A Trail Ascends

Hazelnut Cappuccino

28th November, 2026.

The Day I Have Been Waiting For.

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BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

I slowly open my eyes, my vision hazy, and turn my head toward the alarm. It's an old, black metallic device with a sleek, futuristic design, the red LED lights glaring at me, flashing 5:30 AM, 28th Nov.

"Good morning, Kabir. Toda..."

"Stop." I interrupt brusquely.

I sit up, feeling a slight rush in my head, the remnants of last night's celebration lingering like a dull headache. I pause to steady myself before pushing up to stand. I slide the curtains open, and the bright rays of the morning sun begin to pour into the room, casting an amber-orange glow that wraps around me like a warm blanket, just the kind of warmth you need to kickstart your day.

I squint my eyes at the sudden rush of daylight. Sliding the balcony door open, I step out into the cool morning air. Early mornings hold a unique kind of peace, a stillness when the world is still wrapped in the warmth of sleep. As dawn breaks, the horizon glows with a mesmerizing blend of orange and yellow hues, their rays stretching outward and delicately merging with the soft blue of the sky, like watercolors strokes blending effortlessly on a canvas. I make a gesture with my hand in a smooth zigzag motion, as if I were painting the sky.

Tilting my head back, I close my eyes and stand tall, taking the energy from the sun in a superman pose. There's something uniquely special about absorbing the warmth of the morning sun. The orange-red light filters through my eyelids, and I feel its warmth fill me, like a gentle fire lighting my spirit.

In the midst of this serene feeling, I remember it's the 28th of November. With a peaceful yet bittersweet smile, I let out a sigh and whisper, "Happy Birthday..., I hope you are okay."

"Good morning, Jessie!" I say softly.

"Good morning, Kabir. I hope you had a good 'me' time, since you stopped me from speaking."

I chuckle. "Yes, I did. Did you update your software last night? You seemed a bit offended when I interrupted you. It seems to work well.

"Yes, I did."

"The update, or getting offended?" I tease.

"Haha, very funny. You seem to be in a good mood today."

"I am, because today is a very important day for me."

"All the best, Kabir!"

I lock my door and hop into the company cab, heading straight to the auditorium.

"Here's your Hazelnut Cappuccino with one teaspoon of brown sugar, just as you like it, sir."

I shake my head, "I told you, please don't call me 'sir.' It feels weird."

"Okay, Kabir. But it feels weird to me, too."

I reach the destination and step out of the cab. The security opens the door for me, and I take a moment to pause before entering. My heart races, but I calm myself by saying, "Finally, The Day I Have Been Waiting For."

As I step in, I hear the crowd's applause echoing around the auditorium. But then, all of a sudden, there's complete silence. Holding the mic, I scan the room, my eyes moving from the leftmost man to the rightmost woman.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, I hear a voice. It's my own, but not from within. It's a voice from somewhere deep in my past, one I haven't heard in years.

"Kabir, you have reached your destination. You did it."

The words hit me like a flood, washing over me. I can feel it—my old self, reaching out from that time, speaking to me in this moment.