Resolve : Episode 5 : A new perspective
Chapter 1: The Morning Shift
The sharp chill of the morning air bit at Paul’s face as he stepped out of his flat. The street outside was as routine as always: the dog walker and his unnervingly obedient companion, the low hum of the streetlights, and the faint clatter of a newspaper being dropped onto a doorstep. Yet, today, it all felt distant, as though Paul were watching it happen through a pane of frosted glass.
At the store, the air was thick with the sterile scent of disinfectant. The tills were silent, the faint buzz of the fluorescent lights overhead taking their place. Claire stood by the counter, her gaze distant, while Tom was nowhere to be seen. Paul lingered in the entrance for a moment before hanging his coat and stepping into the strange quiet.
Chapter 2: Jane’s Stage
Jane wasn’t scheduled to work that day, and her absence was more noticeable than Paul expected. He thought back to the flyer she’d clutched so tightly the last time he’d seen her. The audition. The thought of her facing the spotlight gave him a rare flicker of hope - someone breaking free, doing something different.
He mentioned her to Claire, who was scanning items listlessly at the till.
“She texted me this morning,” Claire said, not looking up. “Said the audition went well. Sounded… happy.”
Paul smiled faintly. “Good for her.”
Claire paused, her hand hovering over a box of cereal. “Do you think she’ll come back?”
The question caught Paul off guard. “Why wouldn’t she?”
Claire shrugged, her eyes shadowed. “People don’t really leave, do they?”
Chapter 3: Tom’s Hesitation
Paul found Tom in the break room, leaning against the wall with his phone in hand. He looked up when Paul entered, his face tight.
“I’m signing up for that photography course,” Tom said abruptly. “Starts next week.”
Paul grinned. “That’s amazing.”
Tom didn’t smile back. “Yeah, but… every time I think about it, I get this feeling. Like something’s pulling me back. Like I’m not supposed to leave.”
Paul sat beside him, folding his hands. “What’s in the photo?”
Tom hesitated before passing it over. The image showed a younger Tom standing in front of an art gallery, his camera slung around his neck. He looked happy, confident - alive.
“That was the last exhibit I submitted to,” Tom said quietly. “Three years ago. Before Stacy started talking about what a waste of time it was.”
Paul leaned forward, studying the photo. “You looked happy.”
Tom snorted. “Yeah. I was. I loved it - capturing moments, telling stories through images. But… I stopped. It felt easier to just… let it go.”
Paul handed it back. “That guy looks like he knew what he wanted. Do you think you can be him again?”
Tom’s fingers tightened around the edges of the photo. “I don’t know. But I’m going to try.”
Chapter 4: The Manager’s Rules
The new manager Tim called an impromptu meeting that afternoon, his clipped tone and cold demeanour setting the tone. “Efficiency is the priority,” he said. “If you can’t meet the standards, you’re welcome to leave.”
Paul glanced at Claire, who was stiff with barely concealed annoyance. Tom, on the other hand, looked ready to bolt. The air in the room felt oppressive, heavy with tension.
As the meeting wrapped up, the manager’s gaze lingered on Paul. “Remember: time is not a luxury any of us can afford.”
Chapter 5: The Out-of-Place Shadow
That evening, Paul stayed late to finish stock checks. The store was empty, the silence broken only by the faint buzz of the lights. As he moved through the aisles, he noticed something strange.
A shadow moved at the far end of the aisle - not a person’s shadow, but a dark, shapeless blur. Paul froze, his breath catching. The shadow lingered for a moment, then darted out of sight.
He walked slowly toward the end of the aisle, his pulse pounding in his ears. The air grew colder as he approached, and the hum of the lights seemed to warp, twisting into an almost melodic vibration, through it he thought he could hear a faint whisper: Resolve.
When he reached the end of the aisle, there was nothing there. Paul exhaled shakily, turning back to his task. But the feeling of being watched didn’t leave him.
Chapter 6: Mrs. Kinsley’s Words
After his shift, Paul visited Mrs. Kinsley. Her flat was quiet, the muted sound of her television keeping a comforting background drone. She greeted him with her usual warm smile but seemed more subdued tonight.
As Paul helped her adjust the cushions on her chair, he noticed the stack of letters on the side. They were slightly crooked, as though she’d been sorting through them again.
“You still haven’t sent them,” he said gently.
Mrs. Kinsley sighed. “No. I keep telling myself tomorrow. But… it never feels like the right time.”
Paul hesitated. “Why not?”
She looked at him, her eyes soft but tired. “Because what if it doesn’t change anything? What if she’s already forgotten me?”
Paul sat beside her. “What if she hasn’t?”
Mrs. Kinsley smiled faintly. “And what about you, Paul? What are you waiting for?”
Paul blinked, caught off guard. He didn’t have an answer.
Chapter 7: The Notebook
At home, Paul opened his notebook and wrote: Day 5. It’s breaking.
The words felt heavier than before, their weight pressing down on him. He glanced at the manuscript on the shelf, untouched for years. Before he could think better of it, he grabbed it and flipped through the pages. The words were familiar, yet foreign, as though someone else had written them.
He wrote one more line in the notebook: What if the cracks aren’t meant to break us?
