Pawn

 

He stood there still, like a stone pillar, he froze in time as he got the news, felt like the world is moving around faster. He will not be promoted to a permanent position this time and he must leave the job as his contract ends. He started thinking about his time at the job,  was on time every single day,  got along well with every coworkers, he was the best employee of the month several times, he proved back to back that he could handle the most stressful tasks, he did the jobs that nobody else wanted to do. He have showed great amount of dedication and commitment to his job. 

He did everything he can. Or did he? Where did he go wrong? Why did it happen? Why was he not chosen? Why did they throw him out? 

He requested his manager to extent his contract and he will work twice as hard and can do better than he did already,  The manager replied, they love to keep him and he is so good but the situation at the moment is very hard and they need to give his current position to someone else. They could have kept him a bit longer to give him time. He felt like the whole world is collapsing, he tried hard to show no emotions. 

At home, its quiet as usual, his heart felt heavy, he didn't feel hungry, didn't eat anything from morning. The clock is ticking, not much time left, got about a few days left. He laid on the couch started thinking about his future and how he got here. He should have gone with his friends 10 years ago to that trip at the hill station. That's where they got their turning point in life and he was busy working to get a promotion. One job to another, one place to another, making friends, loosing more friends. In the end he is alone. 

He wanted to do new projects and had dreams of achieving something in life that's worthwhile. Sacrificed time with friends and family and kept on moving places for better opportunity and the journey was long. Working without a break. Now he is alone in his room, nothing to look forward too. Ten years went by so fast and yet nothing to show for it. Lived so carefully and at the end forgot to live. 

What's next? he thought. Move forward, one step at a time. Apply for jobs, get an interview, move houses, start again from scratch. A new job? new place?  new life?   What's after that? Who controls all this? Make it stop. He couldn't stop thinking about his future. He must carry on again from the beginning. He is lost in his thoughts, his heart heavy, an unbearable pain inside. Who is controlling me? he thought, there is nothing much to look forward too......A new job again....a new place....new people..new game...new life....meaningless.....endless cycle.....

He walked out of his house, it was very cold outside. He didn't take his jacket. He walked to the beach, full moon was shining bright in the sky. He started singing the song Space Oddity by David Bowie out loud,"Ground control to major Tom" and kept walking forward, he reached the shoreline. He took of his uniform and dropped it on the ground, he kept singing "Planet Earth is blue And there's nothing I can do....." he walked into the embrace of the sea, surrendering to the weight of his unseen burdens and kept on singing his farewell song.