Subra walked through the rain, his mind blank. The world had already taken everything from him. His future. His dreams. His dignity.
His steps led him home on instinct—though "home" was a loose term. A small, rented apartment filled with people who barely acknowledged him. People who relied on him for money but never gave him so much as a kind word in return.
He opened the door, stepping inside.
His mother sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone. His brother and sister were watching TV, laughing at something on the screen. Not one of them looked at him.
He stood there, drenched, his shoes leaving muddy footprints on the floor. Water dripped from his clothes, but no one asked where he had been or why he looked like a ghost.
It was like he didn't exist.
Finally, his mother spoke.
"You're back late."
That was it. That was all she had to say.
Subra clenched his jaw. Not even a 'how was your competition?'
He wanted to scream. To tell them what happened. But what was the point? He already knew how they would react.
Instead, he walked past them, locking himself in his tiny room. His chest felt tight, and his hands trembled as he pulled out his phone.
There's still one chance.
A single unopened email sat at the top of his inbox. He had applied to a private scholarship weeks ago, just in case.
With a deep breath, he tapped the screen.
Congratulations, you have been selected for the final round of our scholarship program…
His heart pounded. His eyes scanned the rest of the email.
$10,000 granted upon confirmation.
Subra nearly collapsed. It was real.
Relief flooded him, so overwhelming that his vision blurred.
A real chance. A way out.
He could leave this place, escape this life.
His fingers shook as he grabbed the bedroom door handle, stepping out.
"Mom," he said, voice unsteady. "I got it."
His mother barely glanced up. "Got what?"
"The scholarship. Ten thousand dollars."
Silence.
And then, for the first time in years, his mother smiled at him.
A real smile.
"That's… wonderful," she said.
His throat tightened. That was the first kind word she had given him in years.
His sister perked up. "You're rich now, huh?"
His brother chuckled. "Guess we don't have to worry about rent for a while."
Subra hesitated. Something about their tone felt off. But he shoved the doubt away.
Maybe… just maybe… things will be okay.
-----------------------------------------------------
Morning came.
Subra yawned, stretching as he sat up. His body still ached from yesterday's hell, but for once, there was something to look forward to.
He stepped into the living room.
Stopped.
The apartment was… empty.
The couch. The shelves. The table. All gone.
His breath hitched.
He ran to the bedrooms. The drawers were open. Empty. Clothes missing.
No.
His hands shook as he opened the fridge. Nothing. Even the cheap packets of instant noodles were gone.
He turned in circles, mind racing.
Maybe they just… went somewhere?
But then his eyes landed on the kitchen counter.
A single piece of paper sat there.
With slow, frozen movements, he picked it up.
"Don't bother looking for us. You'll figure something out. You always do."
The words swam in his vision.
His fingers tightened around the note until it crumpled in his palm.
They were gone.
They left him.
They took the money.
Everything.
His legs gave out. He sank to the floor, staring at nothing.
The apartment wasn't his. The rent had been under his mother's name.
With the payments canceled, he had no right to stay.
No home.
No family.
No future.
He sat there for hours, numb, hollow.
Until the landlord arrived.
"I'm sorry, kid. The lease is void. You gotta go."
The door shut behind him.
And just like that, he was homeless.
-------------------------------------------------------
The streets were cold.
Rain poured down, soaking him to the bone.
His clothes stuck to his skin. His fingers ached from the cold, but he barely felt it.
Step after step, he wandered with no direction.
A year ago, he had a plan. A future.
A month ago, he still had a dream.
A week ago, he thought he had hope.
Now, he had nothing.
The city moved around him, people rushing home to their warm houses, their loved ones. No one spared him a glance.
The streetlights flickered as the storm raged on. Lightning flashed, painting the world in brief, blinding light.
He stumbled into an alleyway, his body screaming for rest.
His breath came in short gasps. His limbs felt heavy.
How long had it been since he last ate?
He slid down against the damp brick wall, his legs too weak to hold him.
Thunder rumbled above.
The exhaustion seeped into his bones, deeper than just physical tiredness.
He was done.
Done trying.
Done hoping.
Done fighting a world that never let him win.
His head tilted back against the wall, rain drenching his face.
His voice came out in a whisper.
"If there's a god… I hate you."
The sky flashed white.
The wind howled through the streets.
His vision blurred.
His last thought before everything went dark—
But if there's a way for me to change everything… I'll take it. No matter what it is.
---------------------------------
Silence.
Subra's mind drifted in darkness.
No cold. No hunger. No pain.
Just… emptiness.
Then, a whisper.
"Welcome."
A strange warmth spread through his body.
His senses slowly returned.
He was lying on something soft. Grass?
His fingers twitched, brushing against tiny glowing roots.
His eyes fluttered open.
A sky stretched above him—endless, vast.
Two moons hung in the sky, their silver light bathing the land in an eerie glow.
And in front of him—
A tree.
But not just any tree.
A Tree of Light.
Its branches stretched high, its leaves shimmering like golden threads of energy. Tiny specks of luminescence floated through the air like fireflies.
It was… breathtaking.
Subra pushed himself up, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing.
This wasn't the city.
This wasn't Earth.
He took a slow breath.
And for the first time in his life…
He felt something stir deep inside him.
Something new.
Something powerful.
A chance.
His nightmare had ended.
And his true story was about to begin.