careless gesture, he hopped onto his scooter, the last remnant of his pizza delivery career. He had to return it tomorrow, but tonight, it was still his trusty steed. His thoughts wandered as he started the engine, weaving through the narrow, poorly lit streets of the city.
"I wonder… has Ryan Gosling ever been fired for dumping an entire pizza on a customer? No, probably not. He probably has a script fall into his lap every time he furrows his brow."
With a muffled rumble, the scooter limped under the flickering streetlights. Aaron headed towards his usual sanctuary, a small plaza in front of a giant screen that played trailers on a loop. It was his nightly ritual: sit on a bench and watch the trailers for movies he'd probably never see. Tonight was no different.
He settled onto his usual bench, propping his feet on the scooter's handlebars, letting his gaze drift to the giant screen. A trailer for a new hit reality show was playing, a singing competition where every contestant seemed to have the voice of an angel.
"Ah yes, because what I need in my life is more people succeeding where I fail."
The seconds ticked by, each flashy image on the screen feeling like a personal insult. Smiling faces, talented people, and then there was Aaron, the guy who couldn't hold down a job without some hilarious disaster blowing it up.
To top it all off, a light drizzle began to fall, making the scene even more pathetic. Of course, why not throw in a bit of rain to complete the portrait of misery? Aaron looked up at the sky, half-expecting a full bucket of water to dump on him. But all he got was a single, solitary drop sliding down his forehead.
"Well, screw this. I'll leave before this turns into a disaster movie starring me in the lead role." He started the scooter, but just as he turned the key, a blinding flash of lightning struck a nearby lamppost.
The shock was so powerful Aaron felt it in his bones. The lamppost wobbled for a second before going dark, and everything around him turned pitch black. Then, a second later, the light returned, but it wasn't the same light. No, this light didn't belong to his world.
"Wait… what?"
Everything around him had changed. The bench he had been sitting on seconds ago was replaced by some sort of old wooden structure, like a poorly designed movie set. The buildings around him looked straight out of an old Western or a low-budget medieval film.
"No, seriously, what?"
Aaron stood up slowly, looking around. The people were dressed strangely, like extras in a bad historical reenactment. Horse-drawn carts clattered by, and he could hear an orchestra playing somewhere in the distance… dramatic and oddly familiar music.
"Is this some kind of joke? Am I in a medieval fair or something?"
As he tried to process where he was, a voice called out behind him.
"You there! Yes, you with the confused look! Come over here!"
Aaron turned to see a man dressed in flamboyant robes, a grin far too wide plastered on his face.
"Let me guess, you're new here?" the man asked, a hint of mockery in his tone.
"Uh… yeah, you could say that," Aaron replied, still completely bewildered.
"Ah, I knew it!" The man clapped his hands with enthusiasm. "You're lucky, very lucky! You've just entered a world where everything is to be built, and we need people like you. Creative, innovative people, ready to revolutionize things!"
Aaron frowned. Lucky? Him? That was a cruel joke. Luck and Aaron were like oil and water. But something in the man's gaze made him realize this wasn't just some coincidence.
"Wait, wait, where exactly am I? And what do you mean by 'people like me'?"
"Welcome to the kingdom of Nostoria, dear traveler. Here, the entertainment industry is but a whisper on the wind, a mere dream in the minds of a few visionaries. But you, you can change that. You bring with you knowledge we do not have. Ideas that could revolutionize our world."
Aaron stared at him, incredulous. He had spent his whole life failing in an industry that eluded him, and now this guy was telling him he was destined to save it?
"Yeah, right. Because that's what I do best… fail spectacularly."
But before he could voice his sarcasm, the man reached out his hand, and a soft glow emanated from it.
"Don't be modest. You are blessed with great luck. And with that luck, you can achieve wonders here."
That's when Aaron felt something change within him. A warmth spread through his body, like a new energy. Supernatural luck? Why not. After all, it wasn't any more ridiculous than the rest of his day.
He closed his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath, then opened them again. Maybe, just maybe, this time he'd actually have a chance to succeed. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be just a loser stuck in unreachable dreams.
"Alright, Nostoria. If you need a hero for your entertainment industry… or a clown… I'm your man."
Aaron's ironic smile widened as he shook the man's hand. And for the first time in a long while, he wondered if luck really was on his side