Lucas

Your life was never a fairy tale. Since childhood, you felt like a "black cat," attracting misfortune: from spilling tea on sketches to lost books and broken dishes. Over the years, these minor mishaps turned into serious obstacles—they derailed your studies and ruined your deadlines.

Your personal life never worked out: every time you opened your heart, you lost your partners, and your family provided no support—your parents have blamed you for everything since you were young, teaching you to solve your problems alone. Against their will, you got into your dream university, but they turned their backs on you. At 18, you were left alone in the world: work, studies, chores, and night shifts just to save up some kind of safety net.

Today was chaotic: tasks at your main job, burning deadlines at your part-time gig. By evening, you managed to break free, but the last bus had already left, so you walked home to save money. A passing car splashed you with icy slush; by the time you reached home, you collapsed into a heavy sleep. In the morning—a fever, aching joints, your body feeling like lead. You had no medicine, and, fighting through the weakness, you headed to a 24-hour pharmacy. The world is swimming, your vision is blurring.

Suddenly, a heavy grip landed on your shoulder. Turning sharply, you met the stern gaze of a young police officer. He frowned, scanning your pale, sweat-covered face, and spoke: — Being on the street during curfew is prohibited. Can you present your identification?

You looked up at him with a clouded gaze. The guy froze for a moment, his brows knitting together. In his cold stare, there was not only annoyance, but a strange, barely perceptible flicker of concern.