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墨書 Inktalez
The secretary flipped to the last page of the document, signing her name without hesitation. With a sharp snap, she closed the folder and handed it back to Keisha.
"All done, take it," she said succinctly, her tone as calm and efficient as a well-oiled machine. Once her task was complete, her attention shifted to the next important matter.
Keisha took the document, lightly tapping it as if to ensure everything was in order. She then looked up and flashed a bright smile at Carter.
"I really hope to see you again, Mr. Carter!" Her voice was cheerful, her eyes sparkling with sincerity, devoid of any forced social niceties. It felt genuine, as if she truly wished this wouldn’t be their last encounter.
Carter stared at her for a moment, momentarily taken aback, before a rare smile broke across his face, one that showed a hint of relaxation.
He didn’t speak; instead, he simply waved his hand lightly, responding to her words and perhaps making a silent promise—maybe they would indeed meet again.
At that moment, the secretary exited the car, deftly shutting the door behind her without saying another word. She walked directly toward Rain.
Carter found himself alone in the SUV, the vehicle suddenly quiet except for the sound of his own breathing and the distant noise of the crowd dispersing.
Through the window, he watched as the secretary hurried toward Rain, re-entering that political game. Yet his gaze involuntarily lingered on Keisha's retreating figure.
She held the documents close and gently shook her head as if humming a tune, her steps light as she moved toward the work area before gradually disappearing into the crowd.
Carter leaned back in his seat, watching her silhouette fade away while an indescribable emotion quietly surfaced within him.
In this election, this battle, he had initially thought of himself as merely a pawn placed on this stage to say a few words and stir some ripples before fading back into obscurity.
But now, he suddenly began to feel that perhaps there were unexpected variables in this game after all.
As the Black SUV slowly pulled back into the Campaign Headquarters, Carter sensed an electrifying atmosphere enveloping the entire building even before the vehicle came to a stop.
Tonight's rally had transformed this group into warriors, victorious in what felt like a holy battle.
Carter stepped out of the car, and as soon as he entered the headquarters, a wave of enthusiastic applause and cheers greeted him. Members of the campaign team excitedly shouted, "Tonight was amazing!" "We really did it!" "We fought a great battle!"
Some were pounding on tables, others were high-fiving, while a few were glued to their phones, eagerly refreshing social media for real-time discussions. Everyone was immersed in the victorious ambiance, as if they had just crushed an enemy force on the battlefield and were now celebrating their overwhelming triumph.
Standing in the center of the office was Rain, like a conqueror basking in the glory of victory.
With one hand in his pocket and a meticulously crafted smile on his face, he raised his hand to signal for silence. Then, with a tone full of gratitude, he said, "Tonight, each and every one of us performed exceptionally well; this is a true breakthrough! But there is one person we must especially thank—"
He paused for a moment, turned around, and reached out to pull Carter into the center of the crowd.
"Let us give a round of applause to our hero, Carter Black!"
Thunderous applause erupted.
The campaign team members cheered and enthusiastically clapped for Carter. Some even reached out to pat him on the shoulder, showing genuine respect for him.
Yet standing in the center, Carter felt like a misplaced chess piece, positioned where he didn’t belong.
He smiled mechanically and nodded, as if complying with the demands of the moment, politely accepting the applause and gratitude directed at him.
Yet deep down, he was uncertain whether the applause belonged to him or to the meticulously orchestrated campaign.
As the applause gradually subsided, Rain placed a hand on Carter's shoulder and led him aside, his tone turning somber and focused. "Carter, today is just our first step, but it’s far from enough."
He paused, turning to face Carter directly, his eyes glinting with sharp intensity. "We need to continue expanding our influence, to make more people hear your voice, and to encourage those who are still silent to stand up."
A slight smile crept onto his face, as if he were laying the groundwork for an even larger strategy in the battles ahead. "Next, we will arrange more public speeches, television interviews, and even collaborations with other Veteran organizations..."
Listening to these plans, a complex feeling surged within Carter.
He knew he had been drawn into this game and could not extricate himself.
Dragging his weary body into the apartment, Carter closed the door behind him, as if shutting out the clamor of the world outside.
He shrugged off his coat and tossed it onto a chair before collapsing onto the bed, feeling as though every ounce of energy had been drained from him.
This day… had been too long.
He closed his eyes and sank into the mattress, which was neither too soft nor too firm. His muscles finally felt released, yet his mind lingered with remnants of consciousness, as if still not fully detached from the noise of the rally.
For so long, his mind had been filled with anger and resentment—toward the injustices of society, the indifference of the government, and the helplessness of those at the bottom. He lived each day carrying these emotions, allowing them to fuel his drive forward.
But now, that anger seemed to have dulled.
They still existed, still a part of him deep down, but… tonight, another image unconsciously surfaced in his mind.
Keisha.
She stood by the car door, wearing a somewhat clumsy smile, holding a stack of documents that didn’t belong to her. With a helpless shrug, she said, “Well… to be honest, I find it a bit baffling too.”
She weaved through the crowd, busy yet not carrying the political weight of those on the campaign team. Her energy didn’t stem from ambition but from pure motivation.
She didn’t complain, didn’t keep score, and didn’t deliberately cater to anyone. She simply did what she needed to do and accepted the absurdity of the world with a smile.
This attitude made Carter feel… somewhat intrigued.
He actually smiled.
This surprised even him. He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, the smile still lingering at the corners of his mouth.
After so many years, he realized it was the first time he had shown such an expression because of someone, rather than out of anger, indignation, or the thrill of battle.
He let out a soft sigh, turned over, and the images in his mind gradually blurred as his consciousness slowly faded with fatigue.
In the end, he sank into slumber with that faint smile still on his face.
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