“I won’t give up until she knows who I am!” he thought. Frowning, he put down the phone, turned around, and grabbed his hair. It felt as if invisible weights were crushing him. He closed his eyes, breathing through clenched teeth.

He sat alone in his small, dimly lit apartment, surrounded by the suffocating weight of his own despair. The walls seemed to close in on him, mirroring the suffocating grip that depression had on his soul. He took out his mobile and stared blankly at the images of his daughter, tears welling up in his eyes as he longed to hold her, to hear her laughter, to be a part of her life.

He locked his phone and lay it beside him, its screen illuminated by a soft glow. Unbeknownst to him, a message notification appeared, causing the screen to light up. It was a message from his soon-to-be ex-wife, Fiona Blackwood.

"Happy Birthday my little princess, I wish you don’t have the same fate as your father," the message read.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he read those words. The pain of his daughter growing up without him, the fear that she might inherit the same misfortune he had, all came crashing down on him. He clutched his phone tightly, feeling a mix of anger, sadness, and helplessness. He lay there, staring into space, with tears flowing freely from his eyes when he received another notification on his phone. He was devastated and heartbroken. He quickly grabbed the phone and checked the message, hoping it was his wife sending his daughter’s picture. But it wasn’t. It was a message with a notification, 'tap to open it.'

He hesitated for a while but then moved his finger to open it with a blank mind. True to his thoughts, it wasn't any picture of his daughter but a strange message from an unknown number. Without giving it a second thought, he read the message: "As the stars align, and the moon bears witness, I slip through the seams of reality, a traveler of the soul."

[System Alert: Host Acquired...]

[Wish Command Initiated!]

[Your soul has been successfully transmigrated to the Parallel World.]

[Welcome, Traveler!]

[Prepare to navigate the complexities of this new reality. Your choices will shape the outcome of your journey.]

[Mission Briefing: Uncover the Secrets of the System and Master Your Destiny!]

[Are you ready to embrace your fate?]

[Status: Awaiting Commands...]

[What will you do next?]

-1. Explore your surroundings

-2. Seek allies

-3. Confront your past

-4. Harness your powers

[Choose wisely, for each decision alters your path.]

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

A voice called out, and something appeared in front of him, but he ignored it, closing his eyes in frustration. He opened the album on his phone to look at his daughter’s pictures. A wave of dizziness washed over him, likely due to fatigue. All he wanted now was to sleep. He drifted off, his gaze fixed on his daughter’s image, too exhausted to remember to lock the phone screen.

The following afternoon, Henry pressed the doorbell but received no response from inside.

“He’s not at home,” someone called from behind him, and he turned to see who it was.

"Even the newspaper and milkman came in the morning and rang the bell, but Brax didn't answer the door," a neighbor, who appeared to recognize Henry, observed. "It seems like he must have gone somewhere. You should try calling him."

"Thank you," Henry replied loudly to the neighbor as he departed. He took out his phone and dialed Brax's number. After a couple of seconds, he heard the sound of the phone ringing from inside the house. He quickly ended the call, slipped the phone into his pocket, and began entering the password to unlock the door.

Upon entering, he discovered Brax lying down with the phone in his hand, the image of his daughter displayed on the screen.

He took a deep breath as he glanced at his phone. Carefully, he retrieved it from Brax's grasp and locked his phone. "Thank goodness I found you at home. I have some great news for you," he said, pouring a glass of water and speaking loudly. "I mentioned your job to someone, and guess what? They agreed."

Henry continued, his excitement impossible to conceal. "Remember that article I wrote about your incredible talent in photography? Well, I submitted it to a prestigious magazine called 'Capture the World,' and they absolutely loved it! They want to offer you a position as their lead photographer! But... Brax, are you listening?" he asked, shaking him.

"Brax...Brax...Oh! Damn it!" He quickly dialed for an ambulance and rushed him to the hospital.

“I’m sorry, but he passed away 24 hours ago,” the doctor informed Henry after the thorough examination. "The heart attack was extremely severe, causing instant death."

Henry was in disbelief as he absorbed the news. His heart sank. The departure of his lifelong friend left him reeling. A flood of memories, filled with their escapades, laughter, and intimate confidences, overwhelmed his thoughts, making it arduous to come to terms with the cruel truth. A whirlwind of emotions engulfed him, as grief, anger, and guilt took hold of his being.

He felt a profound sense of guilt for not being there when Brax needed him the most. Questions swirled in his mind, tormenting him. Could he have done something to save his friend? Should he have recognized the signs of a heart attack earlier? The weight of regret settled heavily on his shoulders.

Days passed and turned into weeks as he grappled with accepting the loss he had experienced. He took on the responsibility of organizing his best friend's funeral, surrounded by loved ones who shared their own cherished memories and anecdotes about their dear friend. They offered solace and encouragement, reminding him that he was not alone in his sorrow.

After a month had gone by, he visited his former home one last time, hoping to find any important belongings to pass on to his ex-wife. While going through everything, he stumbled upon a letter tucked beneath a photograph of his daughter in Brax's room. Curiosity compelled him to open it and read it:

"I yearn desperately for a chance to live. Just one life where I can be with my family. A life free from the burdens of misfortune. A life where I can know my daughter's name." As he absorbed the heartfelt words, tears welled up in his eyes. The pain and longing expressed in those lines resonated deeply within him, serving as a poignant reminder.

"Overwhelmed by guilt and remorse, I couldn't help but ponder the choices I had made. The bitterness and anger that had consumed our relationship had blinded me to the immense love and dedication I had for my daughter. I failed to make her see the sacrifices I had made, the dreams I had given up, and the heartache I had endured.

Regret flooded over me like a powerful wave as I realized the enormity of my actions. I had allowed my own insecurities and misfortune to tear apart our family, depriving my daughter of the opportunity to grow up with both parents by her side. The weight of my mistakes pressed down on me, suffocating me with remorse."

Henry continued reading, uncovering Brax’s struggles, the silent battles he had fought, and his deep desire to be part of his daughter’s life. Each word served as a poignant reminder of the pain and regret that had haunted him since their separation.