New Era – Episode 2: The Pattern

It was just past midnight. The kitchen was dimly lit, bathed in the soft glow of the fridge light as Mikey rummaged through it, searching for a late-night snack. As he shut the fridge door, he paused.

Mikey inner thoughts: (tilting his head) Huh… still at the table?

Sitting at the counter, Victor nursed a lukewarm coffee, his fingers wrapped around the mug like it anchored him to the world.

Mikey in her thoughts: dudes… been sitting there for like forever.

Victor: (without looking) before you said it. I’ve been sitting here, Long enough for you to finish both a nap and a Netflix binge.

Mikey: (grinning) How’d you know I was behind you, Vik?

Victor: Just a hunch. Or maybe the sound of you chewing halfway through a sandwich gave it away.

Mikey: Touché. But seriously, man—you stayed up way too late last night, and now you’re downing coffee like it’s holy water. What gives?

Victor: It’s not about staying awake. I’m not tired… just deep in thought.

Mikey: (mock gasp) Victor? Thinking deeply? I’m shocked. Absolutely shocked.

Victor: (smirks) Your sarcasm is as subtle as always.

Mikey: Hey, I’m just saying… when you start staring into your mug like it’s a crystal ball, I know something’s brewing up there. So, come on. Lay it on me. What’s the latest “Vik Theory”?

Victor: I didn’t think you’d actually be interested.

Mikey: Are you kidding? I live for your weirdly brilliant midnight monologues. Half the time I don’t understand them—but they always leave me thinking. So, what is it this time?

Victor: (nods thoughtfully) There’s been one question stuck in my head for a while now… and it led me to something I think we’ve all missed.

Mikey: I’m listening.

Victor: It’s about us—humans. Why we’re capable of so much beauty… and so much destruction. We can be unbelievably kind, yet unbelievably cruel. Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” That quote haunted me. Why does it rhyme? Why do we keep falling into the same traps?

Mikey: …Go on.

Victor: I’ve searched for the answer for years. And tonight, it hit me. Everything we do—every act of love or hatred, peace or war—is guided by one thing: emotion.

Emotion is the raw fuel behind every choice we make. And choice? That’s the power God gave us when He breathed life into Adam. Free will.

Mikey: So you’re saying it’s not about the emotions themselves… but what we do with them?

Victor: Exactly. Anger, jealousy, fear—they’re not evil on their own. But if we act without checking them—without turning to God first—those emotions become tools for destruction. On the flip side, love, joy, inspiration… they’re beautiful. But if we let pride creep in, even those can turn self-serving.

Mikey: Dang… that’s deep. Like, really deep.

Victor: Emotions aren’t the problem. It’s who we listen to when we feel them. Do we lean on our own understanding—or on God’s?

Mikey: You ever think of, I don’t know, doing something with all this wisdom you’re always dropping?

Victor: (blinks) Like what?

Mikey: Like speaking. Mentoring. Dude, you’ve got this realness to you—this grounded way of explaining things. People need that. Especially people our age, trying to figure life out. You could help someone the way you’ve helped me.

Victor: (pauses, thoughtful) I appreciate that… truly. But I think, for now, I need to keep working on myself. I want to become the best version of who I’m meant to be—before I try guiding someone else.

Mikey: That’s fair. But when the time comes… just remember, your voice could light someone’s path.

Victor: I’ll keep that in mind.

Mikey: Good. Because like I told you before—you’ve got something big in you, Vik. God doesn’t waste minds like yours. I believe He’s leading you somewhere.

Victor: (soft smile) Maybe this is the start of something new, huh?

Mikey: A new era?

Victor: Yeah. A new era.

Mikey: Then let’s walk into it together.

Victor: Side by side.