"What if I told you your thoughts were a lie? Your favorite movie was a lie. Your favorite food was a lie⌠You are a lie. Everything you have done has never happened, but it also did. You live, but not to the world. You will live eventually. And I will live forever. Everyone will perish except you and me. Thatâ"
"That" was the final word of the book in my lap. A book that didn't belong to me. The body I'm in, not mine. And a numbing sensation dumbing this body's senses. I had been transmigrated, or reincarnated. Most of my memory was blurry. I didn't remember much of my past life.. But this new life I knew everything about. The only thing was, I wasn't this man - I knew that much at the least.
A purple hue filled the room I was in. There was no real light, just the moon reflecting off the drink on the desk. The chair I was using, or who I was now, was in the middle of the room, far away from the desk against the wall.
I tried to get up, but as I did the chair broke - However⌠Silence. It was like all oxygen was gone and nothing could breathe; It was like I was in space. I looked out the window as I got up, the stars looking closer. The body's numbing has faded, revealing the cold air in the room.
This body's name was John Snow. His life was like space - Empty and dark. He had one brother and his mother. She died almost a week ago of an unknown sickness, and the brother had a falling out with John. His brother, Luis, didn't attend his mother's funeral.
"I regret my falling out with Luis and me. He is my dear younger brother, and I've cared for him since we were young. My mother was diagnosed with an unknown terminal illness right before we went to college to become scholars. We went to college and got our degrees. But mother's ailment worsened, so someone had to stay by her side. I told Luis that he and I both had to stay, it was our mother, after all. He refused, and so we fought. All that accomplished was two bloody noses and Mother and I left alone."
The entry continued for the rest of the page - but only one thing caught his eye.
"It's been two days since mother's death. I took care of her for two years. Luis refused to come to the funeral, he says that he 'doesn't care.' He's now a scholar, living a successful life, while I pray that I don't spend my last copper coin."
That's how he described the situation. John was far from wealthy, and he had no one leftâŚ
But the new John didn't care for that right now. He had spotted a mirror in the corner, so he decided to find out what he looked like. He stepped in front and examined his new body. He had messy black hair, and slim clothes that seemed too baggy for him. "He's slim for this height."
He looked back at the window. The stars were gone now, and a reddish-yellow light showed through, revealing the 18th-century-style buildings with smog coming out of most. But this place wasn't normal. It had billboards and colored lights, but they were not powered by regular machinery; they were more steampunk-esk.
He knew that because of John's memories, of course. As he looked around, he moved what was left of the chair aside. There wasn't a bed in the room, so the most logical conclusion was that John was sleeping in a chair and quietly passed from starvation or some other problem he had; but like most other thoughts, it was only a theory. The new John decided to explore the building.
He opened the door to the smell of bacon and eggs. "Ah, John, you're awake!" shouted someone from behind him. "Yes, I am." He shouted back, to the displeasure of the other man. - William, the landlord of the building. William let John stay because his father was a good friend of William's.
"It's breakfast time. Come and eat." He walked down a hall into the dining room. And saw William and a woman who wasn't in John's memory. "Who's this, Willy?" Said the woman, curling her reddish hair while waiting for the food. "This, my dear, is John Snow. The man I told you about." She looked at him with a hint of concern. "Willy, why does this boy look like he hasn't eaten in days!?" William looked at Him then back at her. "Oh dear, It must have been while I was away on the trip to Pentas." She then shook her head in disappointment.
"Oh of course!" She let out a small sigh, going on to properly introduce herself. "Sorry, let's get back on track, my name is Pauleen Green." He nodded at her. "John Snow." He reached out a hand for a handshake.
"Sorry, I don't do handshakes." He let down his hand, and sat at the table, across from Pauleen, as William brought out the food. "Okay, time to eat."