What is life?
For many, life seems like a repetitive cycle.
"What's for dinner?"
Days often feel uneventful and lacking in excitement.
"Wake up! You have work!"
Yet, we move forward each day, navigating the routine in search of meaning and purpose.
"You have until six tonight to hand in these files; otherwise, you'll have to work overtime again. We need those files for the board meeting tomorrow morning."
We all want to feel unique, to believe that we are special in our own ways. Often, we seek ways to stand out.
"I just got the latest Reeve phone, the Omega model! Check it out."
But sometimes it feels as if we are like unlit matchsticks in a box, and when we start to acknowledge that reality, it can become discouraging.
Why does this happen?
It's simple: those who stand out often face greater risks. They could fall from the box, or worse, be used and discarded.
I find myself as one of those sticks that prefers to sink deeper into the box, avoiding the spotlight and limiting my social interactions. I often settle for less, hoping to blend in without causing a fuss, quietly waiting for my moment to arrive.
I can only hope my journey ends naturally before I'm used up or lost entirely, never to be found again.
"Hey Tadano, want to grab some drinks? It's on me!"
I glanced up from my screen, taking a moment to save my work. A friendly face stood six feet from my desk, waving at me.
As I prepared to turn him down, I overheard a whisper nearby.
"Why do you keep inviting him? You know he never agrees."
"Let him be. You know Sachi—always the optimist, looking for reasons to be cheerful in every situation. It's just who he is."
The voices belonged to Mizuki and Satsuki, two new recruits who had quickly learned the dynamics of our team.
I pondered my situation. After being cooped up in the office for a week, I realized I hadn't seen much of the outside world. Maybe a little outing wouldn't hurt, especially in a small group.
"Sure, why not? I've been stuck inside for so long, I nearly forgot what fresh air feels like."
I closed my laptop, pushed back my chair, and stood up, stretching to ease the tension in my back.
I placed my ID tag atop my laptop, grabbed my work bag with my money, and slung it over my shoulder.
"Whoa! Really?" Mizuki and Satsuki exclaimed in unison.
"Well, that's a first! Happy to have you with us," Sachi said, a mixture of confusion and happiness on his face.
"I hope nothing goes wrong," Mizuki remarked as we made our way down the hall.
"Come on, don't jinx us!" Satsuki laughed, playfully putting Mizuki in a chokehold.
"Let's go!" Sachi cheered, raising both hands as he bounded down the stairs leading outside.
—Time Skip— After Drinks
We emerged from a lively bar after enjoying several rounds of drinks. The others were filled with laughter, linking arms and navigating the main street together.
I hadn't drunk as much as they had, but I felt a mild headache and a bit of dizziness. Drinking isn't a hobby of mine; I prefer moderation.
As we walked along, I found myself trailing behind, trying to maintain my balance.
We soon stopped at a crossing, the lights flashing red. When it turned green, we continued on our way.
Suddenly, a loud noise cut through the air—"BEEP!"
I turned to see blinding headlights racing toward us. Time seemed to freeze as I stood, locked in place, watching the driver struggling to maintain control.
A thought echoed in my mind: The matchsticks that stand out from the box either fall out or get lit, used, and disposed of.
In that moment, I vowed to seek out not just survival, but fulfillment—a life where I can shine while still being true to myself. What is life?
Life for the average human is nothing but a cycle repeating itself
-"What do you want for dinner?"
Uneventful and empty
-"Wake up you have work!"
Yet we all go day by day toiling away in the emptiness, searching for a way to fill the void.
-"You have until six tonight to hand in these files if not you're gonna have to go overtime again, today we need those files for the board meeting tomorrow morning."
We all like to think we are unique. One way or another we lie to ourselves thinking we are special, trying to find ways to stand out above the others in our surroundings.
-"I got the latest Reeve phone released yesterday model Omega, Check it out."
We are nothing but unlit matchsticks in a box and as we start to realize and accept that fact we sink even deeper in said box.
Why?
It's quite simple really, we start to realize that the ones that stick out either fall from the box or get lit, used, and disposed of.
I am one of those sticks that sink deeper into the box and try my best not to stand out, whether it's by avoiding others and not having a social life or settling for less. I try to hide inside the box and not complain I simply sit back and accept the fact that my time is bound to come.
I can only silently pray that my stick snaps before it's lit or I fall from the box and get lost unable to be found, rebooted, or used.
"Hey Tadano wanna grab some drinks, it's on me."
I slowly averted my eyes from my screen making sure to click on save, my gaze came in contact with a smiling face about six feet from my desk at the entrance to the office. He began to wave his right hand to signal towards me.
I began to rub my eyes using my index and thumb of my left hand preparing to reject his offer.
(>whisper)
>"Sachi why do you keep inviting him all the time and you know he never agrees to it?"
A whisper emerged from outside the office.
>"Come just leave him you know how Sachi's like, always the optimist finding a reason to be forthright and joyous in every situation. It's the meaning of his name after all."
The two whispering voices outside were those of Mizuki and Satsuki the two newest recruits in the department, they have only been here for a month, and yet they already know what we are like here.
Hmm, I wonder I've been cooped up in the office for over a week now and the only sunlight I've gotten is the rays that pass through the office windows. Getting a little Moonshine won't hurt and the groups are small so I don't have to stand out much.
Why not.
"Yeah, why not I've been cooped up for so long I've almost forgotten what it looks like outside."
I closed my laptop screen and pushed back my seat allowing the wheels the handle the rest of my ejection from beneath my desk. I stood up and made a stretch which caused my back to pop a few times.
I then took off my ID tag and placed it atop my laptop, then grabbed my work bag that had my money, and threw it around my neck.
"Whoa!" "Really!" Mizuki and Satsuki both reacted in unison.
"Well, that's a first, happy you're coming," Sachi replied with a half-confused half half-happy look on his face.
"I hope nothing bad happens to us," Mizuki spoke as he walked down the passage.
"Come on don't jinx us!" Satsuki shouted before grabbing him around his neck in a chokehold.
"Let's go!" Sachi threw both his hands in the air the jumped down a flight of stairs that led outside the building.
—Time Skip— After Drinks
We loped out of a hostess bar after sixteen rounds of drinking. The others were in a state of constant laughter while staggering along the main with their arms linked neck to neck.
I didn't drink as much as the others but the result is I had a slight migraine along with a dose of dizziness. I am not a heavy drinker and drinking has never been a hobby of mine.
I staggered along slowly behind the three with each leg nearly managing to keep in a straight line one behind the other.
It wasn't long before we came to a halt at the crossing as the lights shone red and as it changed to green we staggered along.
"BEP!"
I turned to the source of the noise and was greeted by a pair of blinding headlights speeding towards us. My body froze and all I could do was stare into the oncoming vehicle at the driver struggling behind the wheel.
A line repeated in my head at the last minute,
The matchsticks that stick out from the box either fall from the box or get lit, used, and disposed of.