THE CROSSING

In a modest apartment in the heart of the modern city, the first rays of sunlight seep through the delicate curtains, heralding the beginning of a new day. The protagonist, Thomas, awakens to the sound of the electronic alarm playing a repetitive melody, a moment that has repeated itself countless times until it became an integral part of his daily routine. With a mechanical motion, he reaches out to silence the alarm, attempting to gather himself and detach from the world of dreams that seemed more enticing than his mundane reality. Rising from bed, he heads towards the kitchen where his mother, Marian, awaits him, having started her day hours before him as usual. She smiles upon seeing him. "Good morning, Thomas. How did you sleep last night?" Marian asks in her warm voice, flipping some eggs on the stove. "Good morning, Mom. I slept well, thank you," Thomas responds, his tone weary as he tries to conceal his feeling of lethargy that accompanies him like a shadow. "You look tired as usual. Can I do anything for you?" Marian says with concern as she places a breakfast plate before him, filled with eggs and toast. "No, everything's fine. It's just work pressure and the daily routine, nothing more," Thomas replies, attempting to reassure his mother and himself at the same time. After breakfast, he heads to the bathroom for a warm shower, preparing himself to face the outside world. This routine is what eases his burden, for sometimes dealing with certain people forces you to kill a part of yourself. Once done, he dons his formal suit and prepares to head to work. As the clock ticks slowly, the monotonous routine envelops every part of his day. He works in a major marketing company, where his tasks involve preparing reports and market analysis, and participating in endless meetings that seem to revolve in a never-ending loop. Thomas finds himself once again in front of his cluttered desk, struggling to find some enthusiasm to start his day. But all his efforts go in vain, as the routine tasks drain every ounce of passion within him. As Thomas prepared for the monthly market report, his manager, Mr. George, entered the room. Mr. George was known for his gruff personality and constant complaints. "Thomas, I hope this report will be better than the last. I don't want to see any trivial mistakes like the ones I saw last time," Mr. George said sharply, scrutinizing the papers on Thomas's desk with a critical eye. "I'll make sure of that, sir. I'll review everything again before submitting it," Thomas replied softly, trying to contain his frustration. Mr. George wasn't satisfied with the response and continued mockingly, "Make sure you do. I don't want to waste my time reading reports that don't meet the required standards." After the manager left, Thomas felt a heaviness weighing on his chest. He sighed heavily, unable to bear the burden of this cursed manager anymore. Work wasn't just routine; it had become a daily struggle to deal with. At lunchtime, his childhood friend and confidante, Lilian, joined him, noticing the signs of exhaustion and frustration on his face. Thomas considers Lilian his little sister and a repository of his secrets. "You seem down today. Is everything okay?" Lilian asked with a concerned voice. "It's work, Lilian. It seems like there's no escape from the routine and the manager who doesn't appreciate our efforts," Thomas replied with a long sigh. "I know it's tough, but maybe you need to find something that reinvigorates you, something to break this routine," Lilian said with enthusiasm, trying to offer some comfort. Thomas nodded, "Perhaps you're right. I need to find something that reignites my passion for life." As they spoke, Natalia, their colleague at work and Lilian's close friend, joined them. She harbors feelings for Thomas but hasn't confessed to him, so their interactions are minimal. She shyly exclaimed, "How are you all doing today, folks?" as she sat near Lilian. Lilian smiled and responded, "We're good, Natalia, but Thomas is feeling a bit down." Lilian knew about Natalia's feelings for Thomas, and now she had opened the door for her to engage in a personal conversation with him for the first time, away from work. Natalia smiled back and asked, "What are you feeling?" Her warm, resonant voice captured Thomas's attention, and for the first time, he found himself drawn to her captivating gaze. Then he said calmly, "My life is dull, there's nothing new, days blend into one another. I've lost passion in everything." He finished his sentence, gazing at the ceiling of the office room in despair. "Hmm, what do you think about going out for dinner tonight? It'll break the routine. I know it's not a permanent solution, but it's temporary until we figure out what to do," she suggested, feeling flustered after her words slipped out unintentionally. Thomas examined her perplexed face with a mischievous smile, able to understand the woman's feelings when she falls for a man. He responded gratefully, "Okay, Natalia, that sounds good. We'll meet around eight, what do you think?" She nodded quickly in agreement, not expecting his response especially since they were just colleagues, nothing more. In the evening, inside a quiet and warm restaurant, with dim lights gently reflecting on polished wooden tables, Thomas and Natalia sat facing each other, exchanging conversation in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere. The soft background music added a layer of tranquility and intimacy to the evening. "I'm really glad we decided to go out for dinner together, Natalia. I feel like there's so much we don't know about each other," Thomas said as he passed the menu to her. With a warm smile, Natalia replied, "I feel the same way, Thomas. You always seem full of ideas and enthusiasm for something, but there's something that dims the flame of hope within you. I'm eager to learn more about this passion you carry in your heart." As they chose their meals, Thomas began sharing some stories from his childhood and how a desire for exploration and adventure grew within him. "I've grown tired of working in this company and dealing with the darn manager who constantly criticizes me. The routine has killed my childhood dreams, the ones I've been pursuing since I was young. I remember when I was little, I would spend hours reading maps and books about distant places. There was always this desire to know what lay beyond the horizon." Natalia, listening attentively, said, "That manager is always grumbling with everyone; I think he's psychologically ill. Let's forget about him now; we don't want to spoil our mood with his rotten story. Now, let me tell you that your aspirations are truly intriguing. It seems like this passion for exploration is an integral part of you. But, is there something specific you feel drawn to explore more now? Something you really want to delve into?" Thomas paused for a moment, pondering her question, then said, "I think what I'm really searching for is... an experience that changes everything. Something that challenges everything I know and makes me see the world from a new perspective. Not just a new place to visit, but an adventure that changes me from within." Natalia, touched by his sincerity, said, "That's really beautiful, Thomas, and I'm sure that experience is waiting for you. And when you find it, you'll be more than ready for it." As dinner arrived, they continued their conversation, intertwining with laughter and light-hearted remarks. Since that pleasant time, not even the slightest change had occurred. Days passed heavily, suffocatingly, with nothing altering except the color of Thomas's suit. He began to feel trapped. The routine grew more suffocating with each passing day. Every day seemed like a replica of the one before it, and every meeting with the manager only intensified his feelings of helplessness and frustration. In one of the sessions, as the manager was pointing out minor errors in the reports in front of the team, Thomas couldn't bear it any longer. "I think we should focus more on new marketing strategies instead of wasting time nitpicking minor mistakes," Thomas boldly stated, tired of constant criticism. Surprised by his boldness, the manager looked at him for a moment before responding, "I appreciate your input, but the devil is in the details. We strive for perfection here." After that meeting, Thomas felt a sense of relief for speaking up, but he also realized that it was time for him to find a new path for his life, one filled with passion and vitality. One night, as he pondered his next move, a thought crossed his mind.After that meeting, Thomas felt a sense of relief for expressing his opinion, but he also realized that the time had come to find a new path for his life, one filled with passion and vitality. One night... Thomas and his mother sat at the dining table for breakfast. Silence prevailed for a while until they heard...