New Era – Episode 1: Paths

Under a sky painted in starlight, the night was quiet. The kind of quiet that invites deep thought… or a long overdue conversation.

Mikey: Ah! There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you, Victor.

Victor: Huh? Oh… Mikey, my dear friend. Why were you looking for me?

Mikey: I’m heading into town tomorrow—rent’s due too. I figured I’d just drop it off while I’m out.

Victor: Alright. I’ll leave my half in an envelope on the kitchen counter.

Mikey: Cool… (pauses) What are you doing out here anyway?

Victor: Just… looking at the stars and the moon. They’re exceptionally bright tonight.

Mikey: Yeah? What’s going on in that head of yours?

Victor: What makes you think I’m thinking about something?

Mikey: (smirks) Come on, Vik. I’ve known you since we were sixteen. I know that look—you’ve got that quiet stare that means your brain’s running wild.

Victor chuckled softly, shifting his eyes back to the sky.

Victor: You know me too well. I was thinking about… paths.

Mikey: Paths?

Victor: Yeah. Metaphorical ones. The choices we make—left or right, forward or back. Every choice builds history. Not just for us, but for the people around us. It’s strange how a single decision can create a ripple.

Mikey: That sounds like classic Victor talk right there. Deep, poetic, and lowkey hard to follow.

Victor: (laughs) Fair enough. I guess what I’m trying to say is… I’ve been reflecting. On my life, on who I’ve become.

You know I’m not the most open person. I think a lot, but I rarely say it out loud. But tonight feels different.

There’s pain in my past. A lot of it. And I think pain presents us with two very different paths.

Mikey: Alright… I’m listening. You’ve got my full attention.

Victor: On the left… there’s the path of rage, bitterness, and sorrow. I’ve walked it. In the beginning, I thought it made me strong. But it didn’t. It turned me into a ghost—empty and cold. I hurt people. People I loved. I lost everything—friends, family, even the love I thought would last. That path? It leads to nothing but isolation. It’s darkness… a playground for the enemy.

Then there’s the right path. The one I’ve been walking recently. It’s harder to stay on, but it’s filled with peace, compassion, and love. It’s given me a second chance—to reconnect with family, rebuild friendships, and regain some of the respect I threw away. I’m not whole yet. I still carry the scars of my past, and some wounds I caused may never heal. But at least now… I’m not losing anymore. I’m moving forward.

Mikey: You’ve always had a way with words, Vik.

Victor: You give me too much credit. But… thank you. And thank you for sticking with me through it all. You’re not just my best friend, Mikey. You’re my brother.

Mikey: And you’re mine, Victor. Always have been. I may talk too fast and sometimes judge before I know the whole story, but you’ve always made me pause and think. You’ve helped me grow too.

(Pause)

It’s getting late. Maybe we should head inside, get some sleep?

Victor: Mmm… not yet. I want to soak in this moment a little longer. There’s something about tonight… I don’t know, it just feels different.

Mikey: Mind if I join you?

Victor: Of course. You’re always welcome next to me, Mikey. Always.

Mikey sat down beside him, the two of them gazing up in silence for a while. The moon shimmered above like a watchful eye, listening to their hearts.

Victor: You know… I have a feeling something new is coming. Something big. I don’t know what it is—but I feel it. Like we’re stepping into a new era of our lives. And whatever it is… I don’t want to face it alone.

Mikey: Then you won’t. Whatever comes next—good or bad—I’ve got your back. Always. And if God really does have something big planned for us… then He’ll lead us. Together.

Victor smiled quietly, eyes still locked on the stars above.

Victor: Then let’s walk this new path. Side by side.

Mikey: Side by side.

And under that bright moon, two friends—now brothers—began a new chapter. One not defined by the past, but by the journey ahead.