Breath With In


Chapter 4 - A Hole New Beginning

Author's Note: Yo, so like, all these crazy events happen in the near future (because I said so). Nations have signed a PEACE TREATY (finally!) to throw away all the weapons and just focus on SCIENCE! I know, super cool, right? Also, for all my HATERS, get a life. Seriously, take your negativity and bounce straight to the shadow realm (aka double hockey sticks). To everyone else, THANK YOU for all the love! Oh, and important info: the main character (aka me 😎) is now 6' and SUPER HAWT—like, model material, no cap. This is VITAL to the story, guys, don't forget it. Also, I'm learning to spell better, so now you won't see as many mistakes... but still maybe a few, lol. Love you, bby! 💖✨ Thanks for the encouragement, I swear y'all are the best. Keep reading or else I'll cry. 😭💔

My eyes eventually started to adapt to the overwhelming neon horror of the future. I was in a park, or at least what looked like a park—except everything was glowing and buzzing with unsettling energy. People with AR glasses floated around like robotic ghosts, their faces locked in an emotionless trance. In my head, I suddenly felt the weight of a pair of glasses, and in a moment of panic, I yanked them down over my face.

"Welcome, Jacob. What would you like to do?" said a robotic voice that sounded suspiciously like an off-brand Siri.

"Who is Jacob?" I muttered, feeling my existential crisis build.

"Searching for: makeup tutorials."

"NONONO!" I yelled, waving my hands like a lunatic.

"Alright. Have a nice day." The interface disappeared, but I could still feel its judgment lingering in the air.

Lesson learned. Technology is cursed. I took off the glasses and perched them on my head like some futuristic fashion statement. I gazed up at the sky, which for some reason had three suns. My eyes burned.

"Am I in the future?" I whispered to myself like an anime protagonist.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over me, blocking out two of the suns.

"What are you doing here, baka?" a voice teased.

I turned my head in slow motion, like I was in a terrible romance drama. Standing before me was Yuuki. Her white hair flowed dramatically in the wind, though there wasn't any wind. Her blue eyes sparkled like a questionable Instagram filter, and her pale white skin was so bright it nearly blinded me. But what stood out the most—she had no shoes. Who walks barefoot in the future? She looked like an angel. A shoeless, anime angel.

"H-hello?" I stammered, suddenly aware of how awkward I was.

Then, I noticed something even weirder. I looked down at myself. My outfit had mysteriously changed. I now sported a grey t-shirt with the word Squad on it, featuring an abstract logo that probably meant something deep. Sweatpants? Sneakers? Also, I had grown from 5' to 6' overnight. This future was amazing.

"Hi," I responded with an awkward smile, probably looking like a malfunctioning robot.

Suddenly, flashes of my new life flooded my mind like a poorly written movie montage. Yuuki had been my close friend since kindergarten. We bonded over music. I played the piano and mixed electronic music (like Porter Robinson, because of course), and she played the violin. We were in our sophomore year of high school. We were smart. But not too smart. Just the perfect anime protagonist level of smart.

"You seem a bit distant," she said, tilting her head like a concerned puppy.

"Yeah," I replied, trying to act cool and mysterious.

"Something troubling you?" she asked, her voice dripping with concern.

"No," I lied, pretending I totally wasn't questioning reality itself.

Then, without warning, she laid down on top of me.

"HEY, WHAT THE HECK?!" I choked out, feeling my soul escape my body.

She only giggled, which felt like a personal attack. My stomach, however, was screaming for help. We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, me trying not to explode from awkwardness and her enjoying my misery. Eventually, as the three suns began to set, she got up and pulled me to my feet.

We walked home together, sharing a single pair of earbuds and listening to the same song on repeat, because that's what deep people do.

And just as I started to think, Wow, this life is actually kinda nice, I woke up.

Back in my stupid, boring, normal life.