The clock was showing 8:30 AM.

“Crap!”

I hastily got out of the bed and started changing.

Today was my high school graduation ceremony. The ceremony will start at 9:00 PM.

“Ah...Empty.”

My refrigerator was empty with only a pack of bread remaining.

I took two slices out and eat it, spreading some butter on it.

Today was the month-end and I was basically out of a few necessities including edible items.

Tomorrow I will get my pay check.

My name is Sato Asahi. And I live alone.

My mother died after giving birth to me and my father committed suicide when was I five.

I don’t have memories of my father so I was not particularly sad about his death.

After father’s death, his brother, my uncle took me into his house.

But her wife was against me staying there. Both of them were always arguing over me from the day I started to live there.

Their daughter, who was two years younger than me started to blame me for the fights that happened between her parents and she was right to do that.

So, after graduating middle school I left their house and started living alone. I also started a part-time job for covering most of my basic expenditure.

I headed towards the school. It was only ten minutes' walk from my place so walking was enough.

“Hey look, it's Asahi.”

“Don’t stare at him, he will beat your pulp out.”

“Isn’t today his last day at school? Finally, I can have my school life relax.”

“Hey, if he hears you, you will be long dead.”

“Oh crap! He is looking here.”

“Run.” they shouted.

They were probably juniors from my school. Every student including some teachers were scared of me and hate my presence at school.

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I was known as my school’s top delinquent even if didn’t want to be one.

One of the reasons my aunt hated me was because of my short temper mind along with violence.

When my father left me, I was not sad but furious.

The anger only increased as my classmate teased me. So, I blamed him for everything that happened to me.

As days passed, I could hardly contain my rage. So, I started to put it out towards my classmates.

At first, I only harmed those who used to pick on me. But passing time, my victim circled broadened and on my last year of high school, I was suspended for a week for causing trouble.

But from today, I wanted to change myself. I wanted to become a better human.

With my uncle’s help, I was able to find a full-time job with good pay.

After graduation, I was planning to move from here to the countryside. A new place for my new self.

I was almost near the school.

Suddenly, I heard a scream from behind. I turned around to see a masked man holding a knife running towards me.

‘Who was that? Why is he coming at me?’

A lot of questions popped up as I turned and started running away.

But it was already late. A sudden surge of pain spread across my body from behind.

From the impact, I fell.

I could see the black road very closely. It had many tiny ups and downs on it. Was I always like this? I was never been this close to the road.

My body was down. Blood was losing from the wound, turning the grey road to dark red.

Many gathered around me. I could only see their foot. Also, many were leaving.

No, they were not leaving. It was my vision getting weaker as time passed.

‘So, I cannot attend the ceremony. I cannot start my new life. It ended even before started.’

My life ended the moment I saw my dad hanging from the ceiling. I used to love my dad. He was like my superhero.

He always laughed when he was with me. So, I could not tell whether he was sad or not.

But behind those smiles, he was always harassing himself. Even though he didn’t want to smile, he smiled for me.

Even though it was hard, he endured it for me. He lived his life for me.

But for me, I hated him. I didn’t want to admit his love for me. I feared it.

I feared that admitting his love will make me the bad guy.

Not admitting and blaming him gave me temporary relief.

I remember every moment I spent with him but I acted like I forgot everything. Now, facing death like this scares me.

The pain from the stab began to disappear. The coldness around scared me. My vision completely faded away. It was it was pitch black around me.

Me dying here with all the regrets and hatred inside. It scared me. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die as I am now.

I wanted to be better. So, my father could be proud of me.

I don’t want to die.

-want to die...

-to die....

…...

I opened my eyes to see large figures moving.

I was born again.

Was it a dream? A second chance? Or both?

My mom died giving birth to me. But she was happy. She was happy giving birth to me.

She held me with her cold but strangely warm hands tightly.

It was what I wanted. It was what I longed for. For someone to hold me. To hug me tightly. To become happy because of me.

I cried. I cried all out.

It was sad and relaxing at the same time. My mom was pretty. Just like my old mom.

I got what I asked even if it could be a dream.

So, I want to live my new life fullest. With no regrets. Life of an ordinary child.