The Shift (Part 2)

"Who’s the one-armed kid?"

(You flip through Tat's evaluations: diligent, reliable, but unremarkable. The kind of person who fades into the background.)

You: He might have been killed. Someone may know why he vanished—or the truth about his death. But I need his identity to do my work in the city. Synchronize the data.

Kim: Understood. Full integration in 36 hours.

(You continue scrolling through Tat's life story, his photos, and his connections. Then, you stop. One image catches your attention: a factory photo of Tat crouching beside a boy. Both are grinning faintly, wearing dusty uniforms. You lean forward.)

You: Who’s the one-armed kid?

Kim: An eight-year-old boy named Po. He worked alongside Tat in the blending section of the plant.

(Your gaze lingers on the image. The boy's presence stirs something unspoken, an ache you can't quite name.)

(You exhale, the weight of the moment pressing down.)

You: Twenty years old again… It’s been a long time since I was that young. Do you remember what we were like back then, Kim?

Kim: Always.

(A smirk tugs at your lips as you lean back.)

You: I believe you do, Kim. I believe you do.

(Posted on Threads on 19.11.2024)

(← Return to The Shift (Part 1))

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