The day felt strange to Thomas, like he was walking through a dream that felt more real than reality. Everything around him looked familiar, but also different—like his past and present had collided in a way he couldn't quite explain. He stood in front of the mirror, staring at the younger face looking back at him. There was still a spark of hope in those eyes, a glow of potential. Part of him wondered if this was just his imagination, but the moment felt too real to deny. He had been given a second chance—a rare opportunity—and it was up to him to make it count.
His first thought was to reach for the phone on his desk. His fingers hovered over it as his mind raced. Should he call someone? Should he reconnect with old friends or start planning his next move? What would he even say? Would anyone believe him if he told them he had lived another life and knew what was coming? The thought overwhelmed him, so he pushed it aside. Now wasn't the time to get lost in the impossible.
Instead, he focused on the first step.
There were endless possibilities in front of him, but where should he begin? His first life had been full of bad choices, missed chances, and wounds he had caused himself. He had wasted so much time playing it safe, too scared of failure to take risks. By the time he realized his mistakes, it had been too late.
But this time, things would be different. This time, he had knowledge. He knew what the future held, and that gave him an advantage. The real question was how to use it. Should he focus on building wealth and success? Or should he repair the broken relationships he had left behind? Could he balance both, or would he repeat the same mistakes and prioritize one over the other?
He couldn't waste time. Every decision he made now would shape the life ahead of him.
Thomas opened the drawer of his desk and pulled out a small notebook. It was one he had used in his previous life, filled with scattered ideas and half-formed plans. He flipped to a blank page and stared at it for a moment, his mind buzzing with possibilities.
He remembered the internet boom from his first life—how it had changed the world. He had watched it happen, but he hadn't seen the potential back then. Companies like Amazon and Google had started small, but they had grown into giants. At the time, he thought they were too risky to invest in. Now, he knew better.
He began writing names of companies, ones he had dismissed as "too new" or "too risky" in his old life. This time, he wouldn't make that mistake. He would position himself as an early investor. It wasn't just about the money—though that would come—it was about being part of something big, something that mattered.
As he wrote, he felt a sense of purpose. This wasn't just about fixing his mistakes. It was about building a future he could be proud of. He would make smarter choices, and this time, he would invest in himself—not just financially, but emotionally.
His thoughts shifted to his friends. In his first life, he had let friendships fade away. He was so focused on his own ambitions that he didn't notice the distance growing between him and the people who cared about him. He had taken them for granted. Now, he understood that success wasn't just about money—it was about the people who stood by you, the connections you made.
But how would he reconnect with them? He couldn't just act like nothing had happened. Would they even see him the same way? Would they trust him after the way he had let them down? He didn't have answers, but he knew he had to try.
Thomas picked up his phone and scrolled through his contacts. Then he saw her name: Sarah.
Sarah—the one who got away. He felt a wave of regret as he thought about her. In his first life, he had never told her how he truly felt. He let his insecurities and fears get in the way, and she slipped out of his life. Now, he had a chance to make things right. Could he win her back? Would she even want to give him another chance?
He hesitated.
Then, he remembered something his mother used to say: "You never know unless you try."
With shaky fingers, he typed out a simple message: "Hey, Sarah. It's been a while. I'd love to catch up sometime, if you're open to it."
His thumb hovered over the send button. What if she didn't respond? What if she had moved on? But he realized that wasn't the point. It wasn't about what could go wrong—it was about taking the first step, about opening the door to new possibilities.
He pressed send.
It was a small action, but it felt huge. It was the first step toward rebuilding his life, fixing what he had broken, and moving forward. As he sat back, waiting for a response, he felt something he hadn't felt in years: hope.
And for the first time in a long time, Thomas smiled. Because for once, it felt like he was finally on the right path, one small step at a time.