The sun was barely creeping over the horizon as Jared sat at his desk, staring at the clock ticking in the corner of his room. It was early, much earlier than he ever used to get up, but today was different. Today was the day he would fix his first mistake—the mistake that had started it all. The mistake of choosing the wrong people.
Jared had always been the type to follow the crowd. In high school, he was popular because he knew how to fit in with the right group, the "cool" crowd, even if it wasn't the right group for him. It was easier to follow the loud, reckless decisions of his friends than to listen to the quiet voice inside him that said he should do something better. He didn't question it, didn't think about the consequences. He just went along for the ride, always choosing the party, the thrill, over what truly mattered.
But now, he had a chance to stop the cycle before it even started. He wasn't going to let these people drag him down again.
He grabbed his phone and scrolled through the contacts, his thumb hovering over the names of his friends from the past—names he had once texted late at night, planning another wild night out, another party to forget about the world for a while. People who had never really cared about him, who had only been there for the fun, but who had never been there when it mattered.
Among them was Tyler, his so-called best friend—the one who had encouraged all the bad habits, the gambling, the drinking, the abandoning of responsibilities. He was the one Jared had always gone to when he wanted an escape from the pressure of school, from the nagging of his parents. Tyler had been the one who told him that family was overrated, that friendship was about living for the moment, and that worrying about the future was for losers.
Jared's finger paused on Tyler's name. He could almost hear the voice in his head, the one that had pulled him in time and time again: "Come on, man, let's go grab a drink. Forget about everything."
But now Jared knew better. Tyler wasn't his friend. He was a distraction, a toxic influence, and Jared wasn't about to let him make him lose everything again.
He took a deep breath and typed a simple message.
"Hey, Tyler. I think it's time we go our separate ways. I've got other things I need to focus on. Take care."
He stared at the message for a long moment, his finger hovering over the "Send" button. A part of him felt the urge to delete it, to pretend he didn't mean it, to just slide back into the comfort of the past. But that part of him was the old Jared, the one who had never been able to break free.
With a steady hand, he pressed "Send."
The message was out there, and there was no taking it back.
The day passed in a blur of quiet determination. Jared spent most of the morning just trying to wrap his mind around what he had just done. He had never been the type to confront his friends like this, not when it mattered. But this time, he wasn't backing down. This was the beginning of something new.
As he sat at the kitchen table that afternoon, his mother came over with a cup of coffee, setting it down in front of him with a smile. "You're up early, and I see you're keeping busy. What's on your mind, honey?"
Jared hesitated, unsure of how to put it into words. But he knew he couldn't keep this to himself. Not anymore. "Mom, I… I've made a lot of mistakes. I've been running away from the things that really matter. And I know I can't fix everything, but I'm trying. I'm trying to make it right."
His mother's smile softened, and she sat down across from him. "I'm glad to hear that, Jared. I know it's been tough for you, but I believe in you. Just remember, you don't have to do it all at once. One step at a time."
Jared nodded, his heart swelling with gratitude. She believed in him. She still believed in him, even after everything he had done.
For the first time in years, Jared felt the weight of his own choices—and the relief of finally taking responsibility for them.
Later that afternoon, as Jared walked through the halls of his high school, he felt like a stranger. It wasn't just the fact that he had traveled back in time, but the world around him was still filled with the same faces, the same noise, the same distractions. But everything felt different to him. The people in the hall, the laughter, the cliques—it all seemed so… shallow. It was the same old game, and Jared had no intention of playing it anymore.
As he rounded the corner to his locker, he saw them.
Tyler, along with a few other friends from his past—people who had once filled his life with empty fun and false promises. They stood there laughing, holding cans of soda and joking like nothing had changed. But Jared knew better. He had seen where this path led. He had felt the emptiness that came from following these people, and he wasn't going to make the same mistake again.
Tyler spotted him first. His usual cocky grin spread across his face. "Jared, dude, what's up? You ditching us for the weekend or what?"
The others turned to look at him, waiting for his response, but Jared didn't hesitate. He stood tall, his back straight and his gaze firm. He wasn't going to let the old patterns drag him back into the past.
"No, Tyler," he said, his voice steady. "I'm done with that. I'm done with all of this."
Tyler raised an eyebrow, the grin fading from his face. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about you, man," Jared said, his voice growing a little stronger. "I don't need to be part of this group anymore. I've got more important things to focus on. I'm moving on."
Tyler laughed, but there was a hint of bitterness in it. "Moving on? Are you serious? You're just gonna walk away from everything? From us?"
Jared's heart clenched. He had always feared this moment, the moment when his decision would push everyone away. But now he saw it clearly. This wasn't about them. It was about him. About his future, about making choices that wouldn't lead him down the same painful path.
"Yeah," Jared said, the words flowing more easily now. "I am. I'm done letting you drag me down."
There was a long silence. The others exchanged uncomfortable glances, but Tyler only scoffed, shaking his head. "Whatever, man. You'll come crawling back."
Jared didn't respond. Instead, he just turned away, walking toward his next class with his head held high. He didn't need to explain himself anymore. He knew what was best for him now.
As he walked, he felt a weight lifting from his shoulders. He had done it. He had taken the first step toward truly changing his life. And though it was hard, though it was uncomfortable, Jared knew it was the right thing.
He wasn't going to let bad friends control his future anymore. He was taking control of his life—one step at a time.