Jake Morrison paced his cramped apartment like a caged animal, the morning sun casting harsh shadows through his grimy windows. The mystery of his missing pocket watch gnawed at him, but something else dominated his thoughts—the impossible memory of dying and coming back to life."There's got to be a logical explanation," he muttered, running his hands through his disheveled hair. "People don't just rewind time."A sharp knock on his door interrupted his spiraling thoughts. Jake opened it to find Grace Chen, his landlord, standing in the hallway with her usual warm smile. Despite being in her early forties, Grace maintained an elegant appearance that spoke of quiet strength and resilience."Good morning, Jake," she said, her voice carrying a slight accent from her native Taiwan. "I hope you don't mind me stopping by. I wanted to check on you after hearing about the commotion downtown yesterday.""Oh, that. Yeah, I'm fine," Jake replied, stepping aside to let her in. "Just helped out w

Jake Morrison clutched his lottery ticket like a lifeline as he walked through the doors of the Phoenix Lottery Commission office. The sterile fluorescent lighting made everything feel surreal, as if he were moving through a dream. Fifty thousand dollars—more money than he'd ever imagined having."Congratulations, Mr. Morrison," the clerk said with practiced enthusiasm as she processed his winnings. "After taxes, your net payout comes to thirty-seven thousand, five hundred dollars. How would you like to receive the funds?""Direct deposit, please," Jake replied, his voice barely concealing his excitement.Two hours later, Jake stood outside Grace Chen's apartment door, his phone buzzing with a bank notification confirming the deposit. He knocked twice before Grace opened the door, still wearing her work clothes from Stellar International."Jake! How did the interview go?" Grace asked, her face lighting up with anticipation."Actually, I have something better to tell you," Jake grinned

The next morning, Jake Morrison woke to the sound of Danny Chen's obnoxious laughter echoing through the thin walls. He'd barely slept, his mind churning with anger over Grace's situation and the upcoming job interview at Stellar International Corporation. The irony wasn't lost on him—interviewing at Frank Zhao's company after the humiliating encounter with Sarah.Jake emerged from his apartment to find Danny lounging in the hallway, smoking a cigarette despite the building's no-smoking policy. Danny's bloodshot eyes locked onto Jake with predatory satisfaction."Well, well, if it isn't the white knight," Danny sneered, blowing smoke in Jake's direction. "Sleep well, hero?""Better than you, apparently," Jake replied, trying to move past him toward the stairs.Danny stepped sideways, blocking Jake's path. "You know what I find funny? You acting like you give a shit about Grace when we both know you're just trying to get in her pants."Jake's jaw clenched. "Move.""Or what?" Danny laug

The elevator doors opened to reveal a typical corporate floor—beige carpeting, fluorescent lighting, and the smell of coffee and printer toner. Grace led Jake down a hallway lined with framed motivational posters and employee recognition plaques.Manager Lewis's office door was open. Jake could see a man in his fifties sitting behind an oversized desk, his receding hairline combed over and his tie slightly loosened. When Lewis looked up and saw Grace approaching with Jake, his expression shifted from anticipation to annoyance."Ms. Chen," Lewis said, standing up with false politeness. "I thought we agreed you'd be coming alone.""This is Jake Morrison," Grace replied, her voice steadier than Jake had expected. "The candidate you're interviewing today."Lewis's eyes narrowed as he looked Jake up and down with obvious disdain. "Mr. Morrison. You're early. The interview isn't scheduled for another hour.""I thought it would be good to arrive early," Jake replied evenly. "Show initiative.

Francine closed her folder and looked at Jake directly. "Mr. Morrison, I'll be honest—your resume doesn't inspire confidence. But your answers today have been thoughtful and mature. You've shown emotional intelligence and moral conviction that many candidates with better credentials lack."Jake felt hope blooming in his chest."However," Francine continued, "this is ultimately a business decision. We need someone who can hit the ground running and contribute immediately.""Give me that chance," Jake said quietly. "I guarantee you won't regret it."Francine studied him for a long moment. "We'll be in touch within 48 hours."As the panel filed out, Lewis lingered behind, his face twisted with malice."You think you're so smart," Lewis hissed. "But this isn't over. I'll make sure you never work at this company, and I'll destroy Grace Chen's career while I'm at it.""Try it," Jake replied calmly. "See how that works out for you."That felt good, Jake thought as he walked toward the lobby.