Chapter 1: The Weight of a Day

Nile's eyes flickered open to the sound of his alarm blaring, the same monotonous beeping that marked the start of yet another exhausting day. He groaned, rubbing his temples as he forced himself up from the thin mattress that barely supported his aching back. His small apartment was dimly lit by the soft morning sun filtering through a half-broken curtain. The air was warm, and thick with the scent of unwashed laundry and leftover food from last night's rushed dinner.

The day had barely begun, and already, exhaustion clung to him like a second skin.

He moved through his usual routine with practiced motions—boiling water for instant coffee, brushing his teeth as the kettle whistled in protest, and flipping through messages on his phone. Bills. Work emails. Missed calls from his wife. His thumb hesitated over the screen before locking the device and tossing it onto the cluttered table.

The weight of responsibility bore down on him. His daughter was sick again, his wife had taken her back to his parent's home for better care, and his job at the IT Managed Services Provider felt more fragile than ever with the rise of automation. Every money he earned seemed to vanish before he could even hold onto it.

He left for work, weaving through the chaotic streets, dodging motorcycles, street vendors, and endless waves of pedestrians. The office was a dull, lifeless space—a sea of tired employees staring at flickering monitors, their conversations drowned by the hum of air conditioning and the occasional clatter of keyboards.

Nile's small circle at work consisted of two coworkers, each living their version of success—or at least, what they considered success. There was Ethan from a wealthy family, who breezed through life with an air of confidence that only privilege could afford. He spent his salary on weekend getaways, high-end gadgets, and nights out in expensive clubs, his biggest worries being which car to take to work. Then there was Greg, married but known for juggling multiple affairs, always boasting about his latest conquest with a grin that made Nile shake his head.

They were good to him in their ways—offering to cover for him during rough days or sharing a laugh when work got unbearable. Yet, Nile felt no envy. If anything, he pitied them both in different ways. Ethan, despite his wealth, lacked purpose beyond pleasure. Greg, for all his charm, was digging himself into a pit of deceit that would collapse on him eventually. Nile had his own struggles, but at least he wasn't blind to the weight of his choices.

Lunch was a rushed affair, a cheap meal eaten at his desk while his mind wandered to dreams that never materialized. Content creation, trading, game development—he had tried them all, hoping for a way out of the cycle, but none had taken off. Inflation climbed, AI took over more jobs, and his opportunities seemed to shrink by the day.

By the time his shift ended, his body screamed for rest, but there was still more to do. His apartment was a mess—clothes to wash, dishes to clean, and meals to prepare. His hands worked mechanically, scrubbing, folding, and wiping. The loneliness of the empty apartment crept in, but he pushed it aside.

Finally, as the night deepened, he sank onto his bed, phone in hand. He scrolled mindlessly through news, social media, and a few random articles.

Then browsed A Random Website. As he closed his eyes, lost in the moment, his breath hitched, his body tensed—then everything went black.

A sudden blackout plunged his apartment into darkness.

The hum of the fan stopped. The distant sounds of the city outside disappeared. The air felt heavier, suffocating.

Nile's eyes snapped open, looking for a paper towel

And everything had changed.