(story)

Tom was happy. He got the job he always wanted, or at least, that’s what he thought. The office was big and modern. From the window, he could see the whole city. The salary was high. The company was famous. His parents smiled with pride. His friends said, “You made it, Tom! This is your dream job.”

Tom worked hard every day. He wore clean suits, shiny shoes and carried a black bag. He went to meetings. He answered phone calls. He wrote reports and sent many emails. His life was full of plans, projects, and papers.

Years passed quickly. Every day looked the same.

One morning, Tom arrived early. He made a cup of coffee and sat near the window. The city looked the same, but inside, Tom felt different. Something was missing. A question came into his mind: “Is this really my dream?”

He looked around the office. People were busy, typing, walking, talking. But he felt alone. His heart was quiet. Then he remembered. When he was a child, he wanted to be a writer. He loved stories. He used to sit in his small room, writing little tales about heroes and faraway places.

But life changed. People told him, “Writing is not a real job.” They said, “You need money, a stable future, success.” So, Tom listened. He followed their advice.

Now, many years later, he asked himself:

“If I never tried my real dream, did I really live my life?”

He thought about time. Time is something we cannot see or hold, but it is always moving. Each day that passes will never come back. We can use time to build someone else’s dream or our own.

Tom stood up and looked in the mirror. The man there looked tired. Not from work, but from waiting for something that never came.

That night, Tom went home and found an old notebook. He opened a blank page and started writing. The words came slowly, but they ran fast. He smiled. It was not perfect, but it was real. And it was his.

He didn’t leave his job the next day. Life is not always black and white. But each evening, he wrote a little more. He began to feel alive again.

Tom learned something important. Success is not only about money or titles. It is about meaning. It is about being true to your soul.

Sometimes, we follow the path others choose for us. But it’s never too late to turn, to listen to your heart, and to begin again.

And that is what Tom did. Slowly, surely, bravely.