REBIRTH TO CHANGE MY FATE

2

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 with a situation involving some criminals exploiting a kid."

Grace's eyes lit up with approval. "That's wonderful! You did the right thing. Though I have to say, you look terrible. Have you been sleeping?"

"Not really," Jake admitted, gesturing toward his threadbare couch. "Just dealing with some weird stuff."

"Well, maybe this will help," Grace said, settling into the worn armchair across from him. "I spoke with my supervisor at Stellar International Corporation yesterday. We have an opening in our logistics department—entry level, but it pays well and has room for advancement."

Jake's heart skipped. "Seriously? You'd do that for me?"

"Of course! You're a good person, Jake. You just need a chance to prove it." Grace pulled out a business card. "The interview is tomorrow at ten. Don't mess this up."

"I won't, I promise. Grace, I can't thank you enough—"

"Just get the job and pay your rent on time," she laughed. "That's thanks enough."

After Grace left, Jake decided to take a shower to clear his head. The hot water felt amazing against his skin as he pondered his incredible luck. Maybe yesterday's weirdness was just stress-induced hallucinations. Maybe life is finally turning around.

Feeling refreshed, Jake wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom—directly into Grace's path as she emerged from the maintenance closet with cleaning supplies.

"Oh my God!" Grace shrieked, dropping her supplies and covering her eyes. "Jake! What are you doing?"

"I'm so sorry!" Jake fumbled with his towel, his face burning with embarrassment. "I didn't know you were still here!"

"I told you I was fixing the leak in 2B!" Grace's voice was mortified. "How could you just walk out naked like that?"

"I have a towel on!"

"Barely!" Grace turned away, her cheeks flushed crimson. "This is so inappropriate! I'm your landlord, for crying out loud!"

Jake's mind raced with panic. This is a disaster. She's going to think I'm some kind of pervert. There goes the job opportunity. In his desperation, a single word formed in his thoughts with crystal clarity: BACK.

The world lurched.

Suddenly, Jake found himself standing in his bathroom again, steam still rising from the hot shower. His heart pounded as he realized what had just happened—he was back to the moment before he'd opened the bathroom door.

Holy shit. It worked. I actually reversed time.

Cautiously, Jake cracked the bathroom door open and listened. He could hear Grace moving around in the hallway, organizing her cleaning supplies. This time, he waited until her footsteps faded before emerging fully dressed.

"Grace?" he called out, finding her in the hallway.

"Oh, there you are," she said pleasantly, showing no signs of the previous embarrassment. "I'm just finishing up with the leak in 2B. Make sure you're ready for that interview tomorrow."

"Absolutely," Jake replied, barely containing his excitement. "I'll be there."

After Grace left, Jake spent the rest of the day experimenting with his newfound ability. He tried reversing small moments—dropping a glass, burning toast, stubbing his toe. Each time, the mental command "BACK" transported him roughly one minute into the past.

This is incredible. I can literally undo my mistakes.

But there were limitations. After several attempts, Jake realized he could only use the power once every twenty-four hours. The revelation both thrilled and terrified him.

That evening, Grace knocked on his door again, this time carrying a container of homemade dumplings.

"I thought you might be hungry," she said, stepping inside. "You looked so thin this morning."

"Grace, you don't have to take care of me like this," Jake protested, though his stomach growled at the delicious aroma.

"Someone has to," she replied with a sad smile. "Heaven knows no one else will."

Jake noticed the melancholy in her voice. "What do you mean?"

Grace sat down heavily, her usual composure cracking slightly. "Do you know why I live alone in a building full of tenants, Jake?"

"I never really thought about it."

"My husband left me three years ago," Grace said quietly. "Said I was too focused on helping other people instead of paying attention to him. Maybe he was right."

"That's bullshit," Jake said firmly. "You're the kindest person I know. If he couldn't appreciate that, he's an idiot."

Grace's eyes glistened. "Thank you for saying that. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just fooling myself, thinking I can make a difference in people's lives."

"Are you kidding? You just got me a job interview when nobody else would even give me a chance. You're literally changing my life right now."

"I hope so," Grace smiled through her tears. "I really do see potential in you, Jake. Don't let me down."

After she left, Jake sat in his apartment, staring at the business card she'd given him. Grace believes in me when I don't even believe in myself. And now I have this power—this incredible ability to fix my mistakes.

Tomorrow's interview isn't just about getting a job. It's about proving that Grace's faith in me isn't misplaced. It's about finally becoming the man I'm supposed to be.

Jake looked around his shabby apartment—at the peeling wallpaper, the broken furniture, the empty space where his grandmother's watch used to sit. Whatever cosmic force gave me this power, whatever it cost me, I'm going to make it count.

He pulled out his phone and set multiple alarms for the morning. No more excuses. No more failures. Tomorrow, everything changes.

The weight of possibility settled on his shoulders like a mantle. For the first time in years, Jake Morrison felt something he'd almost forgotten—hope. And with his newfound ability to reverse time, he finally had the tools to turn that hope into reality.

Grace won't regret believing in me. I'll make sure of that.