01: The Daily Grind

A soft chime rang out, disrupting the silence of my room.

Huh? That's not my alarm.

I reached for my phone, wiping the sleep from my eyes with my other hand. I was right. The time was too early for my alarm. Then I saw the notification.

1 New Message

"A-already?" My heart raced. "Does that mean I… I actually got it?" I sat up in bed. Eager fingers swiped across the screen to claim my long awaited prize.

"We appreciate your interest and application… regret to inform… better suited candidates…"

Rejected. Again. I wasn't good enough. I never was.

Dumbass… Why did you think it would be any different this time?

A lump grew in my throat. I blinked back tears and took a shaky breath. No matter how many times it happened, each rejection cut a little deeper than the last.

The phone slipped from my trembling hands to my lap. I played back the painful interview process over and over again, wondering where I went wrong this time.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Hey! You still alive in there?" Without waiting for my answer, the door swung open. "Still in bed? Really, Skyler?" My sister barged in, scowling at me, ready to launch into the same unwanted lecture she rattled off to me daily. "I've been up for… for hours now, and what? You're just gonna stay there all day? Wow… No responsibilities, it sure sounds really… nice." Her judgmental tone oozed with sarcasm and rubbed salt on the wound of unemployment without even trying. "Why? Why are you like… this? Such a waste—"

"Shut up!" The words shot out without a thought.

My pillow followed.

Fwump!

It hit her face, forcing her to take a literal step back to maintain balance. Wide-eyed, we were both shocked at my actions.

"Hey!" She stomped her foot, not bothering to compose herself.

"Just… Go away, Jess." Fighting with her was always exhausting. I didn't want to bother with it now. "Leave me alone."

"F-fine! You're… You’re not worth my time, anyway." Clunking footsteps echoed in the hall behind her. She was probably on her way to sail effortlessly through another of her so-called 'perfect' days.

Yeah? Well… that seems to be the consensus lately.

I fell backward and closed my eyes. Maybe I could relax or rest in peace. Throwing the pillow might have been too much, though, not that I had enough time to stop myself. My bed wasn't the same without its warmth, even if the look on her face was totally worth it. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. Alone again, it was difficult not to smirk. Then, as if on cue, my phone screeched out a karmic alarm.

"Yup. Perfect."

Cheery sounds of my family's morning routines filled the house. I pictured them all in the kitchen. Mom, filing away work she brought from the office back into her briefcase. Jess, reviewing her completed homework at the table for the second time, waiting for a ride to school and warning dad to keep his crumbs to himself. Meanwhile, he’d desperately be trying to salvage another charred breakfast while muttering about the toaster. I used to join them in that same chaos, laughing and making plans for an upcoming weekend or holiday.

Now, I was better off staying out of their way, keeping to myself. I'd probably get grilled about my plans for the day if I bothered to join them; another unwanted reminder I had nothing of any real significance to do. They didn't need me interrupting or intruding on their day.

The smell of burnt toast and black coffee wafted into my room. I brought the blanket over my head to keep it all at bay. Then the front door closed hard. They left the house together in a hurry, like usual, with no one even calling out a goodbye.

"Okay then, bye," I mumbled into my blanket.

After peeling back the covers, I stared at the slow ceiling fan. I hated being alone with my thoughts—my failures—and all the things I could have, or should have, done differently with my life. They wouldn't leave me alone like the rest of the world seemed to do so effortlessly. I needed to escape the unbearable silence.

I dragged myself out of bed to start the day. After tossing my pillow back to its rightful place on my bed, I shut my blackout curtains. I needed to keep the rest of the world where it belonged, outside. Distractions weren't necessary.

My stomach grumbled, refusing to be ignored. The hunger pang demanded food. Cold leftovers from the night before worked perfectly. I was so hungry I practically inhaled the food.

Mmmm… Sustenance.

Where most people might decide to get ready for the day—getting dressed and washing up—I didn’t see the point. The faded graphic tee shirt and flannel pants I slept in were good enough. I gave myself a sniff test. A shower wouldn’t hurt, but no one else was going to be around for a while.

I collapsed into my desk chair. The cracked leather welcomed me with a hug as I sank into it and turned my attention to my PC. There was the smart thing to do, continuing with the never-ending job hunt that always led nowhere, but the bad news left me drained and unmotivated. Another day ruined, and it had only just begun.

Realistically, though, what were the chances that I'd find a job, or 'The Job', something I was meant to do, today of all days? A job where I'd actually be welcome and accepted. I spun around more, slowly taking stock of the mess that was my room; my ‘fortress of solitude’, as dad used to call it.

"Screw it."

I leaned forward. My mouse found its way into my hand. Double-click. What I really needed was…

Wonder Saga: Online

The always welcome game logo flashed across my monitor. My avatar loaded up, front and center, alongside the starting menu. Full of pride, he wore a polished suit of menacing armor with his chest puffed out and a confident grin. Why wouldn't he be happy? His life was an adventure—traveling through a fantastic world, slaying enemies, and helping others, even if they were just NPCs. That was his only purpose in a somewhat simple life, but who was I to judge? He stood at the ready, waiting for me to send him on his way with another quest.