With his gaze fixed on the gray-purple horizon, he anxiously awaited the sunrise, sitting there alone on the beach. He reminisced about the last time he had witnessed this phenomenon, which evoked a feeling of rebirth. The overloaded daily routine and his job as a manager at a luxurious restaurant had deprived him of any relaxation and engagement with the simple things in life. He felt this now in the harshest way.

For the past month, he had been suffering from a terrible headache with dizziness that wouldn’t go away. When this pain started, he believed that the pressure of work and the summer heat were causing this discomfort, and assuming that he knew his body very well, he thought it would soon pass. But he was wrong; the pain became more and more unbearable.

The test results pulled the ground from under his feet. Stunned, he looked at the doctor who was explaining the following tests he had to undergo to determine if the tumor was benign or malignant, and then decide on the appropriate treatment. He understood nothing of what the doctor was saying; the words floated in the doctor’s office, and his brain refused to process any further information, as it was categorically unwanted.

How and when he found himself on this beach was a mystery to him. The only thing he remembered was that he left the doctor’s office, got on his motorcycle, and took the road without any specific destination, like in those movies where the rebellious hero starts his journey and goes wherever the road takes him. Sitting at the edge of the beach where the cool water splashed, he eagerly awaited the first rays of the sun to touch him. The light, now blue, silver sky was gently painted with vibrant orange-yellow hues. Artemios watched the natural play of colors with great admiration. He closed his eyes and stretched his face towards the sun, which was rising step by step in the sky and spreading its long fingers. A warm wave spread throughout his body, and various emotions swelled like a countercurrent in his soul. He began to imagine his life if he lived it differently. Instead of pursuing a successful career, he would aim for other goals, such as creating a beautiful family or dedicating more time and help to needy people. Of course, he wouldn’t have the comforts he had now, like the expensive car, the motorcycle, and the luxurious apartment. But he would surely experience more genuine relationships that would truly touch him. He let his imagination run wild with a smile, when suddenly a bark interrupted him and brought him back to reality. He turned his face to the right, towards the direction from which the sound was coming, and saw a large German Shepherd running towards him and a man following it, shouting, “Aris, sit down!”

…..

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©2025, Vasiliki Papadopoulou.

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