As the sun dipped below the skyline, a dusky twilight crept across the city like a blanket of calm. The streets, once buzzing with life, were now subdued, and the occasional breeze rustled through the leaves as if whispering secrets to the night.
Streetlights flickered to life one by one, casting soft, dim halos on the empty sidewalks. The buildings stretched their long shadows across the road, swallowing the last hints of daylight.
By midnight, the moon had taken its place among scattered stars, and a chill clung to the air. Gusts of wind swept through the streets, which were nearly empty save for a few wandering souls. Most shops had long since pulled down their shutters. The world was quiet now—eerily so.
Somewhere in the distance, a dog began barking, its voice echoing sharply before fading again. The source was hard to place, as though the sound belonged to the night itself.
A few cars passed occasionally, their headlights slicing through the shadows, briefly revealing bits of the sleeping city.
And on one of those near-empty roads, a young man walked alone.
He wasn't dressed to impress—just slacks and a crumpled work shirt, his tie barely holding on. His steps were heavy, his back slightly hunched, and his face told the story of someone who hadn't slept properly in days.
His name was Rain Holmes. Just another tired soul trying to make it through the daily grind.
He looked to be in his mid-twenties, the age where you're expected to figure life out but still have no clue what you're doing. He wasn't ugly, not at all. With proper sleep and maybe a new haircut, he might've even turned a few heads. But the deep bags under his eyes and the blankness in his gaze made him look older than he was.
A cheap digital watch clung to his wrist, its hands stuck at some forgotten time. He gave it a shake. Nothing.
"Figures," he muttered.
He pulled out his phone instead.[12:17 AM].
A tired sigh escaped his lips. "Vacation starts tomorrow…"
It was the first thing in a long time that actually made him smile, even if only faintly.
A moment later, his phone lit up and rang—an unexpected call this late.The ringtone played a darkly fitting song: "If I die young, bury me in satin…"
He picked up."Hello?"
His boss's voice greeted him. "Rain. Just wanted to confirm—you're cleared for the company-sponsored trip."
Rain blinked, surprised. "Seriously? Thanks, Boss."
The call ended.
A genuine smile crept across his face—rare, but welcome.
After endless overtime, this was the reward. A vacation. Fully paid. No spreadsheets. No meetings. No fake laughter. Just freedom.
He opened the company group chat, where messages were flooding in.
"Taking my kids to the countryside!""Finally, time with my wife.""Spa weekend with my girlfriend~"
Rain chuckled bitterly. Must be nice...
He had none of that. No family, no partner, no one to share the moment with.
An orphan raised in a small, underfunded orphanage, Rain had no ties to anyone. His parents had never come looking for him, and he'd never tried to find them either.
"Not like I had the time," he mumbled.
No time. No energy. Just the daily cycle of work, eat, sleep—if he was lucky.
Still, the vacation meant something. Even if he was going alone.
He kept walking through the cold streets, hands shoved in his coat pockets, hoping he might spot a cab. His apartment was far, and he wasn't in the mood to walk the whole way.
That's when he saw it—the last bus of the night, pulling away from the stop ahead.
"Wait—damn it!"
Rain broke into a run, legs flailing like a toddler learning to walk, arms pumping wildly.
Just a few more steps...
But the bus didn't stop.
It turned the corner and vanished.
"Ugh... of course." Rain slowed to a walk, breath fogging in the cold air. "Why am I not surprised?"
He adjusted his coat and trudged on, resigned to the long walk home.
This company's really drained me dry, he thought.
For the past few years, he'd given everything to his job. It was a "black company," as people called it—overworked, under-compensated, emotionally draining. But it paid more than others he applied to, and he had no connections or "experience" to land anything better.
So, he stayed. Grinding, surviving.
He'd thought about moving closer to the office to save on travel, but housing near downtown was absurdly expensive.
He considered buying a bike, even a small scooter—but every time, reality knocked: "Not this month. Maybe next time."
Most of his salary was eaten up by rent, utilities, and fast food. No time to cook, and no strength to care.
Even on weekends, he barely left his room. Resting felt like a luxury.
He lived like a machine. No friends. No romance. Just work and sleep.
The silence around him reminded him just how alone he really was.
His whole life—childhood chores at the orphanage, teenage years filled with part-time jobs, and now adulthood—had been spent chasing stability. But peace always felt one step away.
His shoulders slumped a little more. "I just want to sleep… for once without setting an alarm."
He remembered—he'd have to get up early again tomorrow. The company group had decided to meet at the train station at sunrise to start the trip.
Another early morning, even on his first vacation day.
He sighed.
The night wind brushed against his face. Leaves rustled along the pavement. The streetlights above flickered uncertainly.
Then—
HONK.
Loud. Sudden.
Rain turned his head.
Bright headlights glared into his eyes. A massive truck was barreling toward him, too fast, too close.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
"What the hell?" he muttered, blinking.
The driver wasn't slowing down. Just honking, again and again.
Why is it coming at me?
Rain's body froze, instincts paralyzed by disbelief.
He barely had time to move. The truck was already upon him.
And then—
Impact.
Pain.
Then nothing.
He was airborne, floating for the briefest moment—weightless.
His thoughts scattered.
So this is it? Is this how I go?
A chuckle escaped him. Not from his mouth, but from somewhere deep inside.
Maybe that truck will send me to another world. Fantasy-style. Like one of those web novels.
He imagined it.
Reincarnated. Strong. Respected. Free.
Then again, maybe not.
Who am I kidding... things like that don't happen in real life.
Still—this wasn't bad.
No work. No pressure. No loneliness.
Just silence.
Finally, he could rest.
And for the first time in years, Rain Holmes let the world slip away with a peaceful smile.