The punishment (2)

The 3rd day of Solitude:

The third day began with the same alarm, a routine that would repeat every morning until the 10 months of solitude were over.

As always, Avasyu woke up, freshened up, and turned his attention to the alarm clock. He started calculating the time, carefully interpreting its peculiar behavior to keep track of the hours in his confinement.

He had figured out the timing pattern from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but a question lingered in his mind—

How did knowing this help him? How did calculating the time make him any better or help with his task of self-improvement?

As the realization set in that it served no real purpose, Avasyu felt a wave of boredom wash over him.

But amidst the confusion, the excitement he felt from solving the alarm clock's mystery helped, even if just a little, with his mental health. The cloud of depression in his eyes lifted slightly.

To be honest, Avasyu wasn't stable at this point—

He was sad, deeply depressed, and burdened by his past. Yet, moments like this, when he could solve a problem and feel even a spark of accomplishment, brought him fleeting excitement and a glimpse of hope.

Thus, the third day ended uneventfully for Avasyu, overshadowed by boredom. The fourth day passed in much the same way, a monotonous routine that offered little relief.

However, the fifth day was different.

Tired of his restless thoughts—

an endless cycle of sadness, depression, and a desperate search for excitement

—Avasyu decided to take action.

Wanting to keep himself busy and distracted from the chaos in his mind, he started exercising again.

For the first time in days, he found purpose in movement, even if it was just to escape his own thoughts.

Avasyu resumed his exercises with determination, making it a daily routine for the next week.

Each day, he pushed himself to complete 50 sit-ups, 30 pushups, and 100 squats.

When hunger struck, he managed it by drinking water to calm his stomach.

Though exhausted from the physical strain, sleep continued to evade him. Instead, he occupied his mind by analyzing his dreams and further calculating time.

In this way, he gradually took control of both his body and mind, finding a fragile balance amidst his solitude.

Avasyu continued this routine diligently for an entire month.

He worked on controlling his hunger, fighting off sleep, and reigning in his emotions. Although he couldn't fully master them, he was steadily improving.

To maintain focus and distract himself from the crushing silence of solitude, he devised a specific routine to keep himself busy.

Each day became a disciplined balance of physical exercises, mental analysis, and moments of reflection—

A fragile structure that helped him navigate the darkness within.

But despite all his efforts, Avasyu still felt hollow. His routine brought improvement, but no satisfaction. There was a gnawing void inside him, a feeling that something essential was missing.

It felt as though he was losing touch with the very pain that had driven him—

the grief of the lives he had shattered, the memory of his first friends, and the rage he had buried deep within himself.

And with it, his sense of purpose wavered, leaving him adrift in his solitude.

His eyes instinctively drifted toward the book sack, where only two books rested, untouched since his arrival.

Feeling a sudden urge, he approached the sack and retrieved both books.

The title of the first book caught his attention,

"Two Examples of Improved Mental and Physical Health."

The second one was called ,

"Ways of Improvement."

For the first time, Avasyu felt a flicker of curiosity about the contents of these books. Maybe, just maybe, they held the answers to the emptiness he couldn't seem to fill.

Avasyu decided to start with the book titled Ways of Improvement. It was noticeably thinner than the other book, with a brown, leather-like cover. The title Ways of Improvement was embossed in bold letters, giving the book an old but refined appearance.

When he flipped it open, he discovered that it only had two chapters,

Physical Health and Mental Wellness. The simplicity of its structure intrigued him.

With a deep breath, Avasyu began reading the first chapter, eager to see what wisdom the book had to offer.

The first chapter, Physical Health,he began reading it with focus, absorbing every word.

The chapter provided detailed insights on the importance of physical fitness, techniques to improve endurance, and the significance of a disciplined routine.

But amidst all the information, one instruction caught Avasyu by surprise:

"Only read the second book after you fully understand this one."

Time seemed to pass unnoticed as he dived deeper into the text, taking in the knowledge it offered.

By the time he finished the chapter, it had already become dinner time. Satisfied with his progress, Avasyu put the book aside, his mind brimming with newfound understanding and ideas.

Avasyu carefully placed both books on the table beside his bed.

He now turned his attention to dinner. He ate until his stomach was full, the meal offering a rare moment of comfort in his otherwise monotonous routine.

As the clock struck midnight, his exhaustion caught up with him. Without overthinking, he lay down and allowed sleep to overtake him, ending the day with a sense of quiet resolve.

The next day, Avasyu woke up to the familiar sound of the alarm. Feeling slightly more motivated, he decided to follow the instructions outlined in Ways of Improvement.

He began his physical training as instructed, completing 30 pushups, 30 sit-ups, and 100 squats. The routine required him to repeat this set ten times throughout the day—

A challenge that felt intense but achievable.

The book emphasized gradual progress, suggesting that he should increase the repetitions over time as his strength improved.

Though it seemed arduous, Avasyu was determined to stick to the plan, understanding that the structure could be his key to improvement.

Thus,the second month of solitude concluded as Avasyu's physical strength steadily improved.