It was New Year's Eve, just as the clock was about to strike twelve.
I jumped.
The river was dark with a violent stream.
Dying like this is fine, even if I go to hell.
The river was dark with a violent stream.
The water was cold. Fireworks exploded overhead, families cheering in the distance.
The ice-cold water burned at first, then strangely began to feel warm as I was dragged by the current.
Water flooded my nose, and my lungs felt like they were going to burst.
My Nineteenth birthday ended just like that.
Or so I thought.
"So bright… is this what the light at the end of the tunnel is?"
"Beep… beep… beep…"
"Looks like my death won't be quiet."
…
Okay, why is this taking so long
I open my eyes
"Where am I? Is this the afterworld?"
No…
A hospital room?
I came to my senses, yet still dizzy.
I thought I had died.
I looked at my arm and saw there was an IV stuck inside my arm and a beeping monitor in the corner next to me.
I can't even succeed in something like this, I thought to myself.
The empty room was an expected sight, but being here alive wasn't.
I turned and pressed the help button attached to the monitor's cord.
Soon after, the door opened, and a nurse walked in.
"Ah, you're awake. Your results came back well. You just need to stay overnight, and you'll likely be discharged tomorrow."
"Results?"
Nurse: "You might still be hazy because of the medication. You were brought in for a few tests after an unexpected fall. The doctor wrote you a prescription for minor pain."
She handed me a paper.
As I stared at it, her words began to mix. I stopped hearing anything at all.
A nauseating ringing filled my head as my eyes locked onto the blurred name printed on the page.
Only the date is visible.
03/24/2026
Wait…
Who am I?
I didn't remember anything—friends, family, education, or even myself.
And if I died on New Year's… how was it March now?
I sat there for maybe an hour. Before I could understand any of it, a woman rushed into the room. She ran to me as fast as a hospital would allow.
"You're awake!"
She hugged me tightly.
From the doorway, a small voice chirped.
"Daddy!"
A little girl no older than three rammed toward me.
Who are these people?
I was never married.
I never had kids.
Is this what they call an Isekai?
Now that I think about it, they do seem familiar.
Oh…
My wife, Khalissa. My daughter, Marie. How could I forget? How could I forget my family?
Khalissa is now calm, yet still appearing to be on the verge of tears
"You have to be more careful! Don't scare me like that again!"
There wasn't anything else I could really do but apologize.
"I'm sorry, dear."
While not really assured, Khalissa accepted.
"It's fine—as long as you promise me it won't happen again."
I chimed back
"I promise."
What happened anyway? I don't want to ask, and have to get held longer or something.
Right… I remember now. I fell while coming home from work. Not only that, but I slipped and hit my head on a step.
Marie interrupted my thinking.
"Daddy, can we get ice cream?"
"Tomorrow, sweetie. Daddy needs to be released first."
Marie looked at me with her sweet, innocent eyes.
"Pinky Promise?"
I grabbed her tiny pinky with mine.
"I promise."
Though I feel like I'm missing something.
Whatever, it's nothing.
The day after I was discharged, I wasn't allowed to resume daily life yet and had limits on my movement.
I was diagnosed with a minor concussion.
Outside the supermarket, I saw a child who had tripped and sprained his ankle.
The kid started crying, but his mother, who never, grabbed a bandage from her bag and treated him.
Maybe I should call my parents and let them know I've been released, I thought, as I looked at a photo of my family. Why are my parents' faces so blurry?
"Why did their hand have to be so shaky when they took it?"
I called mom.
"Hey, I just got released from the hospital."
"Hospital? Why, what happened? Are you ok?"
I could hear the worried expression on her face.
"The doctor said it was a minor concussion from my fall the other day. Everything should be fine if I rest for a week, they said."
"When you get a chance, come over, I'll make your favorite."
"Yes, ma'am!"
That's odd, I don't remember the address.
"mom, can you send me the address?"
" You've lived here for 18 years and can't even remember your mom's address, it looks like you're getting old like me."
She joked
A minute later, I received a text.
My favorite huh...
What is my favorite food?
I tried hard to remember before I got a headache.
You know what, I'll figure it out tomorrow.
I laid down in my quiet house
Both Khalissa and Marie were a city over, visiting her family.
Normally I'd go, but I choose to stay behind because of my head.
I slept through the night, and when I woke up, I drove over to the address.
Things were casual, just greetings and conversation. The comforting scent soothed my nerves.
Some things looked abnormally static. I really am not coming over this injury, huh.
After a while, we sat around the table.
Inside the pot was something I immediately recognized.
A pot of braised pot!
As soon as I was served, I tore into the meal, not leaving anything but a small clump of rice.
My mother happily watched me destroy this meal.
"So how is your wife and my granddaughter?"
Shallowing a big bite of half-chewed food, I rushed to respond.
"They went out of town to visit her family."
Something hit my face, and a stench penetrated my nose
"I looked down and saw a maggot in my rice bowl, and the meat in the pot was all rotten with flies emitting from it."
I paused for a second
"Is everything alright?"
She said, bringing me back into focus.
Everything looked normal again.
"Oh yeah, just a migraine."
"You should get going then, I don't want you driving with it if it gets worse."
"Ok, Mom, I love you."
"Mhmm, I love you, dear."
I drove home in a rush, nearly speeding. It was like I was going crazy since I woke up.
What's up with me lately? Over the next two days, I stayed home and rested. When Marie and Khalissa returned, everything seemed to finally return to normal. Just like that, my rest orders ended, and three peaceful months passed with my family.