Thalia didn't respond right away, which was fine. I wasn't really looking to start a conversation, just sending the message had already drained what little energy I had left after this long walk to clear my mind.
I leaned back on the bench, eyes tracing the pale morning sky.
"Maybe I'm overthinking it."
I thought.
If these changes are real, they'll happen when they're supposed to, whether that is tonight or ten years from now.
Either way, obsessing over powers I didn't understand wasn't going to help. I needed to shift focus, stick to one clear goal at a time.
Like the money.
What would I even do once it hit my account?
Relocating crossed my mind, maybe Dubai, or Singapore, or even somewhere quieter. A place with structure, stability… where the rules made sense. Somewhere I could register a private company, start from the ground up, and surround myself with competent, business-minded people.
It sounded ambitious.
But not impossible.
But I also know that I needed to focus on the basics first.
The foundation so to speak.
For example start with something small, manageable. I didn't need to build an empire overnight, I needed structure, direction, and a proper plan.
Like registering a business.
Building a team.
Meeting with a financial advisor who wouldn't faint at the sight of a billion-dollar deposit.
I pulled out my phone and opened the notes app, jotting down ideas like I knew what I was doing, when in reality I don't.
But the step towards greatness always start from the smallest step.
"Step one… establish a holding company?_
I mumbled to myself.
It sounded right.
Something safe, flexible. A way to manage assets without rushing into risky ventures... I got this idea from watching billionaire documentary to many times to count on my phone.
The truth was, I had the ambition. I just didn't have the experience yet.
And if Traumerei isn't messing with me, then the money should be right around the corner too.
But if I wanted this to last, I had to learn the ropes.
Corporate structure, tax strategies, legal frameworks, and all that stuff.
The wind bit at my ears.
My coat wasn't nearly warm enough for this kind of morning, but it was all I had, and with today being payday, I wasn't about to blow what little I had left chasing comfort.
I checked the time.
9:47 a.m.
Rent was due by this evening.
I had already scraped together part of it earlier in the month to add with the rest my week worth pay would provide.
Add in the overdue electric bill blinking in my inbox, and my final paycheck looked less like closure and more like a quiet apology.
This was the last time I would have to juggle pennies like this. After today… everything was about to change.
Yet I don't know why am I enjoying my last day of being a broke nobody.
I don't understand this emotion, I hate being broke, and now I am enjoying the last of the struggles.
"Why is that?"
I whispered to myself as I began to wonder.
Still, I was buying that damn lottery ticket.
That aside though I sat here long enough, it was time I go to collect my last paycheck from the bank.
With that in mind I stood up, rubbing my hands together to warm them before slipping them back into my coat pockets.
I made them my way to the bus stop, trying to shake the cold from my bones. My phone buzzed again, and I took it out.
Looking at the sender, I noticed it was Thalia replying to my last message. She can't text while during work, especially given how bussy today was.
Thalia:
"Alright. Just don't die or something. I still owe you a drink after that double shift last week."
I smirked at her reply
It was classic Thalia.
Short, and sarcastic.
Either way I reply back with the same energy as I said.
Me:
"Deal. But I'm picking the place, and it's gotta be the expensive one."
Right after I slipped my phone away.
I tucked my phone back in my pocket and stood there, waiting for the bus.
When it finally showed up, I just stood there, trying to avoid taking too deep a breath. The smell of fish from a nearby dumpster hung in the air, and it made my stomach twist, dragging up memories I really didn't want to deal with this morning.
The bus pulled up with its usual hiss and squeak, and I climbed on, swiped my card, and collapsed into the back corner like I was trying to disappear into the seat.
It was a thirty-minute ride downtown.
I just stared out the window the whole way, watching the city go by.
Broken sidewalks, faded brick buildings, the occasional mural trying to brighten things up. Honestly, this place always looked better from the inside of the bus.
I got off the bus four stops later, and walked the rest of the way to the bank. The line was already forming, mostly familiar faces at this time.
When I reached the counter, Tanya gave me a quick smile, showing her professionalism.
When she called me she greeted me and said.
"Good day Theodore."
"Yeah... I came for the usual, I hope it is already in."
"You're just in time as a matter of fact "
She said, already pulling up my info.
"Shen's check hit about seven minutes ago."
I nodded, trying not to look as relieved as I felt.
"Yeah, they're usually between ten and noon. Glad to see they're still predictable."
Tanya chuckled.
"More than I can say for half the folks who come in here."
She tapped a few keys, slid me the receipt.
"There you go Theodore... Try not to spend it all in one place."
"No promises."
I said, tucking the slip into my pocket.
Outside, I leaned against the brick wall by the entrance and opened my banking app. Sure enough it was all there $964.73. Not a fortune, but for now, it was everything I currently had.
Then I started mentally subtracting:
Rent remainder – $600.
Electric bill – $95.
Metro refill – $30.
That left me with $239 and some change.
And out of that?
$80 was already spoken for. I was going to buy the lunar draw lottery ticket.
For that reason, I didn't waste any time. As soon as I found a quiet spot on the sidewalk, I opened the lottery app.
The official one, sleek and way too proud of its neon-blue theme.
The home screen greeted me with a banner that read Lunar Draw: $900 Billion Jackpot in bold. A pulsing countdown hovered beneath it, ticking away the seconds.
I tapped Buy Ticket, and the screen shifted smoothly into a form.
It asked for the usual, photo ID verification, full legal name, date of birth, and bank account information, and if I wanted a random ticket or requested numbers. Of course I type in the numbers Traumerei gave me.
I entered it all carefully.
No typos, no second-guessing.
This was the kind of thing you double-check three times, just to be sure the universe didn't have a reason to screw you over on a technicality.
The clock on my phone read 10:57 AM, rolling fast toward eleven.
A final confirmation screen popped up:
"Ticket Confirmed. Drawing in 9 hours and 3 minutes."
Nine hours.
Nine hours between me and either the biggest financial high in history...or absolutely nothing.
I stared at the screen for a second longer than necessary, then locked my phone.
"Alright."
I murmured under my breath.
"Showtime."
With that, I decided to head home. The drawing was scheduled for 8 PM sharp. International coverage, broadcast live across every major network. All I had to do was sit still and wait... Nine hours to go.
And possibly the last time I would ever be this broke again.