Alex Warren was an ordinary 22-year-old with a mind wired for logic and precision. As a computer engineering student, his days were consumed by lectures, coding assignments, and late-night problem-solving marathons. His friends often joked that his brain was more silicon than neurons. But behind the humor, Alex genuinely loved his field, envisioning a future where he could create tools to make life easier for everyone.
On the night of his death, Alex's dorm room reflected the chaos of his mind—a clutter of textbooks, empty coffee mugs, and scattered notes. His laptop was still glowing on his desk, the screen displaying the final project he'd just submitted. It had been a grueling week of work, and he'd earned his rest.
Alex leaned back on his bed, letting out a sigh of relief. The hum of his desk fan was the only sound in the room. "Finally done," he muttered, pulling the blanket over himself. His eyes grew heavy, and within moments, he was asleep.
But as the hours passed, something strange occurred.
In the stillness of the night, his chest rose and fell slower and slower, until it stopped entirely. There were no signs of struggle or pain—just silence. The first light of dawn crept into the room, illuminating his motionless form.
When his roommate returned later that morning, he found Alex cold and unresponsive. Paramedics arrived, but they couldn't explain what had happened. Alex had no known health issues, no injuries, no toxins in his system. He was simply… gone.
The news of Alex's death spread quickly among his friends and family, leaving them in shock. Everyone described him as healthy, driven, and full of potential. A budding engineer with dreams of innovation, snuffed out without warning.
In the days that followed, Alex's closest friends tried to make sense of it. Some speculated it might have been a rare undiagnosed condition, while others whispered about stress and exhaustion taking their toll. But the truth was, no one had answers.
And Alex?
Alex didn't even realize he had died. One moment, he was drifting off to sleep, and the next, he was awakening to an entirely new reality.