Chapter 4: Alive but Alone
Jacob suddenly awoke and quickly panicked. He had NO idea what happened after the crash. He didn't even know how to process the fact that his own wife first cheated on him and then attempted to kill him. What kind of screwed up drama is this?!?
It hadn't yet occurred to Jacob that he wasn't quite who he was before and as he slowly noticed his surroundings, he finally saw that his hands were much smaller and daintier than before. It was an enlightening moment because he suddenly realized that, he didn't feel like himself anymore.
He flipped out and went into a full blown panic. He'd heard of stories like this, where a character dies but suddenly transmigrates or reincarnates. The MC is always so calm and collected but not him, no way.
He's dead. He will NEVER see his family again. He will never live out the rest of his life. It hurts. It hurts. IT HURTS.
This wasn't supposed to happen. He can't just be another person, that isn't him. He doesn't understand how someone could just accept this...new reality. Everything he once knew is gone.
Jacob didn't even entertain the idea of being in the same world, it just wouldn't matter. He could never just go up to his parents and say, "Hey mom! Hey dad! Guess what?!? I'm not actually dead, just in another body." No, he'd probably get a restraining order and be told off for how heartless he was for even entertaining the idea of pretending to be their son.
Jacob had no idea on what to do. Yes, he could just forget his past and live on in this new world but..that felt disrespectful. God, he would miss Heather too. She may have left after he got into college, but she was basically his second mom. He hoped life truly improved for her.
As his panic subsided, he was hit with an intense feeling of sadness and longing. He wanted to go home, he wanted his parents, he just..wanted his life back even though it'd never happen.
This wasn't some novel where the protagonist just goes home after saving worlds, no, this was his goddamn life.
Jacob wanted to scream or well, was that even his name anymore? It felt as though he lost every single part of himself in the span of a few seconds.
He knew he should be grateful. He got a second chance, he could be something new and live in a way he never would have originally, but it didn't matter to him.
Everything just hurt. He's dead and alone in a new world. Oh, he may have a family here but how does one just replace their parents?! His mom and dad may not have been around much during his childhood, but he knew they loved him with every part of their heart and soul. He got so much closer to them as he grew older and they were just so proud him.
God...his parents must be devastated. He hopes that they'd be happy eventually and move on. They deserve that at the very least. He also hopes that skank Mary Ann gets retribution, he should've realized she wanted his shares in the company. He even wrote her in his will.
Jacob sat up from the bed he guessed he was laying on and brought his knees close to chest. As he slowly wrapped his arms around his knees, he stared at the ground in despair. He didn't even take the time to figure out who he was now.
He wanted to mourn. Mourn for the life he would no longer have, mourn for the grief his parents must be feeling, and mourn the loss of whoever's body he overtook because, he's no fool. When he brought his new arms up, he saw the scars that could only come from oneself. He hoped they were happy wherever their soul went.
He just...wanted home.