Faruk's days had lately been passing in a strange, hopeful blur. Whenever he stared at his laptop or mobile screen, a vision of a bright future would shimmer before his eyes. The constant tug-of-war of a middle-class life, the small unfulfilled desires—it felt as though the solution to everything was hidden within those thousands of words.
That afternoon, when he opened the Inkstone app, he saw the words flashing next to his novel, 'Life Change': "Application in Progress."
His heart skipped a beat. This was the dream he had stayed up countless nights for, crafting forty-four chapters. Behind every word was a mix of grueling labor and a chest full of hope. Faruk knew this contract wasn't just about his identity as a writer; it was a tool to bring a smile back to his family's face.
When he writes, he loses himself. He feels like a "Craftsman of Memories." Sometimes he writes about the person who wants to break through the walls of poverty. Other times, he tells the story of a dilapidated cottage where, despite the scarcity, there is no shortage of love. The protagonist of every story is essentially himself—the man who never learned how to surrender.
Exhaustion creeps in sometimes. He wonders if there is truly a place for his deeply "human" and emotional writing in this digital world. But then, he thinks of his younger siblings' laughter or his father's tired face. He reminds himself that he must win. This "Applying" status is only the beginning.
Faruk whispers to himself, "My pen will one day erase all my family's sorrows. The day I sign that contract, I will no longer be trapped in this cage of poverty. That day, the sky will finally be mine."
The night deepens. While the rest of the city is shrouded in sleep, Faruk begins a new chapter. He knows that before the sun rises, he must move one step closer to his dream.