rubinus-50320993 @rubinus-50320993
I trudge through the day like a beast on a chain. Twenty-five years ago I was full of life and fire, but now it's just a dull burn within me. My wife left me for a younger man with more energy to give her. She took my daughter with her too, leaving me to this endless cycle of work and coal dust. The furnace here at the power plant is my home now - I'm the one who keeps it burning, day in and day out.
My hands are as tough as the steel they've worked on for years, but that only shows how much punishment they can take before giving up altogether. My wife used to complain about my calluses when we were young and happy together. Now those same hands just hold the weight of my regret like a heavy burden. When I look at them, I see all the sweat, blood, and tears I've shed over the years.
I stare into the fiery furnace like it's staring back at me - searching for some meaning in its flames. It's as if I'm trying to see my own reflection in the burning embers. But what use is that? My life has been reduced to this endless labor, day after day, with no purpose other than to keep this machine running. And yet...and yet, there's something about the coal dust and soot on my face that makes me feel a little bit alive still. Maybe it's just habit now, but I'm not ready to give up completely
