Falling Stars

Episode-1 : My Life

Gabriel awoke to the shrill sound of his alarm clock, its insistent beeping cutting through the remnants of his dreams. He groaned, rubbing his eyes before swinging his legs over the side of the bed. The sun had barely risen, casting a pale light through the blinds. Another day, he thought, forcing himself to his feet.

In the kitchen, he mechanically went through the motions of making coffee. The rich aroma filled the small apartment, a temporary comfort. As he sipped his coffee, Gabriel's mind wandered back to his days as a military pilot. The adrenaline, the purpose, the sense of making a difference-all of it seemed like a lifetime ago. Now, his life was a far cry from those exhilarating days.

After a quick shower and a hasty breakfast, Gabriel donned his suit, straightening his tie in the mirror. The reflection staring back at him seemed foreign, a man trapped in a routine that felt stifling. He grabbed his briefcase and headed out the door, merging into the flow of the city's morning rush.

The bank was only a short walk from his apartment, but it felt like a journey into a different world. The grand facade of the building, with its towering columns and polished glass doors, loomed ahead. Gabriel took a deep breath and stepped inside, the cool, air-conditioned air greeting him as he entered.

"Good morning, Mr. Martinez," the receptionist greeted him with a polite smile.

"Morning, Claire," he replied, forcing a smile of his own. He made his way to his desk, weaving through the sea of cubicles and bustling activity. The bank was a hive of efficiency, each person a cog in the well-oiled machine.

Settling into his chair, Gabriel opened his laptop and began sorting through the flood of emails. Most were mundane-updates from corporate, client inquiries, financial reports. He worked methodically, his mind often drifting as he processed the endless stream of data.

Around mid-morning, Gabriel's phone rang, jolting him from his thoughts. It was a client, Mr. Henderson, with questions about his investment portfolio. Gabriel listened patiently, offering reassurances and advice, his voice calm and professional. This was his new reality-guiding others through their financial landscapes, far removed from the cockpit of a helicopter.

Lunch was a solitary affair. Gabriel usually ate at his desk, a simple sandwich and a bottle of water his standard fare. He watched as his colleagues chatted and laughed in the break room, their lives seemingly untouched by the shadows that haunted his.

The afternoon dragged on, the minutes blending into hours. Gabriel conducted meetings, reviewed accounts, and attended conference calls. The work was steady, predictable, but it lacked the spark that once fueled his days. He found solace in the structure, yet it felt like a cage, confining him to a life of monotony.

As the clock neared five, Gabriel wrapped up his tasks, preparing to leave for the day. He gathered his belongings and made his way to the exit, the routine as familiar as breathing. Stepping out into the evening air, he felt a sense of relief, the day's burdens momentarily lifting.

Walking back to his apartment, Gabriel reflected on his life. The path he was on felt disconnected from the man he once was, a man defined by purpose and passion. Yet, amidst the routine, he held on to a glimmer of hope-that somewhere, somehow, he would find a way to rekindle that lost fire.

At home, Gabriel shed his suit and settled into the evening, the same cycle repeating itself. As he drifted off to sleep, he dreamed of the skies, of freedom, and of a time when life was more than just a series of numbers and transactions. And with that, another day ended.

But the next day morning when Gabriel sat at his kitchen table, finishing up the last of his breakfast when his phone buzzed with an incoming call. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was his old friend, Mark. He hadn't heard from Mark in a while and smiled as he answered.

"Hey, Mark! Long time no hear."

"Gabriel, you need to come to Riverdale. Now," Mark's voice was urgent, filled with a tension Gabriel hadn't heard since their days in the military.

"What's going on?" Gabriel's heart rate quickened, a familiar sense of dread creeping in.

"Meteor shower. A bad one. The whole town's in chaos. We need all the help we can get," Mark replied, his voice shaky.

Gabriel was already on his feet, grabbing his keys and jacket. "I'm on my way."

The drive to Riverdale was surreal. The normally calm morning sky was alight with streaks of fiery debris, meteors cascading towards the Earth. Gabriel's mind raced as he navigated the winding roads, memories of past meteor storms flooding back. He clenched the steering wheel tighter, determined to reach his friend and help in any way he could.

As he approached the town, the extent of the destruction became apparent. The once picturesque landscape was now a battlefield, buildings in ruins, fires burning uncontrollably. Gabriel parked his car and hurried towards the town square, where Mark had told him to meet.

Mark was there, coordinating efforts with a group of townspeople. His face was grim, but he broke into a relieved smile when he saw Gabriel.

"Thank God you made it," Mark said, clapping a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "We need to get people to the shelter. The town hall is the designated safe zone, but it's filling up fast."

Gabriel nodded, his old instincts kicking in. "Let's move."

They split up, Gabriel heading towards the residential area. He knocked on doors, urging families to evacuate to the town hall. The sky above roared with the sound of incoming meteors, each impact sending shudders through the ground.

As he helped an elderly couple into his car, a particularly large meteor streaked across the sky, exploding on impact just a few streets away. The shockwave knocked Gabriel off his feet, and he scrambled to his feet, his ears ringing.

"Go! Get to the shelter!" he shouted, waving the car off before heading towards the source of the explosion.

He found a young woman trapped under debris, her leg pinned by a fallen beam. Gabriel rushed to her side, adrenaline fueling his strength as he lifted the beam just enough to free her.

"Can you walk?" he asked, breathless.

She nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I think so."

"Lean on me," Gabriel instructed, supporting her weight as they made their way towards the town hall. The journey was perilous, the ground littered with debris and small fires. But finally, they reached the shelter, the large doors closing behind them with a reassuring thud.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense but hopeful. Families huddled together, children clinging to their parents. Gabriel spotted Mark across the room and made his way over.

"We got most of them here," Gabriel said, exhaustion evident in his voice. "But there are still people out there."

Mark nodded, his expression determined. "We keep going until everyone is safe."

Gabriel took a moment to catch his breath, glancing around at the frightened yet resilient faces. Despite the chaos outside, there was a sense of unity in the shelter, a shared determination to survive.

"Let's get back out there," Gabriel said, straightening up. "These people need us."

And so, they went back into the storm, driven by a purpose that transcended their own fears. As meteors continued to rain down, Gabriel felt a spark of the old fire reignite within him, a reminder that even in the face of destruction, there was always something worth fighting for.