Expect the Unexpected

Sometimes, you gotta expect the unexpected.

Or at least, that’s what I think they said. Every day for the past five years has been the same, a monotonous cycle of work with little play, deadlines, heartbreak, and instability. Of the same four walls of my bland room, littered with impersonal knick-knacks and souvenirs I’ve picked up on my trips deeper into the city. My soul ached for something different, something new, but alas, I just didn’t have the time.

Well, that’s a lie. I did have the time, but nothing satisfied the scarring wound that just seemed to get torn open each time it almost healed.

A heavy sigh slipped past my lips as I forced myself to leave the warm embrace of my bed. It was a Saturday and I didn’t have to rush my way through my morning routine, curses spilling out as I realized I had miscalculated the time it took to get ready yet again. Today I was able to walk through the steps leisurely, taking my time to prepare myself for the day.

And what a day that will be.

Once I deemed myself presentable, I gazed at my reflection, taking in the mediocre features others considered attractive enough. Like most things in my life, I was merely average. Not too thin, not too large. Not too tall, but not too short. Average.

With a yawn, I left my apartment and headed down to the building’s mailroom, humming to myself. A chill went down my spine as I drew closer to my destination and I frowned, unsure as to why unease twisted my stomach. Brushing it off as anxiety due to the upcoming week, I pushed my way into the mailroom and headed to my box.

Nerves twisted at my stomach and I gnawed at my lip anxiously. “What’s wrong with me?” I murmured, earning an odd look from the other party in the room. I tossed the man a timid smile before inserting my key into the lock and opening up my box.

I paused.

There, placed meticulously on top of envelopes containing bills and spam mail, was a little black book.

I wracked my mind, trying to figure out if I ordered something of the sort during one of my drowsy retail-therapy sessions. Then again, anything I ordered would be secured in a package, right? Reaching in, I carefully tugged out the book and turned it in my hands. It was nothing special, though I could tell it was well-made and well-loved. Concerned I had someone’s personal journal, I opened the pages and promptly gasped, the book slipping out of my hands and landing at my feet with a soft thud.

What in the world? I thought anxiously, my mind racing as I tried to process what I had read. Swallowing, I reached down with shaky hands and picked up the book, peeking inside the cover once more.

There, written in delicate cursive, was my name. I bit my lip and opened the book further, eyes widening into spheres as I watched ink form on the pages to form letters.

Hello, the book wrote.

If you are reading this, it means the book chose you. Or rather, the book accepted the choice of whoever chose you. If you are still reading this, please note that some of your dreams are about to come true. However, please be aware that for this to happen, you must follow the rule.

Find someone worthy of this book within the next 24 hours.

If you fail to do so, all funds will be lost.

Good luck, have fun,

the book

As soon as I finished the last line, the words slowly dissolved and swirled across the page, settling into what appeared to be a string of numbers. I mouthed the digits to myself before my breath caught in my throat as I realized that the pattern of numbers was an account number as well as a password.

Heart pounding, this time with excitement, I fled from the mailroom and back up to my apartment, energy pumping through my veins. Truthfully, anything would be exciting to me, something new in my dismal life. My hands shook as I struggled to unlock my door, the little black book gripped tightly between my fingers. Once the door was opened, I raced to my computer and logged in, heading to my bank’s website.

I hesitated briefly, wondering whether or not this was a prank. It would be a terribly cruel one, I thought before bracing myself and typing the numbers into the spaces provided.

Loading… loading…. loading…

I was in.

A startled shriek erupted from my throat as I gaped at the amount shown on the screen.

$20,000. Twenty grand with my name written on it. I felt faint as I slumped back against my chair, my eyes locked onto the number, willing myself to wake up. This had to be a dream, I wasn’t one of those lucky people. Unfortunate, inconvenient things happened to me, not… not this.

I pinched my arm, cringing at the sharp bite of pain. Okay, I was definitely awake. With trembling hands, I reached for my keyboard and began the process of transferring the money to my personal account, my mind racing as I tried to imagine what I could do with the money. So many of my worries would be eased all because someone deemed me worthy of this reward. My chest tightened and I smiled to myself as the money finished transferring.

The rule quickly came to mind as I abruptly stood up, chewing on my lip anxiously. How would I be able to find someone the book considered worthy enough when I, myself, didn’t believe I was worthy? Shaking off the last of my hesitancy, I gathered my things and left my apartment once more, the little black book now tucked neatly into my purse.

Walking would probably be my best bet, I thought decisively as I left the complex and began walking down the sidewalk, examining the various strangers as they passed. No one had caught my eye yet and I frowned, noting how everyone seemed to be lost in their own worlds, noses pressed into screens or their gazes aloof and distant.

My eyes swept over my surroundings and my brows furrowed in contemplation. Who? Who would the book accept? Anxiety gripped my chest and I sighed, turning to head back towards my apartment, hoping something would appear on the way back. Then, I saw him.

Nothing about the man was particularly eye-catching, I noted as I observed him for a few seconds. He was merely slumped against the bench he was sitting on, watching the cars roar by with a melancholic expression. But something about him struck something deep within my soul. Maybe it was the fact he was just like me, average, and appeared to be terribly sad. With my mind made up, I walked towards the stranger, slipping my hand into my purse to grab ahold of the book. I flinched in surprise as the book warmed and vibrated in my hand and that’s when I knew the book had accepted my choice.

Soon, I arrived behind the man and examined him curiously. I didn’t know how I would explain what was happening to him without being accused of pulling a prank. So, I tugged the book from my bag and placed it on the bench beside him before backing up quickly and melting back into the flow of other pedestrians. I could hear his gasp of surprise and could almost sense the frantic eyes as the man looked around, wondering who had left him such a wonderful surprise.

I began my trek home, feeling lighter than ever, a bounce to my step and a smile on my face. Who knew this Saturday would be one that I’d remember forever?

Well, you know what they say, right?

Sometimes, you gotta expect the unexpected.