“You! Stop there!” The pounding in my chest grew wild as I was found out. I pulled my fingers in tighter around the vial while I jumped up at the shout. I’ve been waiting for this single moment far too long just to be captured now.

“Please, I don’t want to hurt you,” I reassured him. And I truly didn’t want to, but I’d do what was needed to escape with my life. For it only just began.

“Put the serum down or you’ll leave me no-“ I quickly threw the nearest thing to me as hard as I could before he could say another word. The priceless vase hit his head and shattered upon crashing to the floor. The man collapsed as I rushed passed him and through the door. If the shouting didn’t alert anyone, that definitely did. I retraced my way through this mansion of a home. Through the halls decorated with elaborate art, down the marble staircase, and finally out the arched doorway into the front lawn. I was breathing hard now as I kept running, and could hear sirens in the distance behind me.

It was dark and I only had the moonlight guiding my way for the past hour or so along the main road. My heart slowed to a normal pace and I could finally catch my breath as I was coming up to street lamps and city lights. Although the hour is late, vehicles and people became more dense as I neared the city center.

I tucked my hand in my jacket pocket where I clasped onto the glass vial. The same ads popped up over and over on the electronic billboards across the city; EmoTex. They’re the reason so many people feel empty and useless in this world, including myself. They’ll strip you of the only thing you have left to grasp onto in this corrupt world. They’ll extract your happiness, love, even sadness and auction it off to the highest bidder. I’ve been drained to the very last drop of my being, I feel absolutely nothing.

I pull out the serum from my pocket and gaze upon its purplish glow. So, this is it. This small vial is what’ll finally revive me from oblivion. I pop the cork and a scent of bittersweet reaches my nose. I carefully bring it to my lips and swallow its contents. I’m flooded with warmth and longing, contentment and sorrow. I hear shouts from behind me, but in this moment they are inaudible to my ears. All my attention is on this feeling I’m engulfed in and it’s bliss. I sense myself being jerked to the ground and my hands being placed in some kind of constraint, but I’m paralyzed by the serum’s sensation. I just smile and feel the warmth of my tears run down my cheeks.

Im finally free.