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My eyebrows creased in frustration. The knot was a hard one to master but I sure as hell wasn’t going to leave it alone.

It was raining all day and my knot obsession wasn’t very progressive with the power shortage and whatnot. My parents were in the next room sleeping, even though it was midafternoon. They found my obsession with knots rather weird. After all, one does not simply “want to learn how to tie knots without no context whatsoever.” At least, that’s what they said. But knots made sense to me. Some infernal power in me wanted to know how to tie and untie all kinds of knots in the world. It was initially just a passing interest, but gradually I became hooked.

Being twenty-one years old, I was expected to find a job and move out of my parents’ place- not by my parents, but by the general public. My parents were quite the opposite. They were not pleased with the idea of me being an entity independent of them, which is why even after completing my college degree I remain jobless. It is peculiar, but I guess I must adjust with what they want, given they spent their life savings getting me here.

The rain had lessened into a drizzle. I sighed, putting away my knot. My life seemed great from the outside, but it really was not. Then again, I guess there are people living in shittier conditions than me. But from time to time, I cannot help but whine about the toxicity around me. My family was toxic in an overprotective, possessive manner. I had a best friend, but we stopped interacting much after high school. A few messages here and there, but that was pretty much it. All my current “friends” were toxic. It was obvious by the was they only talked to me before or during exams- to ask me for my notes or to demand that I show them my answers, which I was okay with had they not decided to ditch me afterward. Luck was almost never on my side, except for academics. Though that too had ultimately led me to bad luck. I had no choice whatsoever in the college or degree that I had opted for. It was like I was living my life for those around me.

I stood up from my chair, popped my knuckles and moved to the bed. Just as I plopped rather unceremoniously on it, I heard a shout. Then I heard another. The shouts were followed by a pause, which was then followed by a full-fledged verbal fight.