Part 2/8:
The story begins with the protagonist recalling her days as just another cog in the corporate machine. At 24 years old, she was working long hours, trapped in a cycle that offered little excitement or meaning. Each day melded into the next; she squeezed onto packed trains, worked relentlessly, and relied on fleeting joys like lunch breaks and weekends to momentarily escape the grind. Despite achieving financial benchmarks, such as buying luxury items, the superficial happiness derived from these accomplishments was short-lived.