written by Jesus Antonio Nila IV
Chapter 2: Invisible Industries
Rule #1: No fact of uncertainty can be more uncertain than the improbability of one's own self.
[Letter]
We are pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted by Invisible Industries. Your interview will be at 1930 Dillon Court, Suite 23B. Please wear professional attire.
—HR
INVISIBLE INDUSTRIES
Slate-white laminate canvassed the outside of the tower's six-story high-rise. Cobblestone benches gathered dead leaves from the outstretched trees above them. Sunlight traced Jacob's shadow as he eagerly walked toward the building, its prismatic glass doors cascading above him.
One-nine-three-zero Dillon Court… he muttered under his breath. Suite 23B? Which side is B? he thought to himself.
His stomach began twisting as anxiety started to overcome him. Canna lilies and elephant ears surrounded the outside plaza. The flowers lay still as the building shielded them from the wind.
Of the many people walking the grounds of the building, only one caught Jacob's eye. An old woman dressed in gray. Her lavender knitted sweater blanketed her long, slender arms. Her smile glowed, and her eyes were full of wisdom. She reminded him of his own grandmother. She reminded him of why he was there.
7.
Jacob continued walking down the fountain path, his long brown hair tucked neatly behind his ears. His burnt-leather messenger bag bounced against his waist.
Jacob could recollect driving past the building a few times. He never knew what was inside, though. Never even gave the place a second glance. Kind of surprising, he thought to himself.
The building and its gardens were breathtaking. He had never seen anything like it. Eight fountains interconnected by a stream. The flowers surrounding them weaved in and out in a unique pattern.
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The building itself was average, very similar to the rest of the office buildings. Jacob scanned the surrounding buildings down the road. The door was different here, he thought. The other ones don't have all this tall glass.
Jacob noticed how the glass doors reflected a fusion of light from the fountain pools. Then, small chandelier wind chimes caught the light below, creating a collage of effervescent colors.
He noticed how good it felt to be near so many people. Everyone looked like they were off somewhere important. Most of them were smiling and walking with an upbeat stride. He could feel their vibration. Their energy surrounded him like a warm blanket.
He felt like he was meant to be there. Like the pieces had finally fallen into the right place.
Jacob remembered all the strange, odd jobs he had done over the past few years. His time spent at the gas station. The long days at the tire shop soon after that. Then the grocery store a few months after that.
Jacob couldn't really find his place. His bosses were always nice to him. He even met a lot of interesting and curious people. He just couldn't handle the environment anymore. So many people going in and out, in and out.
He longed for a place where everyone just sat still. A place with cubicles and desks. Those nice plastic water fountains like in the movies. A place where people remembered his name.
He had the usual customers, of course, but nothing real. He had never really made friends at work. Never had the time to meet people outside of work. It left him feeling a strange loneliness. Like he was watching his own life but not living it.
There were no shared memories… not since school, at least.
As soon as he moved into town, he realized just how truly alone he could be. That he could reside in an entire town full of people.
After two years, I still know not one soul. At least, not as a true friend.
The shallow smile and wave just didn't seem to satisfy his social needs anymore.
He remembered all the times he and his school friends used to spend together. He had moved schools a few times in his life. Yet even then, it seemed like he was sharing the world with other people. Like they were all in this place together as one group.
Nothing like that had really been in Jacob's life since.
Everyone moved on to college and odd jobs. Some of his friends entered military service. Even he left the city as soon as he graduated. It was because of family circumstances.
Still, though… he left just like the others.
He often wondered if he would have stayed, given the chance. Would he have continued on in the same place, with the same kind of people?
