The computer screen's glow illuminated Ryan Walker's face in the dim office. Paper documents and spreadsheets were scattered across his desk as he rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the blurred vision caused by exhaustion. Constant keyboard tapping echoed as his fingertips danced across the keys.
"Haaa∼ how did I end up here?" he thought, leaning back in his chair. Ryan rested his head against the backrest, staring up at the ceiling while letting out a sigh to relieve the built up stress and fatigue.
A flicker of light outside his office caught his attention, prompting him to look out the window. For a moment, he was reminded of the world outside. But now, Ryan didn't care anymore. Another sigh of regret escaped from his lips. Working in his office, he had already given up on his childhood dream of becoming a professional baseball player, more accurately, he was forced to. Why?
A knee injury sustained just before his baseball career started had destroyed his dream. After watching his first professional baseball game at a stadium, he developed a burning passion for the sport, but never had the opportunity to pursue what he sought after.
The thrill of hitting the ball, dead center of the bat, with a stinging sensation coursing through the arms, the crowd jumping out of their seats, cheering at the top of their lungs. Teammates waiting at the home plate with their hands held high above their heads, ready to dish out high-fives.
"I had to give it up, for what? A knee injury? Hahah! How fate can be cruel," he muttered.
Ryan tried to move on, burying his passion for baseball deep within himself as he spent endless hours in his monotonous office, working overtime to live paycheck to paycheck. Climbing the corporate ladder, seeking a better life. He had to survive. Because of his demanding work hours, Ryan didn't even have time to develop a romantic relationship.
Sitting back up, he scrolled through the documents on his computer, preparing to send his last report before heading home for the day.
Knock Knock
"Ryan," his work colleague, Adam, poked his head in through the office door. "Are you still working? You've been here for, what, 12 hours now?"
Ryan didn't bother looking at him. "Yeah, I'm just sending my last report before heading home. Work has been busy lately. My left arm went numb, and I've been feeling some pain here and there, so I'm wrapping things up."
"You're right, it has been busy. I'm just worried about you, man. You've been here all day. Take a break and get some rest. I don't want to sound like a parent, but you shouldn't overwork yourself like this," Adam replied, his concern evident as he stepped into the office.
"Unfortunately, I don't have a choice. I've just submitted my report, so I'm heading out now. Thanks for your concern – I appreciate it."
Adam tapped Ryan's shoulder before heading out. "All good, man. Just worried about you."
Once left alone, Ryan stared blankly at the wall. The pain in his left arm jolted him from his daze. His eyes wandered to the baseball jersey hanging on the wall.
"Damn knee injury, just had to ruin my dreams, didn'tit?"
BA-BOOM BA-BOOM BA-BOOM
"Argh!" Ryan let out a painful growl, clutching his chest with his right hand as he dropped his coat to the floor. A sharp pain shot through his chest, and his vision began to blur. He collapsed, hitting his head on the edge of his desk. Warmth could be felt surrounding his head.
"What's happening?"
He struggled to focus on his surroundings, but his vision continued to fail him, becoming increasingly blurry.
"Am I… dying?"
"After everything I've been through, do I have to go out like this? I'm not even surprised anymore." Another surge of pain shot through his chest and head, sharper this time. "How cruel is life? If only… I could pursue the dream I had…"
BA-BOOM
Another wave of sharp pain shot through his chest. Before Ryan could comprehend what was happening, everything went silent. Not the silence of absence, but pure nothingness. The lights in the office gradually dimmed as he lost the strength to keep his eyelids open, eventually drifting into what felt like eternal darkness.
Snippets of his life began to play in front of him, like he were watching a movie of his past.
DONG
A metal bat's sound echoed as the crowd jumped to their feet next to Ryan and his father, Andrew Walker. The ball whistled through the air, disappearing from everyone's view beyond the stadium.
"HE DOES IT AGAIN! A FOUR-POINT HOMERUN FOR HIS TEAM! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S A GRAAAAND SLAAAAM!!!" blared the speakers, blending with the roars of celebration from the crowd.
The stadium floor shook with the energy of fans jumping in jubilation.
The player was seen rounding the bases, one hand in the air, waving to the cheering audience.
Ryan's eyes widened in surprise while his whole body tingled with excitement. He could feel goosebumps all over his arm while his passion he tried to bury for so long burst forward.
Before he could savor the moment, the scene suddenly shifted. He found himself staring at his younger self rolling on the ground in pain, clutching his knee as memories of his knee injury flooded back.
Fragments of his life flashed before him in brief segments, reminding him of his painful struggle for survival. Ryan couldn't react to the scenes he witnessed before… everything suddenly turned dark.