1 The Old life, and it's boring problems.

Edrien never actually believed he would be caught up in something as stupid as a shootout between two gangs. Of course it was just his luck that the one day he decided to take for himself and call in sick for his job, something like would happen.

'Maybe it was karma', he thought, while bleeding out on the floor, several bullet holes in his chest.

He was a shitty person from an early age, not caring for other people's problems, lacking that certain empathy that seemingly every classmate, every coworker had through his whole life.

'Its not my fault that I was always suspicious of people when they cry, thinking it's all a performance, done to fit in with the big theater play the whole world is playing' Edrien mused.

Due to the aforementioned lack of empathy, he always tried to fake it, but he guessed that he was just a bad actor, remembering the creeped out stares of other people when he decided to display anything more than simple stoicism or a simple curling of lips.

'My mother always told me to smile more, or my face will get stuck in a permanent scowl' he thought remembering his earliest childhood, strangely crystal clear.

'I guess a had a good run, even with no close friends, distrusting of other people always, and just wanting to be left alone, I was actually content being in that strange comfort zone, the strange want for more things, more money, more people to just love, but now willing to put in the effort.' a last sigh escaped his lungs, which are now filling with blood.

'If I die, no...When I die, I hope I can be more "normal" in my next life.' Edrien mused, noticing the creeping darkness in the corners of his vision, the labored breathing and the slowing beating of his heart.

Slowly but surely, the man known as Edrien closed his eyes for the last time.

And in another universe, a baby opened his for the first time.