The rest of Tia's weeks blurred into routine.
Wake up.
Bathe.
Eat.
Sit.
Watch.
Sleep.
Repeat.
A life without meaning.
Ever since the Evolution Exam—
He had stopped going to school.
What was the point?
No one expected anything from him anymore.
Oddly enough—
Living like this wasn't so bad.
At least…
It was quiet.
On a Thursday evening—
The scent of caramel popcorn filled the house.
Sweet.
Sticky.
Heavy.
Tia sat before the television.
Popcorn in one hand.
Soda in the other.
His mother was away on another business trip.
The house belonged to him alone.
When was the last time I went to school?
A pause.
Does it even matter?
His fingers dipped back into the popcorn bowl.
I should start looking for a job soon.
I can't depend on her forever.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound echoed through the quiet house.
Tia frowned.
At this hour?
A delivery?
No.
He hadn't ordered anything.
He rose from the couch.
Walked to the door.
Twist.
Click.
Push.
The door opened.
Nothing.
Only the cool night breeze.
And a sky full of stars.
"…What?"
He stepped outside.
Looked left.
Then right.
"Not funny."
He muttered.
"Whoever you are—go home."
Silence.
Only crickets answered.
He shook his head.
Turned back—
Then stopped.
Something lay at the doorstep.
A white envelope.
Perfectly placed.
As though it had just appeared.
His brows furrowed.
Slowly—
He bent down.
Picked it up.
Back inside—
He returned to the couch.
The envelope resting in his palm.
"…Okay."
A slow breath.
"Let's see what this is."
He broke the seal.
Pulled out the letter.
Neat handwriting.
Precise.
Almost unnatural.
His eyes moved across the page.
First line.
Second.
Third—
He stopped.
His breathing slowed.
"…No way."
His eyes widened.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then read it again.
From the top.
This was sent....
A pause.
....to me?
Why?
To a failure like me?
The words burned into him.
His pulse quickened.
"This is insane…"
Tomorrow.
Everything changed tomorrow.
His fingers tightened around the letter.
A smile—
Small.
But real—
Touched his lips.
"…Maybe."
"Maybe a second
chance…"
"…isn't so bad."
His eyes hardened.
But if fate asked him again—
The answer would still be....
Death.