Ethan Miller considered himself To be an average guy. He worked a steady job at a small tech company, lived in a modest one bedroom apartment. He spent most evenings playing video games or catching up on the latest movies with his best friend, Alex. Life was comfortable, predictable even.
It was a Friday morning, the sun just peeking through the gray clouds (everyone new was just smog from the nearby factory) that hung over the city like a blanket. Ethan brewed a pot of coffee, its rich aroma filling the kitchen and offering a sense of solace. He considered himself a minor coffee connoisseur, He would buy a bay of beans from his local roaster every few weeks. He had mason jars full of different roasts of beans, different breeds, and even a few he got from a close friend who moved to Brazil several years back. All of the mason jars were filled with different extracts and solid ingredients, like hazelnut extract, vanilla extract and whole cinnamon. He leaned against the counter, scrolling through his phone, absentmindedly checking emails and social media updates. A few likes, a couple of comments—"Just another day in the digital age," Ethan thought to himself, smiling.
As he sipped his coffee, Ethan's gaze drifted to the window. Outside, people bustled about their routines, rushing to work, engrossed in conversations, or lost in their own worlds. The city pulsed with energy, each person a thread in the intricate tapestry of modern life.
Ethan shook his head, focusing back on his morning ritual. He had enough on his plate. Work was busy, deadlines looming and projects demanding his attention. He finished his coffee, grabbed his briefcase, and headed out the door.
The commute to the office was uneventful. The subway was packed, and Ethan found himself wedged between a woman engrossed in her book and a man plugged into his headphones, willfully oblivious to the world around him. As the train rattled along the tracks, Ethan's mind wandered. He thought of the weekend ahead, video games and time spent relaxing. Those moments were what made the daily grind almost bearable.
After arriving at his stop, Ethan pushed through the throng of commuters and stepped into the bustling street. The morning air was heavy, but not as hard to swallow as the stuffy subway. He made his way to the office, the familiar route guiding him through the maze of buildings and traffic.
As he reached the entrance to the tech company, Ethan paused for a moment, taking in the sight of his workplace. The sleek glass building towered above him, a symbol of innovation and ambition. It was beautiful, That was if you ignored the blackness that hugged the sides of the building high in the air. Inside, his colleagues were already buzzing with energy, their voices mingling as they discussed the latest trends in technology.
Ethan settled into his cubicle, booting up his computer and preparing for the day ahead. As he toiled away at his tasks, a sinking feeling tugged at the back of his mind, a whisper that he couldn't quite place. Perhaps it was just the stress of the workload, he thought, pushing it aside.
Lunchtime arrived, and Ethan joined Alex at their usual spot—a nearby cafe that served the best sandwiches in the area. They chatted about work, video games, and their plans for the weekend, but Ethan noticed a flicker of concern in Alex's eyes, a hint that something was weighing on him.
"Hey, man, you okay?" Ethan asked, his brow furrowed. "You seem a little off today."
Alex shrugged, but Ethan could see through the facade. "Just tired, I guess. Work's been a bit stressful."
"Yeah, same here," Ethan replied, though he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it. The conversation shifted back to lighter topics, but the underlying tension lingered in the air.
As they finished their lunch, Ethan glanced out the window. The sky had darkened, thick clouds rolling in like a sudden change in mood.
"Let's get out of here early today," Ethan suggested, trying to lighten the mood. "We could play that new game you got. I'm dying to try it."
"Sounds good to me," Alex replied, a small smile returning to his face. "Just let me wrap up a few things first." "No problem, I have to attend a meeting before I go anyways," Ethan reassured.
As they returned to the office, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that something felt different. The world outside held an unfamiliar quality, and deep down, he sensed a shift in the air.
For now, he focused on the mundane tasks at hand.