Iridescent - Chapter 1 - The Catalyst (1)
#3 of Iridescent
Chapter 1 - The Catalyst (1)
pain is a catalyst for growth
people don't like the former, yet crave the later
Tick... tock... tick... tock...
The sound of the clock is getting louder. It's getting uncomfortable. My head spins along with its rhythm and I jolt a little.
"Ugh. Did I just fall asleep again?" I sigh and take some deep breaths. "That was one strange dream."
The crossroad, the black wolf... I remember everything. The picture of his blue eyes is vividly ingrained in my head. From the chilling breeze to the warmth of his hand. The sensation still lingers in my paw. Too real for the usual dream.
Then again, dreams are the construct of our brain. A way for our subconsciousness to talk. To warn of something. Or if you believe in the superstitious, it can be a sign of things incoming. But those are not for me. Not anymore.
"I need to fix my schedule and get more rest."
It has been two.... no, three times I fell asleep at work this week. Paperworks is always drowning me in the last days of the months, and my body is showing the effect. A tedious task with quite a few extra hours. Working on them feels dull. It's just a cycle of the same process. Sure I can now do things faster by repeating the same chores all over again, but it doesn't make the job any less boring.
This is why I prefer the talking part to my clients instead. They can be good company. Granted, I have to be a good listener even to every one of them. Regardless, I'm happy with my job. Even though it's taking both physical and mental tolls, I don't really mind one bit. There were ups and downs, but being able to help them is an invaluable reward on its own.
I stare at my desk, still full with some documents I have to finish. A good thirty minutes are gone while I doze off, but luckily this is the last thing I have to do before going home. Though my mind can't help but wonder what's for dinner? Hopefully, Kiko will make my favorite katsudon. I have to wrap things up quickly.
My gaze is caught by a piece of paper labeled "Mr. Bubo". Right, I have to make a reference letter. As much as I want to help him overcome his fear of flying, perhaps a fellow avian should be able to offer better guidance for him. At least, being in the company of the same kin will make the owl more comfortable. He will also need some physical exercise with his wings, which I happen to have zero knowledge about.
Owls are excellent flyers with sharp eyes. A natural-born hunter. I guess that's why Mr. Bubo became a seasoned forest ranger. His misfortune came when a thunderstorm suddenly formed while he was chasing some poacher.
Lightning struck just meters away. Blinded and disoriented, the ranger lost his balance and fell at high speed. The trees helped decelerate his crash enough, avoiding fatality. Still, he was left bedridden for a few weeks with impaired mobility. Now, the nocturne is afraid of dark skies and height. But the worst part is not in his loss of flying ability.
Firm yet friendly. The owl tried to make light of his weight. His speech was direct. Proud, even. He's excited to share his career story... a self-made man. But when it came to touchy subjects, he turned almost one-eighty. Unfocused eyes with a few mumbles here and there. It's tough cracking the walls. But I can deduce his background plays a part in this progression.
Militaries are creatures of habit. Everything is regimented twenty-four-seven. When those regiments suddenly disappear, you're thrown into a paradox of freedom. Yes, you are relieved from any orders, but a void lingers. All the habits ingrained in your brain and muscles are gone. You are forced to fill that gap with something new to be done. Anything meaningful, really.
Because when you fail, boredom will be the first to come. Next is the confusion, as your life purpose is riddled with questions. And the laments for the situation, yes. Having an almost monotone but steady rhythm guided by instruction manuals seems better than having to roam the unknown without a single clue.
It doesn't help that being a soldier your entire existence usually comes with few non-militaristic skills. After all, you have to focus on things that matter in the field. Living in a contained space makes you foreign to what's outside. Things that are different... the catalyst of change.
It is pretty stereotypical for me to think that way but... well, it's the only rationale for why the owl's life started to fall apart. The bird is struggling to adjust to life outside the cage. He is a bit too old to pick up new skills needed for in-demand jobs. But things still can be remedied.
The only avian therapist in Crescentvale that I know is... Uh, what's his name again. The dove. I think it's Mr. Dion? I remember exchanging contact with him last month after a seminar. I should contact him tomorrow. The sooner Mr. Bubo gets treated properly, the sooner he can take up to the sky, reclaim his flying license, and get his life together back on the track. For now, I have to sum up my assessment from our previous sessions.
I pour my attention to the office monitor. Narrating reports, reviewing files, examining...
Bzzzt... bzzzt....
A buzzing from my phone breaks the silence. I reach my pocket and check the screen. It's a reminder.
"Dinner @usual, Hunter's treat - 7 pm"
Huh. This can't be right. I open the calendar to double-check.
"What? I thought today is Thursday."
It's Friday. I promised Hunter to have dinner together. This time with his co-workers. Something good definitely came up. Why else would he purposely cover my tab? Lucky me, my usually filled schedule is free. Won't pass a good free meal!
But, how come I completely forget what day is today. When did I become so forgetful? First I forgot to bring my flash drive to work. Though fortunately, I have backups in the cloud. Now, this?
"It's starting to be concerning. I need to write it in my journal later," I let out a long sigh. "I need to go now."
It's 5.30 pm already. I should have left the clinic half an hour ago. Time sure flies easily when I'm focused on my work. With everything tidied up in my office, I grab my keys and drive to the usual place.
Hummm...
A sharp noise is ringing in my head as I unlock the door of my car. Ugh, my head hurts. I feel a little light right now. Immediately I rest my body on the seat.
Glimpses of sights flashes in my mind. I see... a crossroad? The one from my dream?
The pain subsides quickly after a moment. "Maybe I should head home instead?" I whispered to myself. This is what I get for cutting off my sleeping time huh? But.. nah. The headache was sudden but it was not that intense. Also, I have a promise to keep.
I head back to the clinic to grab some meds at the pharmacy. Just in case. If the pain comes back, I just have to call for a rain check. Otherwise, I will just proceed as planned.
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"When You See Yourself, Are You Far Away" - Kings of Leon
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