The Heart of Zero

In the early morning, soft light crept through the thin gaps in the curtains, gently caressing the young boy's face. The sky was a deep blue, exuding a calm that seemed untouched by the world's turmoil. The blue, though symbolizing peace and harmony, felt strangely disconnected from the busy world below. The streets were filled with the hum of car engines and the hurried footsteps of pedestrians, as if another world, moving to a completely different rhythm, existed side by side.

The harsh sound of the alarm clock shattered the peace. The boy turned over in bed, his expression reflecting mild displeasure and fatigue. He reached out to silence the alarm, his eyelids heavy with sleep. While each morning seemed the same, this one felt particularly oppressive, as though even opening the curtains wouldn't bring any light to the confusion inside him.

Finally, he sat up and pulled the curtains open. The sky outside was as vast as ever, with a few white clouds drifting lazily in the wind. Yet beneath this pristine sky, the street was already bustling: people hurried along, cars moved slowly, the sound of honking horns mixed with the calls of street vendors. The entire city, like a giant machine, was running in a busy yet orderly fashion. The boy stared at it all, feeling a strange sense of detachment.

He stepped away from the window, got dressed, and went downstairs. In the kitchen, his mother was already busy. Her small figure looked particularly weary, the clinking of pots and pans filling the air, the aroma of breakfast wafting through the space. She stood by the stove, bent slightly, skillfully stirring the food in the pan, her brow furrowed in exhaustion. Every movement of hers spoke of daily toil, and she occasionally stopped to rub her aching shoulders.

"Eat something before you head to school," his mother said softly, though her voice carried a trace of weariness.

The boy walked over to the table, where his lunchbox was neatly arranged. It was filled with the food she had carefully prepared for him, just like every other day. He glanced at her, wanting to say something, but instead sat down and began eating. The food tasted the same as always, yet in that moment, it felt tasteless. As he ate, a complex mix of guilt and helplessness surged inside him. He knew his mother worked tirelessly for the family, yet here he was, feeling lost and unable to even find the strength to shake off the confusion from his dreams.

After finishing breakfast, he quickly grabbed his bag and bid his mother farewell. She stood at the kitchen door, still holding the spatula, watching him leave. Her gaze was warm and deep, full of concern, but she didn't say anything more. She simply waved him off.

The boy stepped out of the house, the cool wind brushing away the last of his drowsiness. The streets were already busy, with cars slowly creeping along narrow roads and people walking briskly. Vendors called out loudly, selling fresh vegetables and fruit, while the smell of breakfast from street stalls filled the air. The world seemed to be moving in a busy yet orderly fashion under the protection of the blue sky. But the boy felt disconnected from it all, as if he didn't belong in this lively world.

He put on his headphones, trying to block out the noise and find a moment of peace through the music. But no matter what he did, the doubts inside him couldn't be quieted. He slowly walked down the street, his eyes drifting across everything around him. The children at the corner were laughing joyfully, the vendors moving quickly to arrange their goods. Everyone seemed focused on their own world, not noticing the boy at all. Each person had their own direction and purpose, and yet he felt strangely alone in the midst of all this noise.

As he passed a narrow alley, he heard a faint, heavy footstep. The boy stopped, looking back at the shadowy alley. It seemed to hide something unseen, the darkness thick enough that even the sunlight couldn't penetrate. But after a moment's hesitation, he turned and continued walking, his figure disappearing into the distance.

The world kept moving, and the boy walked into the school gates. The school, like every other day, was lively with students gathered in groups, chatting about trivial things. The boy walked through the crowd, his gaze focused ahead, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.

Despite the busyness of the world around him, this day felt like just another repetition. Yet beneath the calm surface, something seemed to stir, something he hadn't yet noticed.