Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Thomas opened his eyes, sunlight filtering through the curtains. A yawn escaped his lips, stretching his still-sleeping body. He got up from the bed, his small bare feet on a thick carpet. Something was wrong. He felt like he had already lived this moment.

He went to the window (a special window for children that did not open) and looked out across the green garden. A large house, surrounded by century-old trees, stretched out before him. It was not the house of his childhood, the one where he had grown up in the shadow of his brother. No, this one was bigger, more beautiful. And yet, a strange feeling of familiarity invaded him.

He realized that he remembered everything. His old life, his suffering, his hopes. He remembered his drawings, his broken dreams, the pain of loneliness. And yet, here he was, in a child's body, in a new life.

He turned and looked in the mirror. Big, bright eyes stared back at him. Brown hair, soft to the touch, framed his face. He was beautiful, loved. No one would compare him to his brother anymore, no one would reject him anymore.

He ran down the stairs, filled with a naive joy. His mother was waiting for him in the kitchen, a big smile on her lips. She took him in her arms and kissed him tenderly. "My little treasure," she whispered.

Thomas felt loved like never before. He had everything to be happy. A loving family, a beautiful house, a promising future. It was like a drug, pure happiness flowing into his heart, he held his mother in her arms and cried like the child in need of love that he was deep inside, a need that was finally beginning to be filled.

The days passed, filled with games, laughter and hugs. Thomas explored his new home, discovered the surroundings, made new friends. He was happy, but a part of him remained melancholic. He wondered if this new life was really his.

One evening, while he was lying in bed, his mother entered his room. She sat down next to him and took his hand. "Thomas, my love, I love you more than anything in the world."

Thomas looked into her eyes. He wanted to tell her everything he felt, but the words wouldn't come out. He just squeezed her hand tighter. Suddenly, a phone rang, his mother rushed out, leaving him with his father who luckily for her had just returned. A few hours later, Thomas' new world collapsed again. He felt broken, his happiness ripped away. He had barely had time to know the love of a mother that it was already taken away from him.