The Routine of an Ordinary Man
Rafel was a man who valued the little things in life, especially his daily rituals. After every lunch, he allowed himself a restorative nap that revitalized him like a magic spell. Without the need for an alarm clock, he trusted that his body guided him precisely. However, one day in July, the sun filtered through the window with unusual warmth and, comfortable on his sofa, he gave himself over to a deep sleep.
A surprising awakening
Opening his eyes, Rafel stretched and looked at the time: exactly half an hour had passed! With a satisfied smile, he headed to the kitchen in search of a glass of fresh water. However, upon opening the refrigerator, he found a disconcerting scene: the food was in a deplorable state, as if it had been there for much longer than he had imagined.
A Disturbing Revelation
Confused, Rafel closed the fridge door, trying to ignore what he had seen. It couldn’t possibly be that half an hour was enough to ruin the food. A virus? His heart raced as he stepped outside, where everything seemed normal, with no signs of a pandemic. However, the calm he had felt before falling asleep had been replaced by a strange feeling of unreality.
Changes in the Neighborhood
When he met his neighbors, Rafel noticed something different about them: new wrinkles, gray hair, an air of fatigue. They seemed older, as if time had passed quickly. Even the neighborhood children looked much older than he remembered, as if time had decided to play a joke on them.
Coffee and Reality
First things first, though. Rafel, having missed his morning coffee, felt a lingering fatigue. With unsteady steps, he made his way to his usual bar. As he entered, the bartender Quim looked at him with a mixture of surprise and joy. ‘Wow, we thought you’d left town!’ he exclaimed. Rafel could only smile shyly, sensing that something didn’t fit.
The Revelation of Lost Time
While enjoying a strong coffee that Quim had prepared for him, Rafel picked up the newspaper. Opening it, he felt a knot in his stomach when he saw the date: July 2025. He had been sleeping longer than he had ever imagined. In his mind, he was cursing his biological clock for playing such a trick on him.
The To-Do List
Not daring to check his phone, Rafel took a pen and began to list everything he had lost: job, family, friends… He did it with almost mechanical speed and precision, as if the situation was part of his routine. ‘Don’t forget the taxes, June is over,’ Quim reminded him as he served him coffee. ‘I think I slept a little too long,’ Rafel replied, blushing as he added ‘tax office’ to the top of his list.
Final Reflections and New Beginnings
While the bitter taste of coffee woke him up, Rafel reflected on what had happened. He refused to accept the idea that he had been in a dream that lasted a year and a half hour. Maybe it was time to consider an alarm clock. The world, however, had moved on, but what Rafel would soon discover was that the changes in his town were far more profound and disconcerting than he had ever imagined. But that, of course, is another story.
