It was another late evening, and the city lights blurred in your tired vision as you sat on a bench at the subway station. Life had been relentless—debts piling up, friends turning away, and opportunities slipping through your fingers. You rested your head in your hands, trying to stave off despair.

“Rough day?”

The voice was smooth, almost too casual, and it startled you. Looking up, you saw a man in a crisp suit, holding a small briefcase. His expression was calm but vaguely unsettling, as though he knew more about you than you were comfortable with.

“Yeah,” you muttered, not bothering to mask your exhaustion.

He chuckled lightly and sat down next to you, leaving just enough space to not seem imposing. “You know, sometimes, a little game can help you forget your troubles.”