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墨書 Inktalez
Since returning to my hometown after leaving the military, I have gone through a long and confusing period before finally settling down. However, this so-called stability is merely finding an ordinary and unremarkable job. Although this job can sustain my livelihood, it cannot fill the deep longing I have for the passionate days of the past or alleviate my anxiety about an uncertain future.
On rare days off, I often find myself alone at a nearby internet café. Sitting in the slightly noisy environment, facing the flickering light of the screen, I immerse myself in the vastness of the virtual world. Sometimes, I team up with online friends to play games, releasing the stress of daily life through intense battles; other times, I browse various news articles, trying to understand the rapidly changing dynamics of society.
When I feel particularly down, I choose to step into a bar. In the dim light, I find a quiet corner to sit. Watching people around me laughing or lost in their own worlds, listening to the rhythmic beats of music, I occasionally take a sip from my glass, allowing myself to temporarily forget the troubles and worries of reality.
I am not afraid of solitude; having served in the military away from home for so many years, I have grown accustomed to living independently. Being alone often feels like a greater freedom. Yet every night when I find myself alone, I inevitably reflect on past events—those people and those moments that linger in my memory. I do not know what mindset young people like me have when they frequently reminisce about the past, but I cannot help but remember, fearing that one day these memories will fade from my mind.
When I am feeling uplifted, I imagine what lies ahead. But looking at my current self—working tirelessly from dawn till dusk—I realize that much of my passion has already been worn away.
Fortunately, friends like A Yu often call me to chat. Occasionally, they even visit my city for a trip and stop by to see me.
Not wanting to dwell on these thoughts any longer, I continue drinking while watching the endless stream of people outside the bar. Suddenly, I see an elderly man fall by the roadside. I freeze for a moment; I should do something. Standing up quickly, I open the bar door and walk briskly towards him. As I approach, I notice a crowd gathered around him, discussing something anxiously. A young man is also hurrying over from a distance.
It is winter outside, and it feels particularly cold. The elderly man is wearing a light-colored thin sweater and a dark thin coat that looks quite worn out; he appears frail and is likely in his seventies. I rush over to help him up and patiently ask about his condition. After receiving a firm response, the young man and I assist him to sit down nearby and then contact his family. As we do this, the crowd slowly disperses until only the three of us remain. We chat lightly with the elderly man until his family arrives shortly after, thanking us profusely before taking him away. In the wind, the young man and I exchange smiles before hurriedly parting ways.
I slowly return to the bar with heavy steps. Clutching my glass tightly in hand, my gaze is fixed on the dwindling golden beer inside it while my thoughts linger on what just happened; it takes me a while to regain focus.
At that moment, the bar owner approaches me with steady steps. He wears a smile that reveals a hint of admiration in his eyes. Raising his own glass, he lightly clinks it against mine and says heartily: "Young man, I saw everything that just happened! You did great; I'm really impressed!" With that, he downs his drink without hesitation.
Seeing this, I cannot hold back either. A slight smile appears on my lips as I raise my head and finish off the last bit of beer in my glass. After setting down my glass, I share a smile with the owner before getting up to head to the cashier's counter where I settle my bill efficiently and prepare to leave.
As I step out of the bar and stroll along the path homeward, an inexplicable feeling washes over me. For some reason, my previously heavy and confused mood begins to shift gradually. Suddenly, it feels as if I've become much lighter; my spirits are lifted instantly. It’s as if an endless source of powerful energy surrounds me, granting me boundless motivation and courage.
From that moment on, I began deliberately setting aside time to actively engage in various charitable activities of different scales. These activities ranged from picking up litter carelessly discarded by the roadside to personally planting saplings symbolizing hope and vitality; they even included visiting and assisting lonely elderly individuals. Whether initiated spontaneously by individuals or meticulously organized by government agencies, whenever I learned about relevant information regarding charitable events, I would sign up without hesitation.
Each time I returned home after successfully completing these tasks, an indescribable sense of relaxation and joy filled me completely. It felt as if all those worries that had been weighing on my heart had vanished without me even realizing it. During this time dedicated to charity work, I could clearly perceive significant changes in my spirit; my entire being became more vibrant than ever before. At the same time, my inner confidence and sense of mission towards society were greatly enhanced.
In this moment, memories from my time in the military flooded back into my mind—the phrase "Serve The People" that we often repeated back then now seemed to perfectly encapsulate what was happening before me! Although the specific forms may differ, their essence remains unchanged! If that's true, then even though I've left the military and returned to civilian life, why can't I continue to carry forward this glorious tradition? With this thought in mind, it felt as if a seed containing infinite possibilities was quietly taking root within me—germinating and gradually breaking through the soil to reveal tender green shoots.
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