[Writing] Back To The Beginning (1)

Edited by p3paula | Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash

Back to the Beginning
[Written for @kyrios fiction competition. TW: depression and suicide.]

-x-

No one is going to miss me...

He paused before the threshold of his empty house. The thought was simple and yet everything that mattered. His life was ruined with a failed marriage, divorced wife, missing kids, fired from his job, and the latest news, of his killed parents.

He remembered that he kept numerous blades in his room, a personal collection-- but he adored those weapons and remembered his lessons on using them. So, he can't possibly kill himself by the things he loved already, can he? Considering that all his life is already ruined, let at least that remain untainted by him.

So, he stepped back, closed the door, and returned to his car. In the handful of steps he took, an unbidden suggestion bloomed in his mind. It was so long ago and when he was still in good terms with his wife...

Do you know about the Eastern Cliffs? They say, people jump there because of the failures in their lives... Mother told me to never ever go hike to that side of the Mountain...

Destination decided, he noted that it was already mid-afternoon. He revved the engine and started the hour-long drive to get there - and possibly grab a last meal or so. He always loved the sky and the view from the mountain, so maybe, at least, he could die as the sun sets.

At least it was something he could have a choice, in the midst of the settlement and closure of his personal affairs-- that he was faced with matters he couldn't interfere with, and just to see his world fall apart...

-x-

The ride was an hour long, the climb was nearly the same, a short dinner, a bit of peace for the nature... He wished he had the foresight to bring his camera, to capture the world-- but he supposed it would be better with his best friend.

He watched the sky fade to a darker hue, with other colors, of the vibrant orange and the blazing red, with the mellow violet and quiet purple highlighting the world. He's already done with everything, phone turned off and his mess cleaned up.

As the sun nearly touched the horizon, he went to the highest point, and looked upon the city that he spent all his life in, and the mountain that he has visited annually. Amidst the fall of the sun, sinking beyond anyone's sight-- no one saw the person who took a step forward and plummeted to his death.

As the world turned dark, and he shut his eyes and tried not to scream, with only the winds shouting on his ears and his body surrendering to gravity. No one saw the spirits of the mountain rise and catch the body like the sea, and he felt nothing but the splash of something on his skin-- assuming it was leaves or something.

October 12, 20XX, 6PM, Rey Striker died from a broken neck and spine upon impact on the ground.

-x-

The first thing he registered is the soft material surrounding his body. He kept his eyes closed, enjoying the warmth and safety he felt. The second thing he registered was the sweet smell of pancakes wafting in the air.

Are those Mom's pancakes? He wondered, a bit delighted that in his death, he will meet his parents first. He could almost feel small like a kid again.

"Rey! Get up! You'll be late for school!"

The shout pierced the air and his eyes opened in response-- he could almost say that was how his mother used to wake him up every morning in elementary...

His thoughts trailed off fast as he realized that the room was so familiar, it was impossible-- he was pretty sure their old house burned down when he was around 10... He sat up and checked the old cherry wood table, the shelves of books and the small jars filled with paper stars. He dropped his eyes to his hands and saw short, chubby fingers. He pressed them close to face and realized that gone was the stubble and the old scar near his chin...

What?!

His mother called again and he answered, "I'm up!" He realized his voice was still unbroken, wincing at the slightly shrill pitch he carried. He remembered a mirror in his bathroom and got up from the bed to the loo.

He saw his reflection, that of his 10-year old self.

Immediately, he pinched his cheek and winced at the pain. Not a dream then. He paused, before shrugging, maybe he was just in heaven or something...

Sighing, he readied for the day, taking a bath, and fixing his uniform. He paused before leaving his room, wondering if heaven was this good because it captured their first house pretty perfectly.

He ran a hand at the banister and looked at the old pastel walls and the rosewood doors. Reaching the top of the staircase, he gulped air before heading down stairs.

As he met the eyes of his mother, he felt an unbidden stirring of hope, of an impossibility. There were just her bright eyes, less stress lines and all pale like porcelain. She grinned at him before returning her attention to the pot.

"You're up quite early, Rey. Normally I have to go get you from your room." His father commented from the head of the table, and he met the bright eyes, a full head of black hair, and a teasing grin.

"Hm, do I have to go back to school really? I mean, I finished it?" Rey answered, testing the possibility- as if he could really be sent in the past.

His father rolled his eyes, "Watch the sass, Rey- you're still 10 and just an elementary student. That's a lot of the world to see and learn, even from us. And you finished it for the day yesterday but there's still more to go."

"Eh? Well if you say so..." He needed to tread carefully, under his father-- the answer doesn't really admit or deny where he is-
but that answer was the typical response his father gave when he wanted to get out of school. Risking another question, he turned to his mother "Mama, what's the date?"

"No good morning, Rey?" Mischief in her eyes, he grinned, greeting her as his father din, and she answered, "That's better. I don't know what's up with you, dear, but I believe it is the 12th of October 20XX."

His heart skipped a bit-- this was the date this house burned down, more than two decades ago.

If I'm really, in the past... then maybe I can change it?

"Oh... right. I knew that, thanks Mom." He grinned at his mother as she served their food. "Since Rey is early this means we're not gonna be late this day!"

Deciding to see how the day turns out, he decided to enjoy the breakfast. Whether he was back in the past or not, he can enjoy this old time, an experience he need to treasure more-- especially remembering his parents were gone in the time he left...

-x-

An experiment... On this day, originally, his parents picked him up from practice...

"Hey Mom, Dad," Rey called as he sat at the backseat of the car. "Is it alright if I go home alone today?"

"Oh? Don't you have track later? It'll be a bit late..." His Mom trailed off, looking at him from the shotgun seat.

"I'm gonna try catch Zwei so we can go home later. I need to ask him something about a school project." He remembered his best friend lived close by, a street away, and hoped his parents let him buy this excuse. It's not like we haven't gone home together before at this point...

His parents exchanged a look before nodding. "Okay then, both of you keep safe. Text us when you're about to leave school so we have an idea of your time of arrival."

"Sure."

And maybe then, we can truly confirm if this is the past or not...

-x-

**Cutting this here~ yes, a cliff hanger! Tell me what you think??? **
Edit: fixed the age from 11 y.o to 10 y.o