End Of The Rutine

'Like every other day, today was supposed to be just like the rest.'

Nine hours before:

As the piercing sound of his alarm jolted Leo from his sleep, he begrudgingly rose from his bed and silenced the bipping device.Glancing over at the digital clock, which showed 07:07, he let out a sigh and trudged towards the bathroom to start his morning routine.

The steam from the shower enveloped Leo's tired body as he stood under the cascading water for a solid 13 minutes. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as the hot water washed away the remnants of a restless night's sleeep. As he emerged from the shower, he caught a glimpse of himself in the foggy mirror.

As Leo stared at his reflection in the mirror, a sense of gratitude washed over him despite the tiredness in his brown eyes and messy hair. "At least I'm still alive" he murmured, a small smile forming on his lips. He couldn't help but think about the ridiculous world he saw every night for the past month, his nightmares, But now, looking at himself, he realized that he had escaped again from that realm and once again grateful for it.

The image staring back at him served as a reminder that he had overcome the challenges of both life and dreams, and hade made it through another day.

Upon entering the living room, Leo's gaze immediately swept the space, taking in the systematic and organized arrangement of the furniture. Two comfartable-looking couches sat directly oppsite each other, with a sleek glass table placed in the middle at the same height as the couches. The table's clear surface allowed Leo to appreciate the intricate pattern of the rug underneath it. At the far end of the room, a flat-screen TV hung on the wall, taking up only a quarter of the available space but positioned perfectly in the center. Leo felt a sense of satisfaction wash over as he took in the harmonious and balanced design of the room, chaos and disarray were his worst enemies.

After taking a quick glance around his living room, he checked the time on his watch and realized that it was already approaching 7:20. Without wasting any more time, he headed straight to the kitchen to prepare his breakfast for the day. The sight of the same familiar and organized design in the kitchen put him at ease, as he knew exactly where to find everything he needed. He opened the fridge and took out milk,butter,cheese and bread, then set them down on the counter.

With ingredients in hand, he got to work on making himself a delicious sandwich and a hot cup of coffe to start his day off right. As he savored the flavors of his breakfast, he knew that he was ready for the day ahead. with a sense of purpose, he left his home and started walking towards the nearest metro station, his mind already focused on the tasks he needed to complete. It was 7:30 AM.

Leo's daily routine is highly structured and efficent, largely due to his struggle with OCD. Nevertheless, Leo has come to terms with his condition and has adapted his lifestyle to better manage his symptoms. By doing so, he has been able to alleviate the unreasonable depression he was experiencing until recently.

As Leo made his way to the metro station, he couldn't help but reflect on his recent sleepless nights. For the past month, he had been plagued by a series of vivid nightmares that left him feeling exhausted and drained next morning. In these unsettling dreams, he found himself transported to a fantastical world called Elysium, where humans cultivated a mysterious energy called Qi to achieve incredible feats of power and strenght beyond mortal limits.

In this otherworldly realm, humans were obsessed with achieving immortality through the cultivation. Leo's in this unsettling dreams, he found himself inhabiting the body of a thirteen-years-old a oprhan boy who shared same name like his. However, he was merely a passive observer, unable to exert any control over the body he occupied. All he could do was watch helplessly as the boy's life unfolded befor his eyes.

As Leo bore withness to the strange events that unfolded in this fantastical world, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of terror creeping up within him. The otherworldly power struggles, the bizarre creatures and phenomena, and the desperate pursuit of eternal life all combined to create a nightmarish landscape that seemed to defy all logic and reason.

As an adult, Leo found himself referring to the thirteen-year-old boy as a "brat". Though he recognized the child's struggles and the pain of growing up alone, he couldn't help but feel a mix of annoyance and pity at the boy's recless determination. The brat who seemed to have no one in his side, was desperate to prove himself to the world and become a famous cultivator. He yearned for the respect and adoration of others, to show that he was more than just an orphan.

Yet, as Leo watched from his observer's perspective, he couldn't help but notice the brat's dangerous tendency to take on challenges far beyond his cabilities. In this brutal and unforgiving world of cultivation, where strenght and power ruled above all else, the brat's stubborness and reclessness were a recipe for disaster. Leo knew all to well that the boy's aspirations could ultimately lead to his downfall, crippling injury, or even death.

Despite everything, Leo couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the brat. He understood all too well the brat's longing for acceptance and love, having been an outsider himself for so long. However, Leo had long ago accepted his life and had become indifferent towards other, prioritizing survival above all else. This was a harsh lesson he had learned through exprience, one that he doubted the boy could learn juding by his actions. Nonetheless, Leo couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship towards the brat, and hoped that he would one day understand the importance of survival and acceptance.

Leo has spent the last month watching the life of a brat unfold every night. The brat's recklessness often led to perilous situations, such as risking his life for trivial matters like pride or unrequited love. From witnessing these unnecessary hardships, Leo had once again confirmed that his impression of the world was right - in the world of the Elysium or Earth, fame can be fatal. The more people know you, the greater the risks you face, and the more reasons you could hurt and die.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Leo realized he had arrived to the metro station and he forced himself to stop pondering the otherworld. He took a seat where no one else was around, as he preferred the peace and quiet during his morning commute. At the top of the hour, he left the station and headed towards his workplace - a massive office bulding belonging to the famous "xxx" company. As an Oracle Database Administrator, Leo job was transforming the disorganized data into organized data. He was good at his work.

Upon entering the building, Leo headed straight for the elevator, which took him to the floor where his office was located. As he walked into his office, he dropped his bag and jacket and checked the time. It was 8:25 a.m, and he had five minutes before his official work hours began. Leo quickly made his way to the office kitchen and brewed himself a strong black coffe. With coffe in hand, he returned to his office and waited for a couple of minutes before starting his work for the day.

Leo sat in front of his computer, his fingers tapping away at the keyboard as he deftly modified the data on the screen. As he worked, he found himself lost in thought. 'Do I love this job because it's truly what I want to do for the rest of my life, or is it just because my OCD makes me feel so good at it?' he wondered, though he knew deep down that there was no easy answer. Regardless, he contiuned to work with dedication and precision, determined to excel at his job no matter what.

Leo's vision suddenly blurred, and he felt a sharp pain shoot through his upper hand. He pushed himself away from his desk and tried to stand, but the nausea hit him like a ton of bricks. He felt as though he might vomit everthing he had eaten that day, and more. Panic set in as he wondered if he was having a seizure. His thoughts were interrupted by his collapse to the floor.

People rushed over to his side, their voices merging together in a cacophony of concern. Leo tried to listen, but the sounds were too jumbled for him to make sense of it. He heard the faint sound of someone calling an ambulance as he clutched his stomach, retching violently.

Lying there, he was overcome with the realization that he might not survive this ordeal and he might die from choking on his own vomit in the middle of an office building. Dying at a mere 33 years old was incomprehensible. "What a life," he thought bitterly. "This was supposed to be just another day in my routine, but now everything has changed."