Chapter 88: Chasing fire, falling rain

Jeffrey put his hand over his heart. It beat fast, perhaps in his lifetime who knew how many times it has beaten. How many times it would continue to beat. 20 million times, 50 million times, 50 billion times?

It was a young heart, just as he had a young mind. His body was that of a child 14 years old. A teenager, with a few more years to adulthood.

However, he was imbued with an experience and mind far older than his body. A lifetime experience of a writer. A potential future, now changed by his own actions.

Was writer Jeffrey dead, living in his own timeline? Jeffrey didn't know. All he knew was that this was his life.

*thump* *thump*

his heart beat against his chest. His stress levels had built up from all the pressure he'd accumulated. The hospital visit to his grandparents, school assignments, friendships, and work. It was a lot for a person to bear. His parents had his own sets of worries, so did his friends.

"Haah", Jeffrey exhaled a breath. He got up from his bed, looking out the window it was still dark out. Jeffrey grabbed his music player, an old sony walkman that his parents gotten many years ago. Putting in an old tape, Jeffrey put on a jacket and beanie before heading downstairs.

Still wearing his pajamas, he put on a pair of socks and shoes and went outside for a run to clear his head.

"Changing an era...", Jeffrey thought to himself.

Changing the world was more difficult than he thought. The world was slowly changing him and he would need to change a lot more if he wanted to achieve his goals.

Jeffrey was self reflecting the person he wanted to be, just because he was suppose to be himself. He also had to know who he wanted to be, being yourself also meant changing yourself for the better. Being yourself never meant staying the same and never changing.

Jeffrey rubbed his nose, it was something he heard from Justice John Roberts Commencement speech, that or it was Barack Obama's Audiobook "Audacity of Hope".

On the silent road, a road Jeffrey had traveled many times before he started to run. He ran for no purpose other than his own enjoyment. In an environment where none were watching, the only person awake was himself. Jeffrey was alone.

After some time of this, the fiery passion that stirred within him had cooled. The chilly breeze cold be felt through his jacket. His mind was exhausted, Jeffrey turned and headed back home.

The trees and woods surrounding him were dark and silent. His house was dark and Jeffrey liked it that way. He had the whole world to himself.

For many many years to come, there were a few who'd share this same waking moment. Strangers and passersby. However for Jeffrey, it was a place where he could think.

Perhaps in another town, another city there were children playing happily. Other families busy at work, the world didn't revolve entirely around Jeffrey. Just as Jeffrey was the protagonist and writer of his own story, so too were the 7.8 billion people around the world living their own lives.

While Jeffrey slept, his music player quietly played

♪♫♪

I'd like to make myself believe that planet earth turns slowly

It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep

'Cause everything is never as it seems