Chapter 1: A Depressing Start

Anthony Lewis Clark, that is my name in this new world. Well technically it's not a completely new world.

I look at the busy streets outside the car window, beside me is my guitar and in front of me are two men dressed in all black. I also wore all black - formal wear.

The atmosphere was heavy, no one spoke and all I could do was make my mind think of other things, happy thoughts, fond memories but as I did the image of my parents flash in my mind.

Sorrow enveloped my eyes as my vision got blurred by the tears-

"Tony… I know what kind of thing you're going through but you don't have to go back home… you could live with us-"

The older man driving the car, my uncle tried to console me but I knew he was just trying to lighten my mood. My family… we were not really that rich, my parents were both lawyers, big names, but-

"Uncle… I want to live in OUR home… please, I can take care of myself"

I answered him with a forced smile, when he heard my answer and saw my expression all he could do was nod sadly.

Uncle… he wanted to help, but he was also a father, a father of four. I can't walk into their already troubled family… not when all I bring with me are problems.

My relatives were all struggling in their own right, I knew it, my parents- they were great guys… it's just that… they were at the wrong place at the wrong time…

Recalling the state their bodies were in I-

"I can do it uncle… trust me"

I feigned strength, what followed was a 30 minute drive in silence. When we finally arrived at the home that my parents left to me all I could do was hold back the tears as I dragged my guitar to my house.

"If there is anything you need just give us a call! We'll come to help whenever we can!"

Hearing my uncle's words almost made me break down but I just continued to walk to my empty home with heavy steps. 

In the end my uncle left with his friend after seeing me enter the house, they did not try to follow me or expect me to entertain them. After all, we just came from my mother and fathers burial.

Inside the house, all I could see were items that remind me of my parents. The existence of these things made me want to lash out. To start breaking things, to throw it all away but-

"I can't- I shouldn't… this, this is the only thing I have left of them-"

In the end I could only wallow in my sorrow, recalling my past and the fate I now face-

I'm currently 16 years old but in all honesty I am far older than that, why? Because I was reincarnated in this world.

In my previous world I was a business mogul, a young billionaire who rose up from the bottom crawling my way to the top.

I was raised in an orphanage, forced to find a job despite being homeless, learned to work hard, to struggle and to do whatever it takes to achieve my ambitions. I struggled every day and every night.

After a decade of struggles, at the age of 28- I finally earned my first million. Using that to invest and earn more money, in the span of a short three years I became a billionaire.

People called me a genius, a talented young man, you name it.

I made appearances in various TV shows, I helped the community, I did everything I wanted to do.

I lived a life that I could be proud about, one that I could happily share with others, not ashamed of what I did. I achieved my dreams… but when I did reach that point I found that my real dreams were not to get rich and help others.

Helping others was in fact closer to my dreams as my true ambition was to become an artist, a superstar.

I wanted to make films, songs and other forms of media that would leave a mark in history. I wanted people to sing my songs and watch my shows even after I have already passed.

Alas, I did not have talent in that life, my true talents were in business so all I could do was enjoy all the songs and shows that others make. I could only support them by buying tickets, merch and supporting them.

But, even that kind of life did not last long, I spent so much time following my dreams that- when the time came that some madman decided to kill me… all I could think was that I was fortunate enough to not start a family.

With my death, all that is lost is the money that was being sent to support orphanages and other philanthropic activities. I only hope that the people who take over my empire would not drop all the philanthropic work that I started.

That was in my past life, who would have guessed that I would reincarnate into another world?

In this world I was born to a couple of lawyers, a mother who works in family court and a father who handles criminal cases.

My parents were big names in LA, but they were not the type to squander money. They raised me to be careful of my finances, to care about others, to be humble and kind.

Both of my parents gave me love, love that I never got in my past life, a love that made me forget the fact that I was a 30+ year old man in the body of a baby.

I acted like a child and aimed for achieving my goals.

To my surprise I had talent, music, acting- all the performing arts I studied in I excelled.

My parents never forced me to a track they believed was good, I was able to follow my dreams.

Enter a school for the arts, learn how to make music, how to sing, how to dance. I spent my life enjoying the things I did, the things I learned.

But who would have thought? One day, as I was studying in the boarding school for performing arts, I received a text telling me that my parents died.

It was a freak accident, a huge trailer truck lost its brakes and crashed into my parents car, a head on collision at 90 mph. My parents did not notice the truck as it came from the side, the truck driver's horns were also not working so my parents never realized what had happened to them.

Their bodies were almost unrecognizable, the only reason people were able to identify them was because of the car's license plate and their ID that did not break in the collision.

Recalling all of these, my life, my memories my-

Clenching my fist I wanted to let loose, I wanted to scream I wanted to!-

With my mind in shambles I walked towards the garage, with heavy steps I dragged my guitar and when I reached the garage door I opened it revealing my make shift music studio.

"Dad made me this when I said I wanted to make my own music… to start my own label and become a superstar…"

Tears were welling up in my eyes, I had prepared a lot of songs, songs from my past life which I wanted to sing. I had a lot of things I wanted to do, songs I wanted my parents to hear.

I had plans to sing to them, to show the world how much I loved them!

The songs I prepared…. All of them were songs for my parents, although I did copy them from my past life's memories, I made sure that the original artist were not in this world.

I did research and did not write any Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift or Eminem songs. I avoided copying songs from people who were in this alternate universe, but there were songs I wanted to sing for my parents when I got on the big stage. When I finally achieved my dreams….

With my body heavy, I fiddled with the equipment, pulled out a soundtrack and played it.

I did not check the sound system, I forgot that I played with loudspeakers just a bit over a month ago on christmas. But as I made the song start I did not even care about the sound system, I just sat on the piano and started to play a song that I never wanted to play.

I remade the lyrics, I wanted to sing a more uplifting version about being proud about watching me achieve my dreams… but now…

"February 14… is this fate playing a sick joke?"

I spoke sarcastically as I started to press the piano keys to a melody that seems to reflect my current life-

[3rd Person Perspective]

Across the street, a family was having an argument, six adults were talking about plans that did not follow through. Arguments were flying all over, the kids were just staring not knowing what to do and basically chaos. 

The family was having an argument and as they were arguing with each other a song started to play.

They all looked for the source of the song and they realized that it came from the house of the Clark family.

The Clark's were famous in the area, for one the couple were famous lawyers, they were also kind and considerate. They would invite their neighbors for celebrations. Not to mention their son was quite talented. 

He wrote songs and played them a lot during his childhood. In fact just last month the son played a song for christmas. It was quite a fun he had a pleasant voice and his skill in singing was great but-

"I guess Tony came back from the funeral…"

Phil, a father of three spoke in a sad tone, everyone here knew that Tony was a skilled musician. Throughout his childhood he would express himself through songs and music which gave them a chance to hear some pleasant tunes every once in a while but now-

"Is he playing the piano?"

Claire, Phil's wife asked as she heard the sound of the piano playing from the speakers.

Not only their family but even the others in the neighborhood came out of their houses when they heard the music playing.

The piano played a quick sorrow tune, then out of nowhere, they heard Tony's voice-

[Please Listen to The Script - If you could see me now]

🎶Oh if you could see me now🎶

🎶Oh if you could see me now🎶

The young man's voice carried with it a certain sorrow that grabbed the hearts of everyone listening.

Some pulled out their phones to record what was happening and soon the music started to play, then suddenly the piano stopped playing then Tony started to sing, to rhyme, which was accompanied by a slow beat and the sound of the piano-

🎶It was February 14, Valentine's Day🎶

🎶The roses came, but they took you away🎶

Hearing the song, a man spoke in an emotional tone as saying-

"Oh my god! He's singing about his loss!"

Among all the people present he, Cam was the one who was the most emotional and the quickest to sense the mood. The music and lyrics quickly made him understand what was happening as his eyes teared up.

🎶Tattooed on my arm is a charm to disarm all the harm🎶

🎶Gotta keep myself calm but the truth is you're gone🎶

🎶And I'll never get to show you these songs🎶

Phil, who was also another one who was easy to get swept up in the mood also felt the pain in the singer. His eyes turned watery as he gazed at the tightly shut garage door with a look of sorrow.

"Poor kid… his father was a great guy-"

🎶Dad, you should see the tours that I'm on🎶

🎶I see you standing there next to Mom🎶

🎶Both singing along, yeah, arm in arm🎶

The following lyrics made him utterly break down as he hugged his wife Claire, who was also doing her best to hold back her tears.

🎶And there are days when I'm losing my faith🎶

🎶Because the man wasn't good, he was great🎶

🎶He'd say music was the home for your pain🎶

🎶And explain, I was young, he would say🎶

The lyrics about faith made Gloria, Claire's stepmother tear up, she did not fully understand the song but she could feel the meaning behind it.

Her husband initially maintained a poker face but the emotion on his face was slowly showing.

🎶"Take that rage, put it on a page🎶

🎶Take the page to the stage🎶

🎶Blow the roof off the place"🎶

🎶I'm tryna make you proud🎶

🎶Do everything you did🎶

🎶I hope you're up there with God🎶

🎶Saying, "That's my kid"🎶

Gloria was speaking in Spanish, her words sad as she embraced Jay who steeled his face as the last verse almost made him break. He thought it was done but then the chorus came-

🎶I still look for your face in the crowd🎶

🎶Oh, if you could see me now🎶

🎶(Oh, if you could see me now)🎶

🎶Would you stand in disgrace or take a bow?🎶

🎶Oh, if you could see me now🎶

🎶(Oh, if you could see me now)🎶

🎶Yeah🎶

🎶(Oh, if you could see me now)🎶

🎶Yeah🎶

The chorus made a lot of the listeners break at that point but some still held back their tears. Phil and Claire's children were already silently listening, their youngest, was quietly listening to the song while their two daughters who would always quarrel were holding hands listening to the song.

🎶If you could see me now, would you recognize me?🎶

🎶Would you pat me on the back or would you criticize me?🎶

🎶Would you follow every line on my tear-stained face?🎶

🎶Put your hand on a heart that was cold as the day you were taken away?🎶

"He's still… I can't"

Phil spoke as he was about to rush towards the house where the song was playing but he was held back by his brother in law Mitchell and his wife Claire.

🎶I know it's been a while but I could see you clear as day🎶

🎶Right now, I wish I could hear you say🎶

🎶"I drink too much and I smoke too much Dutch"🎶

🎶But if you can't see me now that shit's a must🎶

"He just wanted to have his parents see him perform… to have them as he struggled in life but now-"

Jay muttered in a whisper as he silently wiped away a tar from his eye.

🎶You used to say I won't know a winner 'til it crossed me🎶

🎶Like I won't know real love 'til I've loved then I've lost it🎶

The lyrics he spoke hit hard, even though everyone listening knew that Tony was singing about his parents passing, the listeners couldn't help but relate to it in some way. Especially those that have lost someone important. But the following lyrics garnered reactions even from those that had yet to experience loss.

🎶So if you've lost a sister, someone's lost a mom🎶

🎶And if you've lost a dad, then someone's lost a son🎶

The comparisons about loss made the children hug each other, the emotions of Tony made them imagine a future where they lost their siblings, and that feeling was just too much that they wanted to spend any time they could together as much as possible.

🎶And they're all missing now, and they're all missing now🎶

🎶So if you get a second to look down at me now🎶

🎶Mom, dad, I'm just missing you now🎶

The imagery of the lyrics, the tune of the music and the emotions in the voice of the song made everyone empathize with the song so much that they stopped moving and hugged their family that was close to them.

Then the chorus played-

🎶I still look for your face in the crowd🎶

🎶Oh, if you could see me now🎶

🎶(Oh, if you could see me now)🎶

🎶If you could see me now🎶

🎶Would you stand in disgrace or take a bow?🎶

🎶Oh, if you could see me now🎶

🎶(Oh, if you could see me now)🎶

🎶Ooh, would you call me a saint or a sinner?🎶

🎶Would you love me a loser or a winner?🎶

🎶(Oh, oh)🎶

🎶When I see my face in the mirror🎶

🎶We look so alike that it makes me shiver🎶

The words that was inserted to further emphasize the meaning of the song caused a reaction in everyone present. Their hugs tightened, they did not want to let go of their family. They felt the feeling of loss despite not having lost anything.

🎶I still look for your face in the crowd🎶

🎶Oh, if you could see me now🎶

🎶(Oh, if you could see me now)🎶

🎶Would you stand in disgrace or take a bow?🎶

🎶Oh, if you could see me now🎶

🎶(Oh, if you could see me now)🎶

🎶(Yo, I'm just missing you now)🎶

🎶I still look for your face in the crowd🎶

🎶Oh, if you could see me now🎶

🎶(Oh, if you could see me now)🎶

🎶Would you stand in disgrace or take a bow?🎶

🎶Oh, if you could see me now🎶

🎶(Oh, if you could see me now)🎶

🎶Oh, oh, oh🎶

FInally the song ended and as it did silence came over the whole street. Everyone listening just silently stared at the house where the song came from.

[MC perspective]

As I finished my song, I suddenly heard a voice in my head saying-

'Congratulations, you have awakened the soul voice and musical soul, from now on your voice and music will have an enrapturing effect when you make the music with all your heart and soul. May the spirits of song be with you'

What the hell just happened?