one

 

 

He doesn’t remember a time without his heartbeats resounding loudly in his ears, a steady hum over the racket of everyday life. It used to bother him when he was a child, when he felt that it limited him—counted down to the end even when he had no desire to. Now, though, he feels nothing but comfort in the routine that he has grown accustomed to.

 

Of course, if anyone asks him, he never admits it. He tells them about his dreams of breaking out of his shell and ruling the world. He tells them about the excitement he feels, the passion and determination running in his veins. They aren’t really lies, more like half-truths. He does dream of those; he just doesn’t have the guts to do anything about it.