When I was a child, I was always fascinated by primitive creatures like dinosaurs, ancient creatures, the giants of the world before us. My first encounter with what I call the behemoths of the past was when my mother took me to our local museum.
The moment I saw the towering T-Rex skeletons, something inside me shifted. It was a mix of terror and fascination. This creature was once alive, once roamed the earth—a predator in a world full of different types of predators. Imagining such a giant creature walking beside me made all the hair on my body stand on end. Yet, I still couldn't take my eyes off it.
From that day on, I started collecting dinosaur figurines. What began as a small interest slowly became a habit, then a comfort. The more I learned, the more I jumped in excitement until eventually it became a source of energy whenever I was tired.
Then I grew up.
Growing up, I was labeled as "smart."
That label followed me into adulthood, into university, into work, into the life I thought I wanted. After graduating, I stepped into what people called the "real world."
A stable job with a promising career. A happy family in a simple home. Everything I was supposed to aim for. But life doesn't follow plans.
Yes, I have a good career.
But because of it, I don't even have time to look for love, because being good at something doesn't mean you'll live a good life. Sometimes, it just means you're efficient enough to be buried in work. There's always something to do and always something waiting after that.
It never ends.
Sigh…
Still in my suit, I grabbed a bottle of my most expensive wine and a glass. I walked toward the terrace, the city stretching endlessly below me from the height of my penthouse. Lights flickered. Cars moved like distant currents. Silhouettes of people flowed like restless waves, each one moving toward something or someone, busy as a bee, going on and about with their lives.
I exhaled slowly.
I should feel grateful. Everything I have now is what people are still chasing. But somehow, I'm certain they're happier than I am at this moment because they have someone to go home to and a purpose to live and power up for another day. All I have waiting for me are my collections of dinosaurs.
Lifeless things from a world I wished I could see but never truly live in.
I let out a quiet laugh at the contradiction of it all, then glanced back inside and smiled faintly.
This was what I worked for. A two-story penthouse, luxury, space, silence. Though I didn't plan for this much silence.
I took another step forward, and the world shifted. The lights inside the living room split. Two… then three… then more.
"I must be drunk…"
The stairs ahead of me twisted, sliding sideways as if they were never real.
I laughed, a quiet, unsteady laugh. I felt like I was in some sort of game of trying to catch my footing.
I stepped forward—no, I jumped—trying to land on something that made sense.
A faint laugh escaped from me.
While jumping on my fifth step, I didn't feel anything under my feet. I felt weightless, and suddenly the world turned, then everything went black.
Ugh, my head hurts.
I must've drunk too much, or maybe the wine was stronger than I thought. I really should start checking the label before drinking.
Damn… I'm going to be late. I need to get up…!?
Why is it still dark?
Did I go blind?
F***!!! No… no…
What's happening?
Why can't I move?
Why is it so dark?
I want to panic—but I can't even feel anything, or more like I don't know what I am feeling.
I don't understand what's happening!
I have to calm down. I was drinking, then I looked at the view, then thought about my dinosaur, then looked inside the house, then moved, then I saw moving stairs… Moving stairs— I jumped… then blacked out. F*** that wine!!!
Did I die?
Am I in a hospital? Am I meeting God?
Wait... Something's wrong.
My body feels... heavy.
Like something is pressing in from all around me.
Am I gonna be squished to death?
I inhaled and tried to gather whatever strength I had to resist the pressure. This feeling is like a boulder pressing on me in all directions. Crushing my organs, pinning me to the ground.
Is it moving?
F***! It is.
The feelings became heavier and suffocating. Whatever is it that emits this pressure it's definitely coming and it's near. One thing is for sure. I'm done for when it comes.
It's coming—move, my dear body! Please, move.
I trembled. It's here… I'm going to die again.
Something shifted.
Suddenly, a heavy force pressed in violently and quickly. I had no time to breathe. I'm losing consciousness. My thoughts are slipping—fading. No, I need to stay awake. I can't fall here now. Then I was pushed.
No—more like swept away.
My body rolled uncontrollably, dragged across something rough and uneven. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't even tell which was which but that woke me up.
Something rushed past me—fast… massive…too close.
The pressure surged again, stronger this time. I could feel my doom coming but I tumbled—once… twice…thrice…and again and again till I lost count from the dizziness before everything suddenly stopped.
Silence.
But the feeling remained. Something had just passed by me. Something huge and it's not alone.
F***! What was that! It felt like… crashing planes..
Where the hell am I?
I couldn't make sense of what was happening nor could I see or hear anything. This is insane! Am I gonna die again without even knowing how? I want to move.
Move... please... move! Why can't I move?
Sigh…
I want to cry but I don't even know if I have eyes— or tears?
I think I really died.