Chapter 1: Shadows of Ridicule.

Adonis sat in his cramped office, peering out of the small window, lost in his thoughts about his life. The stale air in the room made him shift his tie repeatedly, while beads of sweat trickled down his face, adding to his discomfort.

Leaning back, he surveyed the enormous pile of work on his desk, contemplating the meager compensation he received for carrying out these tasks. Adding to his frustration, it seemed that his contributions went unnoticed and unappreciated by everyone in the company. He took a deep breath, the deepest he had ever taken, trying to gather himself.

"Adonis, all this work is right in front of you, and you're just staring out the window? Do you want to get yelled at again?" his inner voice chastised him, breaking through his contemplation.

Just as he was about to refocus on his work, the door swung open forcefully, jolting him from his reverie. He looked up to see his boss standing there, his face flushed with anger. A deadly glare was aimed directly at Adonis.

"And what have you done now, you pathetic fool?" his boss spat out the words, seething with hatred and anger. The hostile air emanating from his boss's flared nostrils brushed against Adonis, intensifying the tension in the room.

Confusion enveloped Adonis as he maintained his gaze on his boss, unsure of the reasons behind the intense animosity. He was aware of his boss's deep-rooted hatred towards him, though the cause remained a mystery, one that he neither understood nor bothered to investigate. Nevertheless, Adonis had made earnest efforts to please his boss, hoping to avoid trouble.

"What could I have possibly done this time?" Adonis couldn't help but inquire, his eyes locked with his boss's.

"Are you seriously asking me that question? You know precisely what you did, and now you're pretending to be ignorant? And in that tone? Who do you think you're talking to? Have you lost your mind?" His boss's retort pierced through Adonis, sending a shiver down his spine.

"I genuinely don't know what you're referring to, sir. I... I honestly don't..." Adonis stammered, his words faltering. Before he could utter another syllable, his boss hurled a parcel at him, forcing him to catch it reflexively. Lost in confusion, he found himself staring at the contents in his hands.

The documents before him were the reports he had submitted earlier that morning. Adonis couldn't comprehend what could be wrong with them. Perplexed, he mustered the courage to inquire, "But sir, what's the issue with these reports?" However, his boss's response was an eruption of seething anger.

"So you're still feigning innocence and ignorance?" his boss bellowed, his fury escalating. Adonis remained silent, his confusion mounting with each passing second.

"Didn't you notice the subpar work you presented to me this morning? Is that how you fulfill your responsibilities? Submitting such garbage? Is that what you're paid for?" his boss interrogated, his tone laden with exasperation.

"But sir... I followed your instructions exactly..." Adonis attempted to explain, but his boss cut him off, refusing to let him finish his statement.

"I don't want to hear a single word from you, Adonis. All you do in this office is take up space with your stupid self and contribute nothing. You have four hours to rectify this trashy work you handed to me this morning, or be prepared for consequences you won't appreciate." With those final words, his boss stormed out of the room, forcefully slamming the door behind him.

Adonis found himself alone in the room, his mind swirling with confusion. He stared at the documents, perplexed as to what to do next. He had diligently worked on them earlier, precisely as his boss had instructed. "I can't comprehend this situation," he muttered to himself, rising from his seat with a sense of urgency.

He needed to use the restroom as he felt the pressure building, adding to his mounting tension.

Adonis made his way slowly toward the communal restroom, as his office lacked one of its own. Time was of the essence, and he needed to be swift. He hurriedly utilized the facilities, aware that the clock was ticking and he had to amend the work before his boss returned, demanding it.

As Adonis stepped out of the area, he noticed a group of three co-workers congregated near the door, engrossed in gossip about him. Their conversation piqued his curiosity, albeit with a tinge of apprehension.

"That dumbness of a person! Have you seen the way he still wears those shabby shoes to work? Does anyone actually believe he's mentally stable?" one of them questioned.

Adonis glanced down at his worn-out footwear, a constant source of shame for him. However, financial constraints had prevented him from replacing them.

"Do any of you even know his real name? Besides his infamous 'Dumbo' or the nickname 'praying sandals' we've given him?" the lady chimed in, prompting a burst of laughter from their group, further deepening Adonis's sense of shame.

Aware of the pressing need to fix his submitted work, Adonis realized he was running out of time. However, he hesitated to leave, fearing their inevitable mockery, as they had always ridiculed him in the past.

"He's nothing but a fool in this company. We'd all be better off if the boss just fired him," another voice proclaimed.

"I can't help but wonder how he even comes through the door every single morning. Honestly, he's the stupidest person I've ever encountered. Perhaps he should consider going to school for a decade," the lady added, triggering another round of laughter among the group.

Adonis's shame intensified, and he patiently waited for their discussion to conclude, hoping for an opportunity to escape. Yet, it appeared they had no intention of wrapping up their conversation anytime soon. "Adonis, you must summon the courage to walk to your office," his inner voice urged him.

Taking a deep breath, Adonis slowly distanced himself from the scene, causing the trio to abruptly halt their conversation as their gazes fixated on him. His heart pounded fiercely within his chest, and their ensuing laughter pierced through him. Seeking refuge in his office, he rested his head on the table, feeling a welling of tears at the corners of his eyes. Yet, he mustered the strength to hold them back.

"I need to focus on my work and move forward," he whispered to himself, determined to regain composure.

Reflecting upon his long tenure at the company, Adonis couldn't help but acknowledge the consistent mistreatment he endured, particularly from his boss. There were instances when he yearned to retaliate, to voice his frustrations, but the thought of his wife and family awaiting him at home always served as a powerful deterrent, keeping him from succumbing to anger throughout the years.

As the day drew to a close, Adonis set aside his pen, signaling the end of another grueling workday. He made his way towards his car, fully aware of the imminent laughter that would ensue from his colleagues, a familiar chorus that no longer held any newness to him.

"Look at his car, just as battered as he is," one of them jeered, prompting a wave of laughter.

"At least everyone has something decent, but not him," added another, their words piercing through Adonis, who lowered his head in shame. He entered the car, hoping for a smooth departure, but his efforts were thwarted as the engine refused to start, prompting yet another uproar of laughter. "Not now, please, not now," he pleaded, desperately striking the steering wheel. Despite multiple attempts, the car remained unresponsive.

"Frustration surged through him, escaping in a thunderous expletive, 'Fuck!'" His anguished cry reverberated, met with the resounding echoes of laughter that filled the air, an orchestra of mockery from his unsympathetic peers.

Adonis dragged his feet and went to fix his car. Although he was alone, his efforts paid off when the car finally started. He smiled at the thought of seeing his wife once again. Currently, they were living separately because she was attending college in town and had asked him to get her an apartment close to the campus.

He bought her favorite chocolate cake from a roadside vendor and arrived at her apartment an hour later. A wide smile on his face, he lightly tapped on the door, but there was no response.

"Where could she have gone?" he muttered to himself. As he looked at the door, he realized that it was open. His smile returned at the thought of surprising her.

He opened the door and was met with a terrible sight. Clothes were strewn about the room, and everything was a mess. "What the hell happened here?" He couldn't help but feel anxious, and his heart pounded against his chest as if it would burst.

"What's happening? Is this some kind of nightmare?" Adonis questioned himself, his mind filled with a mix of disbelief, shock, and heartbreak. His thoughts raced as he tried to comprehend the scene before him. He saw unfamiliar male clothing on the sofa, a sight that intensified his growing unease.

He desperately resisted the dark thoughts that crept into his mind, unwilling to accept the possibility. "No, it's not possible," he whispered, trembling with fear. "After all I've done for her, after all we have shared, she couldn't betray me like this. Harriet would never do such a thing," he convinced himself, desperately seeking any alternative explanation.

However, his hopes were shattered when he witnessed Harriet emerge from the kitchen, passionately locked in a deep kiss with another man. His hands roamed her body with familiarity, a sight that tore at Adonis's heart.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he struggled to accept the painful reality. "No, that can't be my wife. It can't be Harriet," he exclaimed inwardly, his voice filled with disbelief and anguish.