Especially around here. It was heresy to think there was more outside this rotten factory. With it's wallpaper curling up in the room labeled as the lounge. I don't know who could ever call that place a lounge. It was a disgrace. He looked at my face, really looked. "I know you want to have more. We all do. But we need to face reality that it's most likely not going to happen?" "Most likely, huh? So, there might be a chance." He looked at me confused. "That's not what I said." 

I let go of my anger at this man while it was starting to rise up in my chest. It was a poison, my anger. It never really resulted in any positive outcome. So, I let it rise and fall away. This man didn't seem to have any ill intentions. So, there was no need to be filled with rage. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to make anyone jealous. These are my dreams. Even if they stay that way, they keep me going." He looked at me with resentment for a split second and then it faded away. I guess what made them jealous is the fact that I still had hope. 

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't of defended him. We're all just having a hard time. I wanted to enter that competition as well, but my wife was sick. I had to watch the children. It's good to have dreams. I just wish I did." A deep sorrow resonated in his facial features. The creases of age worn his eyes and mouth as if they were beginning to suck the life from them. Maybe that's what total despair felt like. A deep endless void of nothing, He began to speak up. "I wanted to get my kids something nice for their birthdays, but I doubt I will be able to. With food and clothing it's just too much." His voiced cracked while he spoke. There was a pain engraved into it. A pain that just ate at you.

"I'm sorry, If I can help you I will." He looked up at me one last time. "I hope you reach your dreams. You deserve it. You're a good man." He patted me on the shoulder and walked downstairs to the exit. That comment made me tear up a little. It was nice to have someone be kind to me besides my best friend. Most people were out to get each other it seemed. But, maybe it was my perception on everything. Half full, half empty glass sort of thing. I felt as if I was a realist. I sometimes tip toed around the idea that the world could change, yet I worked tirelessly to change it.