Thomas sat at the small kitchen table, memories rushing back as he stared at the worn wooden surface. It was covered with scratches and burn marks from years of family meals. The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air, and an old song played softly on the radio in the background. Everything felt so familiar, but also unreal, like a dream. Across from him, his mother peeled apples, her hands moving quickly and smoothly.
Seeing her again felt like sunlight breaking through dark clouds. Thomas hadn't realized how much he missed her—the warmth of her presence, her gentle touch, the way she made everything feel lighter. For a moment, it was as if all the pain and regret from his old life faded away.
"Tommy, you're awfully quiet this morning," she said, glancing up with a smile that seemed to brighten the whole room. "Are you feeling okay?"
Thomas hesitated. Hearing her voice again made his chest tighten. She had been gone for almost ten years in his original life, and he hadn't been there when she passed. He hadn't said goodbye. The guilt of it still weighed on him, but now, here she was—alive, smiling, and full of life.
"I'm fine, Mom," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "Just… thinking about things."
"Your brother will be home soon," she said, placing the apple slices into a bowl. "And your father's already out in the fields. He said he'd like you to help him today. I told him not to push you, but you know how he is."
Thomas swallowed hard. His father. A tough, hardworking man who always did what he thought was right for the family but had trouble showing affection. Their relationship had been rocky, especially in Thomas's later years. He had blamed his father for a lot of his own failures, even though deep down, he knew the fault was his own.
"I'll go out and see him later," Thomas said quietly. He wasn't sure if he was ready to face him yet.
Before his mother could respond, the door burst open, and a familiar voice rang out.
"Tommy!"
It was Lily, his little sister. She ran into the kitchen with her usual energy, her loose braid bouncing as she moved. Her cheeks were pink from the cold morning air, and her smile was as bright as he remembered. Lily had always been the heart of their family, the one who kept everyone laughing and connected.
"Hey, Lily," Thomas said, standing up awkwardly as she threw her arms around him in a tight hug.
"I missed you!" she said, stepping back to look at him. "You've been acting so weird lately. What's going on with you?"
Thomas laughed, feeling a mix of guilt and warmth. In his original life, he had let their bond fade. He had missed so many important moments in her life—her wedding, her milestones, her happiness.
"Just trying to figure things out," he said, playfully ruffling her hair like he used to.
"You're not planning to disappear on us again, are you?" she teased, though her eyes held a serious question.
"No," Thomas said firmly, looking at her. "I'm not going anywhere."
Not long after, his older brother Peter walked in. Peter had always been the dependable one, the steady older sibling who stepped up when Thomas fell short. In his old life, Thomas had damaged their relationship after borrowing money and never paying it back. The resentment had built a wall between them.
"Tom," Peter said with a nod. His tone was calm, but his eyes were cautious, as if trying to read him.
"Peter," Thomas replied, guilt tightening in his chest.
There was an unspoken tension between them. Peter didn't say much, but his presence always spoke louder than words. He had carried so much of the family's weight when Thomas couldn't.
"Dad's waiting for you," Peter said after a pause. "He needs help with the fence."
Thomas nodded, his heart heavy. He glanced at his mother, who gave him an encouraging smile.
"You'll do fine, Tommy," she said gently.
When Thomas stepped outside, the morning sun bathed the fields in a warm, golden light. In the distance, he saw his father working on the old fence, hammer in hand. His hair was streaked with gray now, and his shoulders seemed a little stooped, but he still had that quiet strength Thomas had always admired—and feared.
Thomas walked toward him slowly, his heart pounding.
"Dad," he said, his voice trembling slightly.
His father turned, his expression hard to read. For a moment, they just looked at each other, the silence heavy with everything left unsaid.
"About time you showed up," his father said gruffly. But there was no anger in his voice. He handed Thomas a hammer and nodded toward the fence. "Let's get to work."
They worked side by side, and Thomas couldn't help but steal glances at his father. The lines on his face, the weariness in his posture—it all told the story of a man who had given everything for his family. A man Thomas had never truly appreciated.
"I'm sorry," Thomas said suddenly, the words spilling out before he could stop them.
His father paused, looking at him with surprise.
"For what?"
"For everything," Thomas said, his voice shaking. "For not being the son you deserved. For wasting so much time."
His father stared at him for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh.
"We all make mistakes, Tom," he said quietly. "What matters is what you do next."
The words hit Thomas like a bolt of lightning.
As they worked together, Thomas felt something he hadn't felt in years—a sense of peace. For the first time, he felt like he belonged. He was part of something bigger than himself—a family, a home, a chance to make things right.
That evening, as they all sat around the dinner table, Thomas looked at each of them: his mother's kind smile, Lily's bright laughter, Peter's steady presence, and his father's quiet strength.
He didn't know what the future held, but he knew one thing for sure: this time, he wouldn't let them down.