Do-Over

Awake

 

I had woken up to a familiar place and familiar faces but I couldn't place any of it. It was a gnawing feeling on the back of my neck like I had been here before. There were tables and chairs lined up in a dark room with a light shining brilliantly from a window. And there they were, the faces of ghosts I had long since forgotten. Asleep or just  seemingly waiting for something anxiously. They were kids in what appeared to be a classroom at nap time. But they were familiar. Suddenly the lights came on and a tall kindly older woman came into view. She said, "nap times over children". And they all began filing out of the room. She looked at me and said Joseph, are you coming? To which I instinctively rose from under the table and came into the next room.
I was taken aback once more by this strangely familiar place. And then I found myself in my old classroom from kindergarten. But it was impossible. There was no conceivable way I could be here. No way any of them could exist. They were all just memories now faded and dusty. But they were alive and well, laughing and playing. And Mrs. Poe looked in my direction intently. She asked why do you look so puzzled Joseph? To which, my only reply was I feel like i'm having de ja vu. She still looked intently, laughed, then continued looking after the other children.
My only thought in my head at that moment was to find a mirror or something reminiscent of one. I had found what I was searching for and I stared back at my 5 year old self in horror and intrigue. How could this have happened? I thought to myself. I had just went to bed after working a 10 hour shift at my job. But here I was, 5 again. As skinny as a twig and with the same huge round framed glasses with the strap in the back I had worn long ago. I still couldn't believe it. What on earth was going on? Was it some sort of incredibly lucid dream? I decided to test it out. I found myself walking around the room at this point. Picking up books, reading dates, and observing this anomaly. Before I knew it we were all waiting outside for a bus. I lived in Stroghton at this point in my life so I knew it would be worth a peak. Sure enough we pulled up to the Serene Village trailer park. And right in front just as it had always been, my trailer, my home. My mother was outside waiting on me. Beckoning me to come inside.
I couldn't believe it, she looked so young. They all looked so young. And I chuckled at the fact my father still had all of his hair. I walked around the trailer a bit. Re-familiarizing myself with everything. It was exactly as it was 20 years ago. I had some how managed to slip back in time. Like a do-over. To right past mistakes and perhaps change horrific events in the future. I went to bed ready to start my new life.
But I awoke from the machine, gasping for air. Hours had gone by and I knew I would have to pay shortly for that one moment of bliss. When I truly was given a second chance at life. I looked glumly at myself in the mirror of the capsule. Someone came by to open it and unhook me. I wished I had a little more time but time is only taken from us. No matter how we may pine to relive the past the future pushes us forward unto our demise.