It was a bright winter morning—the first time the sun had broken through the clouds in weeks. Birds chirped with enthusiasm, the kind that made you want to brew a strong black coffee and sit out on the balcony to soak in the warmth.
But Alger didn't have a balcony.
He lay asleep in the corner of his modest room, curled up in the bed which was right beneath the only window in his apartment. The sunlight spilled from the window, gently illuminating the dark, cozy space. Alger blinked slowly, adjusting to the unexpected brightness.
"Why are the birds so loud?" he mumbled.
He rolled to his side and grabbed his old watch from the small table beside his bed. The leather strap was worn and cracked, but it still worked. One glance, and his heart nearly stopped.
7:40 AM
Panic surged through him. He was supposed to be at work by 7:00.
Alger worked an unusual shift—he was the guy who got there early to open up and set things in motion. Now, he was well over an hour late.
He leapt out of bed, hastily getting out of his comfortable sleepwear and grabbing the blue shirt and black jeans folded on the table across from him. As he rushed into the apartment's only bathroom, he was already half-dressed.
The bathroom mirror—mounted too low for his 185 cm frame—greeted him with the reflection of a skinny young man with long black hair and matching black eyes. He didn't look bad, just... tired. He bent slightly to get a better view, quickly splashing water on his face, brushing his teeth, and brushing a comb through his hair.
He grabbed his black office bag, slung it over his shoulder, and passed through the cramped living room that was barely larger than his bedroom in size. The kitchen, more functional than comfortable, Alger searched for something to eat, he found nothing edible, so he gave up and left.
The train ride alone would take at least thirty minutes. Alger was in deep trouble.
***
After the ride, Alger checked his watch again.
8:22 AM
"Shit... I have to get there before Mark."
Mark, his boss, was as punctual as a ticking bomb—and just as unforgiving. Last time Alger had been late, it nearly cost him his job. Mark usually arrived by 8:30.
Alger broke into a sprint.
His workplace wasn't in a towering skyscraper, but a squat fifteen-story building wedged between taller giants. He pushed through the glass door, panting.
To his right stood John, a chubby security guard with a mostly black beard streaked with white. He was the only person in the building Alger considered even remotely friendly.
John looked genuinely surprised.
"Alger? What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean? I'm here to work," Alger said, confused.
John scratched his head and chuckled. "Ah, man... you really don't know what day it is, huh?"
Alger froze. He glanced back down at his watch.
15/11/2024Saturday
"You've got to be kidding me."
His stomach dropped. He'd just gone through the morning sprint of his life... for nothing.
"Thanks, John. I'd probably have gone all the way in and not realized for hours."
"Next time," John said, laughing, "check the damn date when you wake up."
***
Another 30 minutes later, Alger was back home. He unlocked the door, changed into his earlier clothes, and collapsed onto the couch.
He switched on his small TV and put on the weekend show he never missed. A couple of hours passed by without him even noticing. Hunger crept in.
Since his parents passed away in a tragic accident when he was fourteen, Alger had lived alone. His mom had taught him some basic cooking, and he'd taught himself the rest. Today, though, he settled for instant ramen.
Friends? He used to have plenty... in high school. But they'd all drifted away. Alger never had a girlfriend either. He didn't mind. Solitude, to him it meant peace. Depending on others only made him seem more vulnerable.
After finishing his meal, he set the bowl aside and opened his laptop. The deadline for his project was approaching fast, and Mark didn't tolerate tardiness. Alger worked for four straight hours before fatigue hit him like a wave. He collapsed onto his bed and passed out.
When he woke, the sky was beginning to dim.
He stood up, stretched, and muttered to himself... a habit he'd picked up living alone.
"I guess I'll go out and buy some rice."
In the bathroom, he splashed water on his face and went to search for his wallet in his bag. Fifteen minutes later:
"Damn you, wallet!"
He finally found it tucked inside the pants he wore to his workplace.
"Ah-ha! There you are."
Just as he was about to leave, a strange light illuminated his bedroom. He looked up through the window above his bed and saw something… odd.
A green star.....