"What got you looking so down?" my colleague asked.

I glanced at my colleague with a hint of annoyance as he woke me up from my powernap. Still, I couldn't be too mad, given his genuine concern. Snuffing out the cigarette, I lazily held in my right hand, on the silver balcony guardrail, I sighed.

"It's nothing, Peter. Just stress getting to me," I answered in a rather stoic voice, lacking the energy to present myself well to my junior.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Sir. I don't know if this will help, but know that you have my utmost respect for leading such an important project," Peter said. 

He had recently joined the company with an impressive resume, quickly earning acceptance and promotions. Currently assigned as my assistant, he was being tested for management potential.

A pang of jealousy hit me as I compared myself to my junior, a bad habit of mine that I picked up during my silent fall into despair. 

"I appreciate the gesture, but I'd rather have a woman comfort me," I said with a wry smile and a sting in my heart.

I didn´t have a big social circle nor a Partner to call my own, not out of shyness or introversion but rather a lack of trying. I may be a manager at a big firm, but it never brought me the happiness I so much desired. 

I worked day in and day out during my youth to get to the place I am at right now, so the times I should have used to find hobbies, make connections and enjoy my life were spent on grueling hours of studying and work.

Being stuck with a good for nothing father, who only got drunk, and an absent Mother, I had to make do somehow.

Peter chuckled, "Well, sorry to disappoint, Sir," whilst pulling out a pack of Marlboro red.

"How about you, Peter? Are you feeling stressed?" I asked while offering my lighter.

"Of course, it's my first job as an assistant on such an important project, but I always find strength when I think about my beautiful wife and family," Peter replied, his expression striking a chord with me.

"Well, you know how to make one jealous," I commented, the bitterness noticeable. Peter raised his hands and answered cheekily, "Sorry, sorry, I can't help but flaunt a little when mentioning my family."

After a fit of laughter, we fell into a relaxing silence. The sun slowly set on the horizon, and people on the street rushed home from work, a therapeutic sight for me during my rush hour smoke break.

"Must be nice to have someone to return to after a hard day's work," I muttered.

"I'm sure you'll find the right one in due time," Peter gave an encouraging look, patting my shoulder. Despite the encouragement, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was too late, I was already disheartened and hopeless.

"In due time, huh?" I mumbled.

After Peter finished his cigarette. We returned to work until midnight, while the world was covered in the veil of night.

"Alright, Sir, I'm heading out first. Don't stay up too late, or your eyebags will get worse," Peter remarked, giving me a little scare as I checked my unruly appearance on the phone.

"Thanks for worrying, get home safe and greet your family from me." 

"Will do, Sir."

Peter left, and I remained in the office, the depressing silence enveloping me. Slowly packing my things, I made my way to the elevator. Exiting the building, I noticed snow falling, a reminder that winter had arrived.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Didn't even notice," I sighed, starting my commute home. It was too quiet, and I needed something to distract myself, so I rummaged through my bag for my headphones.

Unfortunately, they didn't last long, leaving me alone with my dreaded thoughts.

[Why am I doing this?]

[Why am I still trying?]

[Can't it just end?]

[Didn't I suffer enough?]

My breathing became erratic as I continued my path home, my heart aching, forcing me to slump forward.

[Why didn't I try getting myself out there more?]

[Why didn't I do what I wanted?]

My sight blurred, and a loud beeping noise filled my ears.

[If I could right my wrongs, if could do it all over again, if could get a second chance, I´d do it, everything I wanted, with people dear to me, I would finally start living…..]

And that's when reality struck me, quite literally. A shining light blended my eyes, and I could only make out what would seem to be a massive truck racing in my direction. Time slowed down in these last moments of mine. I noticed the green light in the corner of my eye and cursed my bad luck for crossing the street right as this lunatic drove over the crosswalk.

But wasn't this fine? Isn´t this what I wanted? An end to my suffering? The closer the truck got the more my sight recovered, and what I saw was truly saddening. The driver was wearing a soulless expression with eyebags so dark, one could mistake them as being drawn on. An existence radiating depressing energy. He was just like me.

In my last moments I couldn't do anything but regret, my life choices, my lack of connections and most importantly my inability to overcome these hurdles. I was filled with emotions of sadness, senssless hope and self-loathing, a cycle of self-hatred I couldn't escape. My eyes started tearing up as I fell into my accepted demise. In the end, I couldn't help myself but wear a sinical smile.

[If only…]

The truck rammed into me with a loud THUD whilst emitting a deafening screeching sound from the breaking tires. My vision was gone, and the pain my body felt…or rather my lack of feeling, was offering me at least some semblance of a god's mercy.

Even whilst dying my thoughts were only focused on regret. I hoped that in my finals moments I could at least be shown some of my few good moments in this life but alas.

"if…only…"

I muttered one last time before ultimately passing on.

Or at least that's what I thought.

"Suba an meril daai?"

[What? What´s going on?]

"Mena tu mik matafo!"

[The hell are they saying?]

"Misa wet usanmir."

My mind was racing as I was trying to figure out what was going on. I am sure I just died in a car crash so why am I hearing voices? Did I survive? Why can´t I see anything?!

I tried to move my body around to no avail, opening my eyes also didn't do me any favors as I was just blinded from what I presumed was the surgical light. I had no other choice but to be at the mercy of these doctors.

"Ishas luar min kazik."

I mean sure, I couldn't do anything right now, but I couldn't stand the gibberish these people were saying so I wanted to complain, but what I didn't expect, was me starting to cry like a baby.

"Whaaaaa...whaaaa"

[I know that I am emotionally stunted but not to this degree!]

"Ahhh kazik mi tu."

Even though I couldn't understand a single word, somehow, I knew they said it with love and care. Feelings I haven´t felt in while started welling up in me and my crying fit intensified. Seriously what was going on with my body, I felt like a child with how out of control I was.

What worried me even more though was what happened right after, as some gigantic hands picked me up and started cradling me.

[OK WHAT IS GOING ON?!]

Trying to force my eyes open once more, I was surprised at how bearable it was this time. Gradually my surroundings became more recognizable as my eyes adjusted to the light.

The first thing I recognized was a Victorian shelf that was adorned with small decorations, it wasn't anything too fancy but still rather out of place for a hospital. After looking at the rest of the room, which looked just as old-fashioned, my worries intensified and reached a new peak when a giant face popped into my field of view.

At first as was frightened, but not for long, I mean, how could I, when this beautiful face was looking at me with eyes filled with nothing but love and kindness. The beautiful face belonged to a young woman, probably 20 years of age, and that only be described as fantastical. An oval shape that exuded kindness and amethyst green eyes that looked like real gems. Her Platinum long her gave her whole vista an enticing glow and her long, pointy ears only enhanced the mystical feeling she radiated.

Wait long, pointy ears????

Soon after assessing the woman a young male, not much older than the woman, joined the womans side on the bed. He had dark, black hair that he had tied in a manbun. His build looked sturdy but not brutish and his clever blue eyes smiled at me just as the woman´s did. His ears seemed to be normal though.

Not quite accepting reality, I tried touching the woman´s ears but failed, due to the shortness of my arms. Piecing together what I got so far gave me a feeling I couldn´t describe. 

[Is this really happening?]

As if she sensed my worries, the woman grabbed my hand gently and said, with nothing but love:

"Lyth"

It was hard to believe, but it seemed like I got my second chance.