2027, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It’s nighttime. Raining lightly. A 18-year-old boy with a cigarette in his mouth is walking down the narrow streets. Exhaustion can be seen in his eyes. A voice calls out from behind.

“Hey, Ankon!  Ankon!”

Ankon acts like he didn’t hear Billie’s call and kept walking.

“Stop acting like you are deaf and come with me,” Billie shouts. “Our gang announced a fight with another gang.”

Ankon stops. Takes a drag from his cigarette. Turns slowly.

“I told you already…” His voice is flat, tired. “I don’t like these shits anymore”

Billie calms down and looks into his eyes. “I understand your frustration but…”

“Just shut the fuck up and leave me alone,”-Ankon shouts.

He started walking again, leaving Billie behind. He sat on a side street bench looking at the chaos all over the city.

“How long am I going to pretend everything’s alright? I’m a good for nothing loser. Maybe, that’s why I lost all my friends… Maybe in another life things could’ve been different.”

His phone starts ringing. It was his mother calling him to get back home. After he got back, his mother opened the door and started yelling at him instantly.

“What were you doing outside that late?”

“I was just hanging out with friends…”

“Huh! Hanging out with friends? Can’t you just find a job to earn something? I’ve been taking care of a good for nothing son like you ever since your dad passed away when you were a kid.”- His mother shouts with teary eyes.

“Ma. I’m trying my best. Maybe if I obtain good marks in the upcoming board exams then I’ll be able to go to a good university, get a part time job. Problem finished.”

“I have no more hope for you. Just get out of my sight”- slamming the door on his face.

He went to his room. “I had enough of this. Now I must do something.”- staring at the ceiling.

He slept that night with tears in his eyes.