More To Life

The bell chimed, its sound echoing throughout the factory.  The busy place of lost faces is ready to be finished. Dan could only wait to stand in line to leave.  The clock ticked as the weary place, once meaningful, stood still.  The lost dreams that Dan had were diminishing by the day.  The rest had the same look as the money was not good enough, and the place was continually getting worse.  Finally, at the clock, the last swipe for the day.  His dreary eyes were excited as if another long day had been finished.  Each day was like the previous one; during the same long trip home, Dan was silent.  The rusty old lock held his very few belongings as he rustled his wallet, phone, and keys.  The new shift had started where they all left off, but there was always plenty of work to go around.   Dragging his weary feet to his beat-up old car in its lack of glory.  It was what he could afford, and the dents gave the car a unique character.  Dan opened the door and just sat there between the rush at work and the rush at home.  The engine roared as he prepared to go home to the chaos of his children.  He wanted so much more when he dreamed of being in management, but those dreams quickly faded as he was passed over time and again. 

The drive was long, but it was the best-paying job in town and the best he could find as he drove into his rickety old house.  Many repairs were needed, along with other bills from the family with their sick son.  He could look at the place and wanted more for them, and they waited for him to come home.  Claire was ready with her meager dinner as the kids were crying or running around.  The house was a mess, but no matter how many times it was cleaned, it was only a matter of time before it was messy again.   Dan walked into the house and headed straight to his room.  Claire looked annoyed, but gathered everyone up for dinner time.  She was tired and needed a short break from the long day alone with the kids.  Dan came down in his ratty old T-shirt with his blank stare.  The mess no longer bothered him, and he simply ate his meal as if it were any other.  The noise rose as the kids complained; all three of them seemed to never like to eat anything.  Dan gave them the look, and they started to cry as Claire was trying to remedy the situation.  It was another day for him in the world he created.  Finally, after dinner and some wrangling the kids to bed, the adults sat on the couch, exhausted. Each person is ready to sleep and barely talks about their days just to avoid another argument.  Dan quickly searched through the bills and could only despair, as there was never enough money in the account.

The next day, Dan woke up before the sun to head to the early shift without even thinking.  Claire lay in bed, looking at him, just as tired.  Each day is like the last, and nothing seems to improve.   Dan threw on some clothes and went to the car that had been running funky for a while, but had no money to even fix that either. It was just another expense that kept piling up. His eyes settle on a well-dressed man on his street, staring at him with an odd grin.  Dan could only look at him funny as he was about to open his car door. 

"What if by one little pill I can send to a new parallel where your dreams come true," the man stated.

"I have no money to pay the bills, let alone such a chance to start over," Dan replied.

"It would cost you nothing, and you will be a test subject for us," the man replied

"I would be anything I dreamed and out of this miserable state," Dan questioned. 

"Yes, just a small pill for a whole new life," the man responded.

Leaning against his car, Dan was enticed by the prospect of a life far removed from his current reality. The thought of a better job, a nicer car, and a life without financial stress was alluring.  He considered the offer for a few seconds and nodded in agreement.  As he entered the luxurious vehicle alongside the man, the allure of the new life was almost irresistible.

"My name is Dr Julius, and this will change your whole perspective, and all we need is your dream life," Dr Julius stated.

"I want a corporate-level job with a beautiful wife with enough money to never worry about my finances," Dan replied.

"That should be easy enough, and I hope you find your happiness in the dream," Dr Julius replied.

"By the way, you will not remember your current parallel or just return quickly either," Dr Julius continued.

Dan replied, "There is nothing I want to remember or come back for in this terrible world."

"As long as you understand the circumstances, we can proceed," Dr Julius replied.

They arrived at a lab in the middle of nowhere.  The outside still looked abandoned, and Dan began to have his doubts as he followed Dr. Julius into a shiny, pristine area that felt very stiff.  He was led to a special room for an examination, which cleared him for the experiment.  With a pill in a little cup, it was swallowed with a short gush of water.  The dizziness started to settle in as Dan fell asleep waiting for his better life. 

As another alarm blared, Dan was ready to open his eyes.  He only remembered his Vice President of Operations in the Starling Toy company.   He awoke to his beautiful wife next to him in their high-rise apartment.  He smiled as he rose without waking his pretty Venessa.  Dan was ready for another day at the office as he saw the sunrise over his building.  The bathroom was his retreat as he put on his pressed suit and walked down to his driver waiting for him at the bottom.  His briefcase was organized and ready for a day at headquarters.  There were plenty of new ideas for the lowly workers to produce the many toys in the company. Dan held his head high as he approached the building. It was tall with windows that reflected the sun.

All the bosses were arriving in their nice suits and ties.  Each is ready to keep climbing the ladder to success.  Dan walked in with a smile on his face, prepared for his job.  Many warehouses needed to be examined, and he had the right assistant for the job.  Dan could talk his way around anything without having to put forth all the effort.  His office was on the top floor with quite a view of the city.  Dan sat in his leather chair at his tidy desk, with classical music gently playing in the background.  Each day seemed to bring him closer to becoming one of the company's presidents.   His words just flowed, and everyone else smiled and even hung out after work. The drinks were great, each was best friends with the others.

After heading home, Dan looked for his wife.  He entered the grand apartment expecting some dinner, but it was quiet.  Muffled voices could be heard from the bedroom.  Dan simply opened the door to find his fellow employee in bed with her.  Dan's face grew angry as the other man dashed out of the room, half-dressed, and Vanessa stared back in anger. As the screaming match ensued, Dan was sleeping on the couch, unable to feel the wrath of the affair.  This was a perfect life, and yet it seemed to be alone.  Thoughts popped into his head about a place he was low, but at least he had a wife to care about him.  He simply drifted off to sleep as work was still the next day.

Dan woke up as he went back to his fancy suit to go back to the office, even to avoid his wife's boyfriend. Dan was not as friendly as before, but went on with the day.  As his work was being done, the new position was announced, but was given to another Vice President.  He looked over the reports and discovered that his work had been stolen.  This person was never his friend, but now it was his boss.   Dan could only feel his blood boil as the congratulations went to the fake. His whole day was ruined as he went straight home to argue with his wife again about her affair, only to find out that she never loved him.   Dan sat at an empty table with neither people nor food.  The memories came back with him being poor and wanting to escape.  Visions of a caring wife and kids running around the house were better than the cruel, fake world he was living in.

In the weeks, Dan was tired of his wife and kids as he remembered more.  Each day, his wife would flaunt her affairs, and Dan could only watch as cheating was the only way to make it up to work food change. He felt so empty every day as time went on.  Dan started to walk out, and one day, Dan took a small trip around the city.   In his sight, Claire was looking at the buildings with a child.  Dan could only run to her like a fool.  Claire looked at Dan, then walked away.  Dan could only follow for so long, as he walked away wanting to tear up.  Everything was falling apart as he returned to the apartment.  Dan could not think as his world was falling apart, but it looked so perfect.

It was another day when Dan finally went into work mad.  He started exposing everyone for their deception in gaining power.  Each person was getting angrier as it turned into a screaming match. The security guard entered as Dan was handcuffed, announced that he was fired, and left the door.   After the cops released him with no charges, they let him go in his wrinkled suit.  Dan returned to his apartment only to find his possessions in front of the door and a notice on it.  Vanessa signed the note that he was no longer welcome, and his former coworker was now living there. Dan picked up his stuff and moved into a storage unit.  It was the only place for now, and his perfect life had fallen.  Sitting alone, he could only want to go back.  No one wanted him, and the other parallel looked so much better now.  His little girl would run up to him and give him hugs.  His son would repeat Dada while he ran around the house.  Slowly, he fell asleep on his piles of clothes.

The next day did not look good, but he steamed a suit to find a new job since he was now stuck in this cold world.  Each place knew what he did, which was a no to every application.  Dan could only see the failure in the rear.  He then went to the park with the bit of money he had stolen from the bank account before Vanessa took the rest. Though he stole most of it despite the angry texts.  The park was green and more relaxing than any of the interviews. Dan could only stare into the distance, wishing that he could return. 

Dr Julius appeared again in his fine suit and sat next to Dan.  Dr. Julius had no emotion as he pulled out the contract.   Dan was hoping for another pill and was just going back to the other parallel.  The tears could not be held any longer as Dan could only weep for what he had lost.

"So, this was not your dream world with your dream job and family," Dr Julius commented.

"I thought it was still, it became hollow and fake with no love in the mix," Dan replied.

"Well, even if the grass is greener, is it at the end of the game?" Dr Julius stated.

"I want to go back and will take the pill one more time, even if I do not remember all this will happen," Dan replied.

"I can make you stay in this world, that is what the contract states, but I have not made up my mind to let you go back, despite that," Dr Julius replied.

"I want my crappy job and wonderful wife and kids more than anything else, and letting my pride get in my way cost me everything I have loved," Dan replied.

"I will only give this pill one more time, and it will never be allowed again. Choose wisely where you want to go," Dr. Julius commented.

"I want to go back to my old parallel where I could do better and have my family," Dan calmly stated.

"If that is your choice, I will honor it, and now it is time to go to the lab again," Dr Julius replied.

As the car arrived, Dan jumped in for the warmth and free water that he wanted.  The promise was made, and escaping this cold world was the best idea so far.  The transformation was welcome because the old, abandoned building was converted into a modern skyscraper.  The lobby had a few snacks to grab as he entered the process again.  This time was the last, and even working at his dead-end job was worth it now.  As Dan swallowed the pill, the room spun, but rest was welcomed.

As Dan awoke, he was in bed with Claire. She was at peace as the kids could be heard snoring.  The memories rushed over him as if he were dreaming of losing it all.  Dan kissed Claire on her cheek as he sat up in bed.  Claire gently awoke as she stared at his smile, even after another fight. 

"Do you know how much I love you and the kids?" Dan stated.

"I thought we were ruining your life after last night," Claire replied.

"I was wrong and will do better for all of you," Dan apologized.

Claire's face went emotionless as she could not believe what she was hearing.  She drifted off to sleep as Dan smiled in all his happiness.