…Nothing…Blankness…Oblivion…Zero…Sleep
A feeling of absence, as if stripped away from all senses and thoughts.
What is it like to have nothing? A question most fear to be in, as if it was a situation that could occur to them any moment. Yet why is it so, that people still in their moments of drive, want to stay or even revert? Maybe to no longer feel negativity, maybe to have the troubles fade away, or just keep all things comfortable…
Only at this moment, there will be no relaxation. Because Vick blinks into consciousness.
A groan and moan from the man in bed, as he starts about his day. This time, with a more particular slowness, as if mud seemed to have slipped into his very being.
Regretting the choice of having work, Vick is finally up from his bed and waking himself up. Groggily working himself to the bathroom, he is snapped awake with the cold water hitting his face.
It wasn’t instant, but a surprise wake-up call that seems to alert the body of the coldness. After which, the rest of the body seems to progress into a state of work. Like a spinning cog, the water, creating a domino effect, has started up the machine.
And like a machine, Vick is routinely getting ready for work.
From daily hygiene to everyday breakfast.
6:19 AM
And of course the morning relaxation before work. As with a calming song, Vick is seen before the storm.
6:57 AM
For before he knew it, time seemed to blast right past him. And just like that, he is off to work again…
The same old buildings covered in a blanket of the night. Stirring with wake, as the sun rose off on the corner of his eyes.
7:26 AM
Vrrm!--Stop–....
An unexpected drive to a drive-through, drove time by, as Vick drew breath after a drink that drafted what was going to be drawn.
In other words, Vick knew the typical boring Wednesdays and so grabbed a drink for the path ahead. A bitter drink to be more exact.
Like so, Vick finally starts to work.
7:45 AM
Nothing quite interesting happens, only some noises in the background. With the group laboring over conversations, clicks, and taps.
8:24 AM
The bitterness of the drink seems to at least push Vick into working. As with a sour-face, Vick toils away at the screen in front of him.
8:48 AM
Slurp–KKKughhghhg–Stop…
Trying to finish the drink, the group all turn to Vick.
“Sorry about that” Vick apologizes with a wave of his hand and quietly finishes up the drink.
9:12 AM
In just two hours, the group seemed to have finished the current work up, and so started their silent boredom. With the false sounds of labor in the air, the group secretly began their covert communications with one another.
9:34 AM
Communication seemed to have lasted for a bit, only for a bit…Now there was nothing to talk about…
Shows? Carl is busy with his family, Rohan hasn’t been catching up with any new media, Mateo doesn’t watch too much, and Vick is the only one who has interest.
How about sports? Carl is interested in many, Rohan is interested with few, Mateo and Vick aren’t too interested.
Has anything happened recently? None that wasn’t talked about in the dinner the group had yesterday.
…
Everything that could be shared, has been shared. So back into the digital world they went, for they had nothing to do but maybe share a video or two.
10:36 AM
Not even the hidden snacks Vick had, could alleviate the repetitive slowness the process of being in the middle of work had on people.
10:41 AM
Click Clack Crunch Tap Tap Munch
10:58 AM
Nothing…
11:14 AM…11:20 AM…11:29 AM…11:43 AM…11:54 AM…
…
…All those clicks and clacks, taps and sighs, ticks and lies have eventually become the truth, as work began appearing from everywhere. From emails, to physical labor, and finally other coworkers.
“Crap…….”
Clicks…Sniff…Tap…Sniff
…
12:12 PM
Rustle Click Tap Tap, “Imma go get lunch” “’See’ya”
An unfortunate dilemma the booth is in, as they struggle to immediately put down their work and leave for lunch.
12:15 PM
Rustle Click Rustle Rustle–Stop…. Murmur Murmur “Bla bla bla bla”
Conversation is heard from the background, as the group seems to be breaking under the pressure…A first crack in their tower of responsibility.
“Can’t go right now, marketing will have my as–” Whew! Looks like their not the only ones, they thought, only to be broken once again from,
“I’m craving a sandwich, wanna come?” “Sure, are we getting it fast or are we going in?” “In, ‘cause I’m going to be treating myself~.”
…A ballista of freedom strikes their walls, crumbling most of their defences. Leaving a bare opening with the broken walls surrounding it.
Yet, steeling themselves into their sense of duty, they brush off the sight beyond the walls.
12:17 PM
Carl was in his somber clicks, Rohan sighs while waiting for an email, Mateo shakes his restless legs staring straight into his monitor, and Vick was in a virtual meeting.
Of course, they weren’t the only ones, but as if the stars were aligned, they were the only ones still in the middle of work instead of finishing up like the rest.
Unfortunately, a match was lit, lighting up a fuse of restlessness.
“Uaaahh!!” A stretch followed along with a quiet moan, with this particular person rising from their seat to get lunch.
And as such, a fire set upon them. Carl, patient as he was, decides to simply finish the rest later. Rohan, luckily was able to receive the email he was waiting for. Mateo finishes up quickly and immediately leaves.
Vick, however, was an unfortunate victim of responsibility. As he was locked in a meeting, which held onto the ethics of time. Or to be more specific, the meeting had about ten minutes left before it was officially lunch break…
…And it was going to use up every one of those minutes…
12:19 PM
…Carl and Mateo had gone on to a brighter side…Rohan is still busy replying to said email…
12:22 PM
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Staring up, from his computer, Vick sees Rohan packing up. Not trying to show emotions, Vick tried to message Rohan with his eyes.
Only to receive a smug smirk back in return, before Rohan turns away and walks out the door. Leaving Vick alone, in his despair…
12:23 PM
Every minute was excruciatingly boring, as the meeting had an on-going conversation between supervisors. A talk that lasted twenty minutes, as Vick wasn’t even included.
12:24 PM
Another minute that seems to remind Vick of how close he is to freedom.
12:25 PM
And another one where Vick seemingly wasn’t needed as he stayed silent waiting for someone to disperse the meeting.
12:26 PM
..Four more minutes, just four more minutes..Vick thought, as he glanced at the time.
12:27 PM
“Bla bla bla” Supervisor one said,
“Bla bla bla” Supervisor two answered,
“Bla bla bla?” A coworker in despair questioned, adding more time to the meeting. Making them a fellow in despair no longer.
“Bla bla bla…but it's getting close to lunch, so how about we discuss this after lunch?” Vick tries to get out…
“Just one more thing…” Manager said
Vick’s attempt at escape? Failure…
12:28
His presence? No longer needed, yet he stayed. His attention? No longer there, yet he stayed. His thoughts? No longer at the meeting, yet he stayed.
12:29
The longest minute possible, at least according to this moment. For Vick stayed in a meeting of boredom, a situation similar to a black hole, seemingly messing with the time surrounding him.
Slowing yet speeding up all the same, a contradiction of sorts. As Vick is processing the time nearing Lunch at a speed that seems to slow down the time around him.
Anxiously waiting, body restlessly preparing to jump from his seat, and his mind already on his lunch. Vick listens to the meeting, yet his eyes stayed on the clock.
A moment of eternity, like a compressed moment of time that operates off on its own.
…
…
12:3-
“Alright, let's get to lunch, we got over all the material for today. So no need for a second meeting.” Said the Manager.
Yet it sounded like the voice of salvation, as the meeting ended, Vick immediately sets everything down and rushes off for lunch.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Fee Fi Fo Fum!
Vick smelt the scent of a now-opened container of deliciousness, as he rounded the corner carrying his own container.
Straight into the breakroom he went, as he hurriedly prepped his food over at the table the group was currently in. And like so, Vick quietly inserts himself into the group as if he was there from the beginning.
“Whats happening?” Questioned Vick.
“Nothing, we just talking about music taste” Mateo said as he nodded along to Carl’s suggestions.
“Of course that band was the best, Jael was the literal embodiment of ambition. Like, I was always crying when I put that stuff on” Carl gushed about, before continuing,
“Holding onto Darren back in the day, I was so scared back then.--” Carl says only to be interrupted by Rohan.
“--Their song came on, and you were like…GUAH! Screw that! Let me get back to myself! And boom! You got a job and supported your family.” Exclaiming, Rohan raises both hands in a deliberate fashion.
“Of course, not to brag, but that song inspired me. And don’t look at me, I know plenty of people who got inspired by Jael’s music too! Therefore, it is simply…top three, if not number one” Carl says.
“Yeah… ‘nd that was the only thing that got you back, not your family, not your friends, just their songs, huh?” Vick inserts as he nudges towards himself with a judgmental look.
“Yeah” Mateo nods along with Vick. Causing the group to look at Carl, all at once.
Carl feeling the stares,
“...Al-alright, I surrender. I know that Samantha literally slapped me into fatherhood, but…C’mon! Those songs helped me a lot when I was a teenager.” Sighing whilst surrendering, Carl reveals the matter.
“We know…and so therefore! The band Jael doesn’t qualify as a top three pick in relatable music!” Rohan switches the tone, “Simply due to the fact, you were too goated at that moment. And therefore, the music taste you had at that moment was also equally the same”
“Thats right! Who can take responsibility for a family during their teens, get a job to start supporting their family, then actually graduate along with your wife!?” Vick continues with the praise.
“And then have a stable family and financial life?” Mateo finishes off.
“Thats right! That is right!” Repeating himself, Rohan raises the reason with a finger, “Due to these factors, this does not count as relatable music taste. But something more of a motivator!” Wrapping things up, Rohan says with the group nodding along.
“What!? Then what counts as relatable?” Carl questions the group, only to receive synonymous answers,
“Does a sad song cause tears? Yes! But does it also cause people to sing your heart to it!? YES!”
“Must music have beats and sounds? Yes! So how can we understand something that by itself, we ignore all the time? We feel it, that's what!”
“Okay, jeez…I get it already” Carl eventually gives in. “But what is number one?”
A question that seems to pause the group, as they ponder over the question.
Only for them to be interrupted by the sound of–~Jingle~ ~Jingle~
“That Smile by…who was it that sang the song?” “AH! The one with a guy stuck in a love triangle, only to end up alone” “Yeah! That one, I just don’t remember the name”
Ignoring the alarm entirely, the four were deep in thought on the singer of the song. “Nah, can’t think of his name” “Nope” “Nada” “Fuck”
“Why is it number one though?” “We all remember it even when we weren’t in a relationship, we felt it! We felt it! So its number one, if not its up there”
Thinking it over, the group accepted the song being on their list of relatable songs. Not due to its relatability to them, but how it caused the group to relate to something they’ve never experienced.
Yet again it rang,
~Jingle~ ~Jingle~
The merciless flow of time, moving along its course dragging along whatever is within.
And like so, the group eventually accepted their fate.
With Mateo, this time as the sacrifice, dragging his feet towards doom. Of course, with a…salute!
…Like a flash, the group were already at their desks continuing with their work.
1:11 PM
Nothing noteworthy had happened since they sat down.
1:24 PM
Mateo appears! With a smile, he nods towards the group as he starts to slip into his booth. The group, with jealousy, turned towards Mateo and gave him a thumbs up.
And back to it, they went. Adding some conversations here and there, yet this particular day had a sort of grip that stripped away all kinds of entertainment.
1:40 PM
Nothing, the work wasn’t hard nor was there many.
1:57 PM
None, but was continuous in its own way.
2:14 PM
Nada, like a fly that was constantly flying near one’s ear.
2:22 PM…2:30 PM…2:41 PM…2:55 PM…3:00 PM!
Officially, the day was over. Yet the group didn’t leave, as if the annoyance had switched a flip in them that caused them to look over every detail. An attentiveness that makes them want to find that fly.
From 3:01 PM to 3:02 PM, they could feel the minutes pass by as they drowned in this sea of muck. Muddily clicking and tapping, they saw fellow workers leaving.
From one worker to two, the feeling of being helplessly behind as people flew into the air of freedom. Brightly stretching and talking, their backs disappeared around the corner.
From one to two to four. Continuing on until, finally Carl stands up.
“Welp! Looks like I’m done,” He says before leaving just like the rest, “Imma head out”
“Alright, see ya” “Drive safe”
Soon after, Mateo and Rohan followed along with Carl.
Leaving only Vick…3:11 PM
Click Clack Tap Tack!
With one final click of his button, he finishes up…3:16 PM
“Fuck! That took way too long” Sighing in relief, Vick had finally found the fly.
Before he knew it, he was home.
3:49 PM
Wasting away the day, as work did him. Vick, in his ever-ambitious way to counter the day, laid in his apartment listening to music whilst reading.
No more glances at the time, no more need to do work, no more worry.
A comfortable home that seems to encompass the very being of stability. With beautiful music in the background, Vick starts about his everyday relaxation.
From going about his usual apps and devices to watching videos and movies. These moments of liberty seemed to take off the troubles and boredom he had. Making him forget about the bad and simply live in the good.
Floating atop the world, like a cloud listlessly wandering free.
Yet, within an hour or two, this routine was done. Causing Vick to be left alone with his music and thoughts. Sinking deeper and deeper into this ocean of muck, his body seems to no longer listen to him.
Passing by time and reality as if it was an illusion. A pace in which Vick can’t seem to escape from, like rot spreading with life itself dying out.
Yet this flicker of a candle comes to life, as Vick suddenly sits up.
“Alright, lets start moving” Moving his body in rhythm to the music, he looked out the window. Seeing that the sun had already set, he grabs his sweater and walks out of his apartment.
The same old views, nothing new, as the oranges start to disappear into the darkening blue.
As Vick walks through the shadow of the Earth, he immerses himself in the nature of the concrete plains.
Walking along the asphalt road, he looks at the suburban neighborhood surrounding him. Unlike the metropolis and cities, there were no large buildings covering the sky. There was no natural world being drowned out by the man-made.
Nor was there an overwhelming natural world, like those of forests and jungles.
No, this concrete plain was a more pleasant and softer approach to the unnatural. A more comfortable balance that seems to blend the natural world with the unnatural.
And just like that, time seemed to go by quick as Vick wandered through this. Until it was all stopped by a small little figurine.
“Is that a doll?” Whilst scooting closer to the figurine.
A closer look into the object, Vick sees a posing mech figure standing off to the side of the road. Plants seem to grow around and surround it, as if to tell a story of time.
Chuckling at the sight, he says, “Heh, looks like you need a few touch ups.” Before squatting and cleaning the figure.
Finally, the figure itself was cleared away of its debris and mess. Now clean and posing, Vick took a step back only to tilt his head at something missing from the figure.
“Hm? Missing a sword now aren’t you?”
Looking at the sticks around him, Vick grabs one and breaks it to size.
Patting himself, he stands up from his position and moves away. Using his hands to picture the figure posing in its natural world, Vick nods in affirmation before leaving for his apartment.
Leaving behind this little figure, stuck in its own world. Vick seemed to breathe easier as he entered his apartment.
And just like that, he went to sleep…Not one after being stuck in his apartment nor one after a day of work…But a sleep after his own adventure…
