Stephen pressed the ‘end work’ button on the time clock. “When I said I wanted a nine-to-five job, this was not what I meant,” he said to one of his coworkers as they slowly made their way to the door.

He got into a beat-up car in the back of the lot, but he didn’t start it. Instead, Stephen looked across the street at the quiet little row of modest houses, waiting for the sun to rise. I wonder if any of them are even awake yet, he thought. And soon, I’ll be the one asleep while they work … I’m Stephen Lee, Opposite Man! He smiled ruefully at the thought, wondering when he’d have a normal life.

He drove slowly out of the lot towards his home, marveling at the stillness of a city that had not yet seen dawn.