Fitting Into My New Life

"What the f*ck," he muttered to himself.

Hadn't he just committed suicide? What was supposed to await him was blood and being tested in heaven or hell, not someone asking him—a grown man—to wake up for school.

He opened his eyes to reveal what was behind the darkness and what he saw truly shocked him.

Opening his eyes, he saw the figure of the person he regretted leaving the most: his mother. When he had won the lottery, he packed out of his house and left his family. Why the hell was he such a terrible person?

How could he leave his family and his mom, who took care of him for so long? She carried him in her womb for nine months, and how did he repay her? By leaving her and not turning back.

He could feel tears welling up in his eyes as he gazed at his mother's gentle face. She had black hair that rested on her shoulders, a delicate but mature face, and brown hazel eyes that could captivate anyone. His mother was truly stunning.

"Are you going to stand up or what?" asked his mother.

He didn't get up, though, but instead started bawling his eyes out.

His mother was shocked. Even though this was his last year of middle school, it didn't mean he should start crying, right?

"Hey, don't worry. It's alright, okay? Mummy's here," said his mother in a soothing voice.

They stayed in this position for a few minutes.

"Hey mom."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you."

"What trouble are you talking about?"

Hearing her question, he suddenly realized he had almost told her about the future. He had to recollect himself.

"Nothing, Mom. It's just nothing."

"If you say so," his mother said, but with a questioning gaze, not fully believing him as her motherly instincts kicked in.

"So, are you gonna prepare for school or what?" asked his mother.

"I am going to do just that," he said.

"Come on, Mom, you know he's always been a crybaby," said a voice that resonated from the room.

"That voice," thought Ray as he gulped and turned to the direction at his right.

"Why can't you grow up?"

The owner of this voice was a beautiful girl with alabaster skin and black hair that reached her waist, with eyes that mirrored his mother's. She was a spitting image of Lucas's mother, but if one looked at her, they would be able to tell she would definitely grow up to be prettier than their mother.

"Don't worry, he is gonna grow up. After all, he is my child," said his mother.

Seeing his sister almost made him cry again, but he was able to hold back his tears.

"Wow, you're a lot taller than I remember," he muttered to himself.

"I'm already dressed. You better get ready before you make us late to school."

"Okay," he nodded.

As Lucas stood up from the bed, his body felt a lot lighter but at the same time heavier too. He was many times shorter than his previous self.

He walked and entered the bathroom. He didn't realize it, but all through this time, he had been staring down at the ground, not ready to see himself. He mustered up the courage and looked at the mirror.

He wasn't greeted by the muscular physique he always had but instead was greeted by a fat, chubby boy with stubby legs and a round face.

"Wait, do I have blue eyes?" he asked himself.

He remembered himself having plain brown eyes.

"Is this one of the aftereffects of my reincarnation?" It seemed maybe the past had been rewritten a bit because his mother didn't seem shocked about his eye color, nor did his sister.

He quickly brushed and took a bath, exiting the bathroom feeling refreshed afterwards. His sister and mother were no longer in the room, which meant they had gone downstairs.

He wore casual clothes as he went to a public school, which meant there was no need for a school uniform.

When he was done, he scanned the room. It had been a long time since he had stepped foot in this room, and as memories resurfaced in his mind, he couldn't help but smile.

He walked outside his room and headed to the living room. He could remember each and every thing in this house, even though it had been decades since he was last here. Even though it was a small house, it was still his home.

As he walked towards the living room, he knew what to expect.

In his memories, as usual, his father would be sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in his hands while watching the news on the television.

This man worked day in and day out to put food on the table for his family, and he didn't ask anything in return from them.

A man like this who had worked tirelessly was the same man he left, all because of money. No wonder there was a saying about money being the root of all evil.

Back then, he would never have thought he would do such a thing, but with the introduction of money, human greed started settling in his heart.

"Hey kid, good morning. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Good morning, Father," he quickly greeted him.

"Are you ready to go for your last year in middle school?"

"Yup, I'm gonna try and do my best."

"Hey, Dad, you forgot that it's also my last year too."

"Oh right, sorry, my dear. I can't believe I forgot. I hope you have a nice day in school." To this reply, she could only pout at him in anger.

His mother was busy in the kitchen cooking breakfast for all of them to eat. The kitchen was filled with the rich, inviting aroma of bacon sizzling in the pan, its edges curling into crispy perfection. Golden pancakes, stacked high with butter melting into their fluffy layers, awaited a drizzle of syrup.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee added a comforting warmth to the air. Eggs were being scrambled in another pan, their yellow curds soft and creamy. His mother moved with practiced ease, turning the bacon, flipping the pancakes, and stirring the eggs.

The countertops were a testament to her morning routine, with bowls of fresh berries and sliced fruit ready to accompany the main dishes.

When she was done, she served the food on the table. They all sat down and talked for a while, the clinking of cutlery and the soft hum of the morning news in the background.

Lucas took a bite of the pancakes, savoring the sweet, fluffy texture. The bacon was perfectly crispy, the eggs rich and satisfying. His father, sipping his coffee, shared stories from work, his voice a soothing, familiar presence. His sister, between bites of her breakfast, recounted tales of school and friends, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

He loved this feeling—the feeling of close family ties and relationships that money couldn't buy.

"Maybe if I had done this, then my family wouldn't have turned out the way it did," he silently thought to himself as he enjoyed the company of his family.

When they finished breakfast, he and his sister said their goodbyes to their parents as they left their apartment.

While walking, they made sure to greet the rest of the tenants in the place. As they walked to school, he and his sister chatted for a while until they finally reached the gates of the school.

He silently gulped to himself as he approached the school.

"When was the last time I went to school?" he wondered, taking in the familiar yet distant surroundings.