2004, United states of America ,Alaska.
Levi stood on the deck of the fishing boat, looking at the dock in front of him with confused eyes, and murmured softly:
"I've traveled through time to Alaska!"
That's right, Levi is a time traveler.
To be more precise, he is a time traveler from 2024 to 2004.
Before traveling through time, Levi was ordinary worker who had just graduated two years ago, and their graduating class was also known as one of the "most unlucky graduates."
During the years when they graduated, the world was going through an extraordinary period that disrupted nearly every aspect of daily life. Traditional education and career preparation were significantly affected, with normal internships and job-hunting opportunities either postponed or severely limited. Even the most fundamental element of learning—attending classes—became a challenge, as students had to complete their coursework remotely through online platforms. Without the structure of in-person lectures, direct engagement with professors, and interactions with classmates, many struggled to maintain focus, develop essential social skills, and gain hands-on experience crucial for their professional growth.
As these graduates later entered the workforce, they encountered an unforeseen obstacle. Some companies began including recruitment requirements that specifically mentioned "those from the COVID-19 pandemic period," subtly singling out candidates who had completed their education during this time. The reasoning behind this classification was that students from these years had spent an excessive amount of time in virtual learning environments, which employers believed led to difficulties in concentration, diminished adaptability, and weaker interpersonal skills. This label created an additional barrier in an already competitive job market, forcing many graduates to prove themselves even more rigorously, despite the circumstances having been entirely beyond their control.
In this regard, Levi only wants to say one thing.
"Fuck..."
After graduation, Levi wandered around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a year, but finally chose to return to his hometown for "development". With the help of a relative, he was able to secure a job that provided health insurance and other basic benefits, though it did not include a retirement plan such as a 401(k) or pension. The position offered a salary of $2400 per month
My daily job involves monitoring surveillance cameras. When there's nothing urgent to do, I can pass the time by fishing or playing a few rounds of League of Legends. Life is pretty easy and comfortable, and you could even call it a "professional" job. There's no stress, no rush, and no real pressure—just a steady paycheck for keeping an eye on things.
However, as a self-proclaimed laid-back dreamer Levi wasn't content with just coasting through life forever. Deep down, he wanted something more—a challenge, a purpose, maybe even a sense of accomplishment. So, after much, he decided to take the law enforcement exam, hoping to land a stable government job as a police officer. It seemed like a good way to experience a different side of life, something with more responsibility and meaning.
After weeks of anticipation, the big moment finally arrived. With a mix of excitement and nervousness, he opened the results page, his heart pounding in his chest. He took a deep breath, scanned the screen… and froze.
o(╥﹏╥)o
"Well... whatever. Just taking it easy doesn't seem so bad after all!" he muttered, flopping back onto his chair. Maybe the quiet life wasn't such a bad thing, after all.
In Levi's last memory, he had just attended his high school reunion. At first, he thought it would be nothing more than a laid-back gathering—a chance to catch up, share a few laughs, and relive some old memories. But as the night went on, it became something else entirely: a harsh reality check.
He had always believed that success was about hard work and determination. But as he listened to his classmates talk about their careers, he started to notice a pattern. The ones who had landed stable government jobs, climbed the corporate ladder, or even started their own businesses weren't necessarily the smartest or hardest-working people from high school. Instead, they had something else—connections, family support, or just the right opportunities at the right time.
It reminded him of a saying he had seen online more times than he could count: People who thrive in their hometowns usually come from families that never had to leave. And now, standing in that room, he realized how true that was.
The classmates who had been quiet and unremarkable in high school now held comfortable jobs in city offices, owned businesses, or worked for family-run companies. They weren't struggling under student loan debt, they weren't juggling three side hustles just to stay afloat, and they sure didn't seem to be affected by the economic downturn of the past few years. If anything, life had been smooth sailing for them.
But for people like Levi—people without built-in safety nets—things were different. The so-called "special period" had set them back, made it harder to find good jobs, and forced them to fight for every inch of progress. Looking around the room, it was clear that some people had simply started the race miles ahead of others.
Looking around the room, it was clear that some people had simply started the race miles ahead of others.
To be honest, he couldn't help but feel jealous. Not bitter, not resentful—just quietly, deeply envious.
Levi drank a lot that night.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself staring up at a wooden ceiling. The faint creak of the cabin settled around him. His head throbbed, and for a moment, he struggled to piece together where he was—until a flood of unfamiliar memories crashed into his mind.