The midday sun scorched the capital's asphalt with residual heat that seemed capable of melting away any remaining work ethic.
Amid the roar of engines and billowing vehicle exhaust, Mark moved like an old machine forced to operate beyond its limits. His thin body, clad in a part-time courier uniform whose color was beginning to fade, was drenched in sweat. The drowsiness from staying up all night mingled with the constant pain in his left knee.
The foreman's call in the early morning forced him to keep moving without pause. One by one, he delivered packages to various corners of the city. Unloading heavy items, climbing the stairs of shop houses, and even dealing with complaints from impatient customers—he had to swallow it all whole for a meager wage.
