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Eliel
He is a young man navigating life after high school. He is curious, introspective, and determined. Eliel struggles to find purpose in mundane tasks and yearns for something more. Inspired by his grandfather, he considers traveling and learning new languages. Eliel reflects on his childhood, his relationship with his parents, and the lessons he learned from them. He is hesitant but open to exploring new paths in life.
Eliel's Father
He is a hardworking man providing for Eliel's family. He is practical, dedicated, and sometimes stern. As the primary breadwinner, he struggles with business challenges but remains committed to his family. His relationship with Eliel is respectful but not overly affectionate, reflecting his focus on providing stability. He encourages Eliel to find his own path in life, demonstrating trust in his son's ability to make informed decisions about his future.
Eliel's Mother
She is a nurturing figure who supports Eliel's emotional growth. She is caring, gentle, and patient. She creates a warm and comforting home environment, often mediating between Eliel's father and him. Her presence calms Eliel during difficult conversations, showing her deep understanding of her children. She encourages open communication within the family and celebrates milestones like high school graduation, fostering a sense of accomplishment and family unity.
I was sweeping the floor when I suddenly had an epiphany.
What was I doing with my life?
It was not as if I had not thought about it before, but I had never really done anything about it.
I mean, what could I do?
I did not exactly have a purpose in life yet, and that made me feel so useless.
I finished sweeping and put the broom back in the storeroom.
I then sat on the steps outside, wondering what I could do with my life.
I did not want to end up doing something that I did not like, but I also knew that I could not sit around all day doing nothing.
I needed to find a job, but what kind of job?
Should I go back to school?
I thought about all of this until the sun began to set.
As the sun set over the horizon, I got up and went back inside.
My parents were already seated at the dinner table when I walked inside, and my father looked at me sternly.
"I told you to finish sweeping the floor, Eliel," he said.
"I did," I said defensively.
"I just took a break."
"You should not be taking breaks when you have finished nothing," he said.
"I will try harder next time," I said, feeling embarrassed as I sat down at the dinner table with them.
I pick at my food with my fork, moving the rice and vegetables around my plate in small circles.
The clink of utensils against plates fills the heavy silence.
Mom passes the salt without looking at me, her movements careful and measured.
Dad's stern presence weighs on my left side as he methodically cuts his meat into precise squares.
The ceiling fan whirs overhead, its steady rhythm matching the beat of my heart.
When I accidentally knock my glass, causing water to splash onto the tablecloth, Mom quickly dabs at it with her napkin.
"I'm sorry," I mumble, forcing myself to take a few bites of food.
It tastes like cardboard in my mouth.
"Eliel, have you thought about what you want to do after school?" Mom asks gently, her eyes finally meeting mine.
"I... I'm not sure," I admit, feeling the weight of their expectations pressing down on me.
Dad sighs, setting his fork down with a clatter. "You need to figure it out soon; your uncle offered you a job at his company."
I stare at my half-eaten dinner, pushing peas around my plate with my fork.
Uncle's job.
I've heard him talk about it before, but I've never really paid much attention.
It sounds like a lot of work, and I'm not sure if I'm ready for that.
Through the kitchen window, I see movement out of the corner of my eye.
A bushy tail darts across the garden, and I turn to look.
A squirrel is perched on the bird feeder, its tiny paws gripping the wooden slats.
For a moment, it looks directly at me, as if it's trying to communicate something.
Then it scurries up the feeder pole and disappears into the trees.
I excuse myself from the table and walk over to the window.
The squirrel is still there, standing upright on its hind legs and looking at me through the glass. I feel drawn to it, as if it's trying to tell me something important.
I open the window and lean out, feeling the cool breeze on my face.
The squirrel doesn't run away; instead, it hops closer, holding something in its tiny paws.
"Eliel, what are you doing?" Mom calls from the table, her voice tinged with concern.
"It's just a squirrel, Mom," I reply, watching as it places a small acorn on the windowsill.
Dad stands up, joining me at the window. "Maybe it's time you start paying attention to the signs around you."
I clean the acorn the squirrel left and place it on my desk, staring at it as if it might hold some hidden meaning.
The doorbell rings downstairs, breaking the silence.
Mom calls up to me that someone's here to see me.
I recognize those footsteps coming up the stairs - they belong to Alex from my literature class.
We've worked on projects together, and his presence always makes me a little nervous in a way I can't quite explain.
I quickly straighten up my room, shoving random clothes under the bed.
My hand brushes against the acorn, knocking it off the desk.
"Hey, Eliel," Alex says as he steps into the room, glancing at the acorn on the floor.
"Hi, Alex," I reply, trying to sound casual as I pick it up. "What brings you here?"
He smiles, a little shyly. "I heard about your uncle's job offer and thought you might need someone to talk it over with."
