Foreboding

The morning sun cast it's warm rays upon Ethan's face, gently rousing him from his slumber. He stirred, his eyes fluttering open as he scanned his surroundings. The familiar walls of his bedroom, came into focus, and his gaze drifted toward the bed.

"Another day, another dollar", he muttered to himself, throwing off the covers.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and planted his feet firmly on the ground. The soft carpet felt cool beneath his toes as he stood up and stretched, arching his back and extending his arms.

"Time to get moving", he said, heading towards the bathroom.

As he brushed his teeth, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His eyes looked tired, but his smile was still intact.

"A month," he whispered to himself, a smile spreading across his face. "It's been a month since I left that prison."

He thought back to the Winters mansion, where he'd been trapped for so long. The memories still lingered, but they no longer felt suffocating.

"You're doing okay, Ethan", he told himself, his eyes gleaming with determination. "You're finally living, just keep moving forward".

He finished getting dressed and headed to the kitchen to make some breakfast. As he scrambled eggs and toasted bread, he though about his internship at Slivermist. It had been a month since he started, and he was loving every minute of it. He had settled into a comfortable routine, and his colleagues had welcomed him with open arms.

The work was challenging, but Ethan was determined to prove himself. He was studying online at night to keep up with the classess he was missing, but it was worth it.

Ethan finished his breakfast and headed out the door, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He was finally taking control of his life, and it felt amazing.

Ethan walked into the Slivermist office, greeted by the familiar hum of computers and the gentle chatter of his co-workers. He smiles, feeling a sense of belonging as he made his way to his desk.

"Hey, Ethan! Morning!" Rachel called out, waving from across the room.

Ethan waved back, settling into his chair. "Morning, Rachel! How's it going?"

"It's going great, Thanks! Just getting some coffee before the morning meeting. Want some?" Rachel asked, holding up a cup.

Ethan shook his head. " No, thanks. I'm good."

As Rachel walked away, Ethan's gaze drifted to his computer screen. He began to scroll through his emails, his mind focused on the task ahead.

The morning flew by in a blur of meeting and tasks. Ethan worked diligently, feeling a sense of accomplishment as he completed each task.

But as the day wore on, Ethan started to feel a creeping sense of unease. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but it was there.

Ethan also found himself lost in thought. He was working on a project, but his mind kept wandering back to his past.

"What's wrong, Ethan?" he asked himself, frowning at the screen. "You're just being paranoid".

But the feeling lingered, refusing to be shaken.

As he worked, Ethan's co-workers chatted and laughed around him. The office was filled with the sound of keyboards slacking and papers shuffling.

Ethan's eyes drifted to the window, where the sun was shining brightly. He felt a pang of restlessness, a desire to get outside and clear his head.

But he pushed the feeling aside, focusing on his work.

As the day drew to a close, Ethan packed up his things and headed hown. He walked out of the office building, feeling the cool evening air on his face.

"What's going on, Ethan? " he asked himself, frowning. "You're starting to freak yourself out. "

Ethan shook his head, chuckling wryly. "Get a grip, Ethan. "

As he walked home, Ethan's mind wandered back to the feeling of unease. He could'nt shake the sense that something was off, that something was waiting for him just around the corner.

Ethan's eyes scanned the crowded streets, his heart beating slightly faster. He felt like he was walking on eggshells, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

As he turned onto his street, Ethan caught a glimpse of himself in a store window reflection. His eyes looked tired, his face pale. He ran a hand through his messy brown hair, feeling a pang of self consciousness.

"You look like you've seen a ghost", he muttered to himself.

Ethan shook his head, forcing a wry smile onto his face. "You're just being paranoid, Ethan. Get over it."

But as he walked into his apartment, Ethan couldn't shake off the feeling that his life was about to take a drastic turn.

But he had no idea what was coming.

The next day was more of the same. Ethan went through the motions, but the unease lingered, growing slightly stronger.

He tried to focus on his work,but his mind kept wandering back to the feeling of impending doom.

As the day drew to a close, Ethan's unease grew. It was still slight, but it was there, lingering just beneath the surface growing stronger with each passing day.

And Ethan had no idea what was causing it.

He felt a growing sense of dread.

What was coming?

And why did he feel so powerless to stop it?

"The greatest illusion of this world is the illusion of separation. Things you think are separate and distinct are actually connected and part of a whole."