"Let me tell you a story." Emptiness, as far the eye could see. It felt like I was standing on nothing yet I wasn't moving either. I turned my eyes towards the source of the voice, a strange figure that had no definite shape. But from the voice, I could tell it was male.

"A story?"

"Yes. A story. Of a young boy, and his unfortunate life."


Once upon a time, there was a boy. He was a Cyndaquil and was raised in an ordinary family. Being an only child, his parents doted on the boy. He still grew up to be quite the humble boy. Maybe too humble. It was too the point he was recklessly selfless. Because of this, people tended to ask him for help. He learned early on that the world is a cruel mistress. He was often taken advantage of, and he found himself the butt of every joke. Confused, he questioned his parents.

"Mom, Dad, why doesn't anyone want to be my friend?" His parents were flabbergasted at the news and filed a report to the school. The world once again proved to be unfair. He still found himself with no friends, no matter how nice he tried being. Maybe he should have tried harder. Maybe that would have changed his fate. But, then and there, he gave up on being nice. From that day on, he acted cold, refusing to help.

Years passed, and the boy remained lonely. Now, you've already heard a story similar to this. "Adam's", was it? Well, with minor differences here and there. Well, the similarities don't end there. His parents eventually heard about this boy's attitude and argued among each other what they should. One suggested it was merely a phase. The other claimed it was the boy's fault for being so kind. Whatever the case, the boy was caught between two arguing parents. Everyday, in and out, he'd hear his parents arguing.

He often left the house, looking for some solace from the foolishness that were people. It was then that he met another boy. Well, by then, they weren't really "boys" but more like young adults. They bonded over similar situations and became close friends. They often met up and found they shared many hobbies together. Then came the bad news. Our Main Protagonist's parents had filed for a divorce and at the end of summer, he would have to move away. The days quickly passed, and the MP moved away with his mother. The two swore to stay connected, and they did. Through simple messaging or calls, the two were never truly apart.

It was around this point that our MP started to feel something in his heart that he thought had turned cold. A warm feeling, that he felt every time he chatted with the other person. He deduced it was love, from all the mentions of it on the shows he watched. But he also knew how badly it could go, if that person didn't like him the same way. So he kept it locked away in his heart with a lock and key. More years passed before he decided to be independent and live alone, away from his mother. His mother spat at him, as he left, claiming he was just as bad as his father and that she never should have given birth to him. What caused him wanting to be independent was a simple factor. He had come out to his mother, hoping for her support. What he didn't expect was the vehement response she gave.

Now truly alone, he had only one person left. Returning to his place of birth, he arranged for a meetup with the other person. When they met again, our MP instantly noticed it. The other looked quite gaunt. Asking about it, the other confessed that he had been diagnosed with an incurable disease. He hadn't wanted to make our MP worried, so hid the fact. But now that the MP was with him, there was no need to hide it. The other felt at ease with the MP and they spent their days together. The other had let the MP stay with him over the days and the MP was thankful. One day though... The MP found his friend writhing on the floor. Calling for an ambulance, the two ended up at a hospital. It was then that they were told that the other was approaching the end. The MP tried his best to convince the doctors that there had to be some solution they hadn't thought of yet. Yet... it remained bleak. The MP stayed by the other's side the entire time...till the other had a visitor.

This visitor came in out of breath and covered in sweat. The sweat made his white fur shine in the light of the hospital room. Looking up, he quickly approached the bed, and held the other's hand. Asking who the visitor was, he explained that his name was Kyle, and the he was dating the other. The MP's heart was shattered. The one he had fallen in love with had already found someone else. He felt bitter, looking at this Kyle. But he kept it in, in respect for his dying dear friend. It wasn't long till the other's situation deteriorated. From the looks of things, it wasn't likely he would survive long. The MP, caught up in this tragic news, went out to distract himself. He ended up finding a small tree in the centre of a small garden of flowers. His moment of tranquillity was shattered when he received a call from the hospital. The other's condition was worsening, and Kyle had been caught in a traffic accident involving a lorry. Rushing back to the hospital, he found that he was too late. Both of them had passed on. The other's condition had just been too much for him to bear and Kyle's injuries were just too serious to treat. Both of them died without anyone beside them.

The doctors had really tried their best, but they failed. Just when things were bleak, it became pitch black as the one who had informed the hospital of Kyne's accident handed him a small box that Kyle had been carrying.

Inside lay an engagement ring.

Overcome with agony, the MP screamed out, and sobbed. He cursed at the cruel world, for being so unfair on him. For being unfair on everyone he knew. He soon realised that he didn't want to be part of this godforsaken world anymore. Steeling his will, he stood on the roof of the hospital. With a final statement, he threw himself off.


"...Is...that all?"

"From the situation you're in, do you think it is?"

"No. But...why tell me this story? And...when you mention Kyle..."

"You see, the other's name was Seje. And our Main Protagonist's was...Adam."

"But I'm not Adam!"

"Aren't you? Well, I guess the lines would become blur after so many dreams."

"Dreams? What are you talking about? And who are you?!"

"I'm just...No one, to you, I guess. And I'll explain everything now. You see... Adam didn't die. He miraculously survived, but fell into a coma. The reason for that coma is...me."

"You? How?" The figure became clearer, before it revealed the form of a Darkrai. The so called Prince of Nightmares.

"I've had a habit of looking into other's dreams ever since I was young. I saw the absolute wonder that that person would dream up. And I would always try to make things better by listening to their wishes but...I always created nightmares. One day...I found you. And your dreams. Your dreams of a normal life. Of having friends. Of...being normal. And I tried to make it better. And for once, I did.

Then, with all that happened to you...All I could do was stop you from even dreaming. That was the best I could do. So when you jumped off that building, you wished. You...wished for a world where everything had gone right. I couldn't let you die. Not like that. So I...selfishly cushioned your fall. Granted, you still suffered major injuries, but none fatal.

However, you're stuck here with me now...Because of your wish. I took your wish and honestly wanted to fulfil it in any way I could. So I trapped you in a never ending nightmare. Here...You'd be safe from the world you hated so much. You wouldn't have to suffer all that hurt anymore. So I made up characters and scenarios based off your memories and let you play them out, and you were happy. But...I couldn't do to prevent it turning into actual nightmares. Each of the "dreams" I created for you always ended badly... So I resorted to letting you create your own dreams. And it worked out! At least...for only a moment.

And now...It's the end of the dream."

"Huh? Why?" All the memories were suddenly rushing back to me, everything that had happened in every dream. My head started to hurt.

"Because I can't keep you here any longer, Adam. I realised after all your dreams. I don't have any right to keep you here. Even in the bleakest situations, you always came back from it. Albeit, with the help of the characters you made, but still."

"W-wait...I...still... have to..."

"Have to? There's nothing you can do about this outcome, Adam. This was always going to happen-" I hugged him.

"I...have to thank you. For taking care of me."

"...Adam... I also have something else I need to do." Looking me straight in the eye, he slowly smiled.

"I've always loved you."

"H-huh...? Y-you..."

"Now...wake up. And live a happy life." He pushed me away...and I felt like I was just continually falling.


My eyes felt sore. Like I'd had them closed for a long time. My throat felt sore too. I tried to move any of my limbs, but found they didn't respond. Finally, after what was minutes, I finally managed to at least peek my eyes open. They stung from the light. As my senses returned, I heard a steady beep. And...shouting. Someone was calling for someone. Doc...tor...?

...

It's been over a week since I woke up from my year long coma. The doctors told me they were starting to lose hope of me ever recovering. They called my revival a miracle. One problem they had was how I had never received a single visitor. And they hadn't been able to contact either of my parents. It took me some time, but by now, I had regained all of my senses, although I was still too weak to walk properly. So I was confined to a wheelchair. But they still allowed me to roam slightly.

Which is why I found myself here. In a small garden of flowers with a single tree. Look, I know it may be bad that I snuck out of the hospital, but I had to come back here. He was waiting here for me.

"It's about time you visited. I was starting to get lonely."

I heard a familiar voice and turned...


Yup. That's it. That's the end.

A cliffhanger?

No. A hopeful reunion.

Well, you sure delayed this one, huh? I mean, give it a week or two, and this thing would have collected two months of dust.

I-I know... I'm sorry I didn't update this earlier, guys. I've been pretty busy the past few weeks and I just haven't had time to write till now, so I hope you forgive me. Anyway, that's the end of If Things Had Gone Differently. I know. It's a rushed ending. Maybe so. But I still tried my best. So I hope you at least forgive me for this.

Anyway, it's been a great time, writing this and getting to read all your feedback. I feel grateful for the people that decided to read this. Even more grateful for the people that stuck to the end and the people that left their messages. It's always sad, reaching the end of things. But...this just means there's more to hope for in the future.

I might try my hand and writing more in the future, but for now, this is the end of the dream. Thank you for dreaming along with me.

And this may be the last one, but...

I bid you adieu.