On the elevator ride down, Rodent didn’t speak to anyone. He kept quiet and in a corner, meeting the gaze of anyone who looked at him, smiling and nodding in response.

  Even when he got out on the ground level, he remained silent, feeling odd that he could leave so easily. Every time, it felt like someone at the front desk would call to him—that security would suddenly appear.

  But the guard on duty only politely waved, and Rodent was out the door.

  I used to get in more trouble for this.

  He always expected someone to be waiting for him outside.

  But nobody ever was.

  And never had a reason to believe that would ever be the case.

  Soon, Rodent was on a sidewalk, his hands dug into his pockets. He watched as people passed with their phones raised and its glow upon their faces. Many wore headphones with music that could faintly be heard as Rodent passed them.

  It really is a different world.

  Rodent shook his head.

  A list. A list of things I want to do.

  What do I even want?

  Rodent kept moving even though he needed to become still. Motion was like progress to him, even if his steps took him nowhere. Soon, though, his legs became tired, and his lungs started to burn.

  Deeper into the night, Rodent had followed a trail from a park to a cliff overlooking the water. A bench with a few trees was set there. Rodent took a seat as a streetlamp partly illuminated the area.

  He then withdrew the notebook and stared at the first page.

  And his fingers gripped a pencil that couldn’t write.

  What if there’s nothing I want?

  Rodent deflated.

  His shoulder touched the older fellow who had suddenly sat next to him.

  “Oops! Sorry, gramps.” Rodent corrected himself at once. “Didn’t even notice you.”

  “Mhm! Most don’t.”

  “Heh.” Rodent looked ahead. “Maybe we’re the ones who need the hearing aids.”

  “Never found much luck with those things.”

  “Hm.” Rodent glanced around. Where had the old man come from? There was no impression on the grass around the bench. Or dirt on the old man’s cane. “So… what brings you out here?”

  “Same reason as you, I’d imagine.”

  “Oh?” Rodent leaned away. “You’re drumming up a list of things you want to do?”

  “Want to? No.” The old man stared at the calm waves in the water below. “I’d rather things keep as they are.” He sighed wearily. “But a mistake was made a long time ago.”

  Rodent looked. “Who screwed up?”

  “Hmm?” The old man smiled to show his few teeth. “So that’s the important part?”

  Rodent smiled at himself, glancing away, shaking his head. “No.”

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  The old man glanced at Rodent’s notebook. “A rather empty list.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You desire nothing?”

  “N-No. I-It’s just… I… I don’t know.” Rodent breathed heavily. He looked up at the gray clouds in the darkened sky. “I lived my life thoughtlessly. Tomorrow wasn’t supposed to happen. Now, here I am.”

  He slumped and curled into himself. “And I don’t know what to do. If I ever really wanted anything.”

  “You say that,” the old man said, “while caressing a ring that’s very dear to you.”

  Rodent glanced downward. “But she’s not here anymore. None of them are.”

  “Is that so?”

  Rodent went to say it was… but his soul wouldn’t allow the sentence.

  The two stared at the dark sea together.

  Until Rodent spoke. “Who are you, old man?”

  “Does that matter?” the old man asked. “I was enjoying our conversation regardless.”

  “Then… why are you listening to me?”

  “Why do you listen to others?”

  Rodent thought about it.

  “To help.”

  “Then it does sound like you want something after all!” The old man chuckled like an old fool. “Don’t be so stuck up on what you should want. Get out of your own way.”

  Rodent looked at him.

  “What if,” he began, “most of what I want isn’t possible?”

  “Is that reason for you to stop chasing after what is possible?”

  Rodent was conflicted.

  “How would you like it if I could grant your greatest wish?”

  Rodent glanced.

  “I must warn you that you will be in for a terrible time.” The old man faced Rodent, smiling. “Great effort and trauma are in store for you. There will be close to little reward. And everything can be for nothing at a moment’s notice.”

  Rodent was confused.

  “But you will have been given a chance to go on an adventure you have always dreamed about.” The old man looked at Rodent’s chest. “But, if I were to grant you this wish, you would have to promise me one thing.”

  Rodent watched silently.

  “Promise you do not lose the core of your existence,” the old man said. “Promise you’ll never let your heart go sour.”

  Rodent blinked. “My heart?”

  “A good one will always tell you what the right thing to do is.” The old man looked back up at Rodent. “All you need is the strength and courage to follow through on it.”

  The old man faced forward. “Even though there are others better suited for this request… my heart says that you should be the one to go.”

  “Go where?” Rodent asked in disbelief.

  The old man held out and opened his hand. “Your ring. Let me see it.”

  Rodent shook. “M-My ring? But…”

  “You want for nothing, correct?” the old man asked. “So why the difficulty?”

  Rodent glared. “It’s not just some ring.”

  “Precisely.”

  Rodent felt ill. He gazed at the ring. The idea of taking it off made him sick. His fingertips touched the smooth surface, twisting and raising it as he nearly started to shake.

  He stopped the ring at his knuckle. “You won’t steal it?”

  “And if I did? Can’t outrun an old man’s cane?” The old man reached and offered Rodent his cane. “Here. This has value to me. Take it.”

  Rodent hesitantly took the cane. It was heavier than it appeared. The material was unrecognizable. Beside him, the old man’s hand waited. Rodent set the cane on his lap.

  Then, he wrestled with his finger, removing the ring, not knowing the last time he’d done so. Cool air touched the affected skin. Rodent’s hand felt too light—he missed the weight.

  He gave the ring to the old man.

  “Ah, yes.” His eyes were closed as his other hand felt the air around the ring. “So, I was right, after all.”

  His eyes reopened. “I have a question for you, Rodent.”

  “Y-Yeah?”

  “Could you tell me… what Heaven looks like?”

  Rodent’s face was puzzled. He only just realized he’d never given the old man his name. Before he could speak, the old man flicked the ring over his shoulder.

  Rodent’s eyes widened. He dashed off the bench with a cane in hand. His ring rolled down the asphalt path behind the bench. It slowed, entering a puddle and disappearing.

  Rodent used the cane to lower himself to the ground, leaning forward to reach into the puddle… not expecting it to be bottomless. He couldn’t retract in time as he fell in, disappearing without a splash.

  Meanwhile, the old man sat at the bench, undisturbed by what happened, staring off into the darkened sea.

  LOOK OUT FOR THAT CAR!'?

  both do start with p!

  writers supposed to be in control of what happens?

  ~ Triple-Triple