Preface
This is not a story about winning. It’s a story about losing—losing oneself, one’s dreams, and the fragile threads of identity that hold us together.
The main character, Lisa, doesn’t die at the end. But in many ways, her fate is worse. She is emotionally shattered, stripped of her pride, and left to grapple with the hollow shell of who she once was. At the beginning, Lisa is a girl brimming with life, innocence, and hope. But as she grows older, the world chips away at her spirit, leaving her vulnerable to the cruel twists of fate.
This story is based on real events, though names and details have been altered to protect the identities of those involved. It’s a personal drama, a cautionary tale, and a mirror held up to the unpredictable nature of life. Lisa’s journey is one of survival, but it’s also a descent into a world where luck is a double-edged sword, and winning can feel like losing.
The lottery ticket—a symbol of hope for so many—becomes Lisa’s curse. It pulls her into a labyrinth of gambling, addiction, and self-destruction. The more she wins, the more she loses. And in the end, the question remains: Can she ever reclaim what she’s lost?
This is her story. And perhaps, in some way, it’s ours too.
—writer Don Makijaveli
