Rain fell heavily from the overcast sky, drenching Alex Carter as he trudged through the busy streets of downtown Greystone. The December chill bit through his thin hoodie, but he didn't care. Today was supposed to be a day of celebration, his 20th birthday. Instead, it had become a day that would forever change his life, though he didn't know it yet.
In his pocket, Alex clutched a small velvet box containing a silver bracelet he'd saved up for months to buy. It wasn't much, but for someone who had grown up in foster homes and scrimped to make ends meet, it was a gesture of love and commitment. Emma, his girlfriend of two years, had promised to meet him for dinner at The Amber Bistro, their favorite spot, to celebrate his birthday.
His heart raced with excitement and a touch of anxiety. Emma had been the light in his otherwise dark and lonely life. She had filled the void left by years of neglect and loss, making him believe that perhaps he wasn't as unworthy of love as he thought. He imagined her surprise when she saw the bracelet and the look in her eyes when he told her how much she meant to him.
The rain intensified as Alex approached the bistro. The windows were fogged from the warmth inside, and the faint golden glow spilling onto the street offered a reprieve from the cold. He stopped for a moment, adjusting his hoodie, before stepping closer to peer inside.
What he saw made his breath catch.
Emma sat at a table near the window, her face illuminated by the soft candlelight. But she wasn't alone. Across from her was a man Alex didn't recognize, older and well-dressed, with a confident air that Alex could never hope to match.
At first, he tried to rationalize it. Maybe it's just a friend or a coworker. She never mentioned him, but that doesn't mean anything. But as the man reached across the table to take her hand and she smiled in a way Alex hadn't seen in months, his stomach dropped.
Alex froze, unable to look away. The man leaned forward, and Emma didn't pull back as he kissed her. It wasn't a friendly peck; it was intimate, deliberate, and shattering.
Time seemed to stop. The bustling street around him faded into silence, the sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. His hand, still gripping the gift box, trembled as the reality of what he was seeing sank in.
Tears mixed with the rain on his face as he turned away, unable to watch any longer. His mind raced, replaying every moment he had shared with Emma, searching for clues he might have missed. Had she been distant lately? Had he been blind to the signs?
The betrayal cut deeper than he thought possible. For Alex, who had already endured so much pain and rejection in his life, this was the final straw.
He wandered aimlessly through the city, the box still clutched in his hand. The streets grew darker as night fell, but Alex paid no attention. His thoughts spiraled into despair, dragging him down into a pit of self-loathing and hopelessness. By the time he reached the old Westbridge, he had made up his mind.
The bridge, long abandoned and rarely used, stood high above the rushing waters of the Greystone River. Alex leaned against the rusted railing, staring at the churning depths below. The rain had finally stopped, leaving the air still and heavy.
He pulled the velvet box from his pocket and opened it, staring at the bracelet inside. The small, engraved letters—Always Yours—mocked him. With a bitter laugh, he hurled the box into the river and watched it disappear into the darkness.
"This is it," he whispered to himself, gripping the railing tightly. The pain in his chest was unbearable, a weight he could no longer carry.
As he prepared to climb over, a strange sensation washed over him. It wasn't fear or second thoughts—it was something entirely different. A warmth spread through his body, stark against the cold night air. He froze, confused, as the world around him seemed to shift.
A faint, golden light appeared in the air before him, growing brighter with each passing second. It swirled and shimmered, forming into what looked like a portal. Alex stumbled back, his despair momentarily forgotten as he stared in awe.
"What… what is this?" he muttered, shielding his eyes from the brilliance.
Before he could react, the light engulfed him, pulling him in with a force he couldn't resist. The world around him dissolved into nothingness, and Alex felt as though he were falling through an endless void.
When the light faded, he found himself lying on soft grass beneath a star-filled sky unlike anything he had ever seen. The air was warm and fragrant, carrying the faint scent of flowers and something else—something magical.
Alex sat up, his heart pounding. In the distance, he could see towering structures made of gleaming crystal, their surfaces reflecting the starlight. The landscape was both alien and beautiful, with vibrant colors and strange plants that glowed faintly in the dark.
"What the hell just happened?" he said aloud, his voice trembling.
As if in response, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a man, tall and cloaked, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through Alex.
"Welcome," the man said, his voice calm but commanding. "You have been chosen."
"Chosen?" Alex repeated, still trying to make sense of everything. "Chosen for what?"
"For a new beginning," the man replied, offering his hand to help Alex to his feet. "But first, you must let go of the pain that brought you here. Only then can you realize your true potential."
Alex hesitated, staring at the man's outstretched hand. Part of him wanted to reject this strange, surreal situation and demand answers. But another part—the part that was tired of the pain and betrayal—wanted to believe in the possibility of something more.
Taking a deep breath, Alex reached out and took the man's hand.
It was the moment everything changed.