Chapter 50: The Weight of the Past

Monday September 12, 2005:

Katie slipped on her shoes and grabbed her coat before heading toward the front door. Her mother, sitting on the couch with a book in her hands, glanced up as she passed.

“Heading out?” her mother asked, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

“Yeah, I’m going to the park for a little while,” Katie replied, trying to keep her tone casual.

Her mother studied her for a moment but simply nodded. “Alright. Just be safe and don’t stay out too late.”

“I won’t,” Katie assured her before stepping outside into the cool evening air.

As she walked toward the park, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She dialed Josh’s new number, pressing it to her ear as she made her way down the familiar sidewalk. The line rang a few times before going to voicemail. A small frown crossed her face, but she shrugged it off. He was probably still driving.

Unable to reach him, Katie decided to go somewhere she knew he would look for her—the bridge where they had taken their engagement photos in their first life. It had always been a special place for them, and she felt a pull toward it now.

Josh was nearly at the park when he instinctively reached around for his phone, wanting to check the time—only to realize it wasn’t there.

“Damn it,” he muttered, gripping the steering wheel. He had been so preoccupied earlier that he’d left it at home.

Not knowing when Katie would arrive or where exactly to meet her, he thought for a moment before settling on the best option. If she was looking for him, there was one place she’d go—the bridge.

Pulling into the parking lot near the bridge, he barely had time to shut off the engine before spotting Katie already standing there. A wave of relief and warmth spread through him at the sight of her, framed against the soft glow of the streetlights. Without a second thought, he got out of the car and ran toward her.

Katie turned just in time to see him approaching, her face lighting up as he scooped her into his arms. She let out a small laugh before it was swallowed by the deep kiss they shared. For a moment, nothing else mattered. The world around them faded, leaving only the feeling of being together again.

When they finally pulled apart, Josh set her down gently on the bridge, his hands lingering on her waist. “I missed you so much,” he said, his voice low, filled with emotion.

Katie reached up, brushing her fingers against his cheek. “I missed you too.”

They laced their fingers together and started walking slowly along the park’s winding path. The cool night air wrapped around them, but neither seemed to notice. It had been too long since they’d had a moment like this.

After a few minutes, Katie glanced at him. “Tell me everything.”

Josh exhaled, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. He had known this conversation was coming, but now that it was here, he felt a flicker of hesitation. Shame crept into his chest as he thought about the life he had lived after losing her the first time.

He took a steadying breath. “After you passed, I ... I didn’t handle it well.”

Katie remained silent, giving him space to continue.

Josh let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. “To put it bluntly, I drank myself into oblivion. I stopped taking care of myself. Imagine Rick from Rick and Morty—not the crazy genius part, but the part that’s always drinking, always drowning in regret. That was me.”

Katie’s expression softened, but she didn’t interrupt.

“One morning, I woke up feeling like I had the worst heartburn of my life. But by the time I made it out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom, I knew it wasn’t heartburn. I was having a heart attack.” He paused, swallowing hard. “And as I felt everything shutting down, I just kept wishing—praying—that I could go back and fix everything. I didn’t want my life to end like that. I wanted to make it right.”

Josh took another breath, steadying himself before continuing. “Then Death showed up.”

Katie’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t interrupt.

It asked me if I really wanted to go back and fix my mistakes. And I said yes.” Josh gave her a small, wry smile. “So it grinned at me and told me I could go back. And that I could choose one wish.”

Katie’s grip on his hand tightened slightly, her gaze locked on him.

“The next thing I knew, I was waking up in my childhood bed—I was ten years old again.” He shook his head. “At first, I couldn’t figure out why Death had sent me back so far. I had expected to go back just before the accident, to have the chance to save you. Instead, I was facing a childhood I had already lived through. I thought maybe Death had twisted my wish or was punishing me. But then I realized—I had been given a blank slate, a chance to change everything from the ground up.”

Katie squeezed his hand, her voice quiet but firm. “You shouldn’t have wasted your life after I passed. You should have tried again.”

Josh stopped walking, turning to face her. “I didn’t want anyone else.” His voice was raw, filled with unspoken emotion. “I promised you, Katie.”

She searched his eyes as if trying to find something, then exhaled softly. “And now?”

Josh lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Now, I’m going to do everything right.”

Katie let out a shaky breath and nodded, squeezing his hand once more. The past couldn’t be changed, but the future? That was still theirs to shape. “I began with small things. I started cooking dinners, something I had never bothered with before. It was a subtle way to encourage my brothers to stay home instead of spending time on the streets. I didn’t make a big deal out of it—just simple meals like spaghetti, chili, or whatever I could manage without drawing suspicion. Once they were home more often, I used that opportunity to help them with their homework, nudging them toward better grades, better opportunities. At first, they thought it was weird. I mean, their kid brother suddenly caring about school? It threw them off. But over time, it worked. They started listening, engaging, and for the first time in years, we actually sat down together, not just as housemates but as a family.”

Katie’s eyes softened. “That must have been difficult, making all those changes without anyone realizing what you were doing.”

Josh nodded. “I had to be strategic. If I changed too much too fast, people would notice. So I took my time. But my brothers weren’t the only ones who needed help. My mom was drowning in stress and debt, and I remembered exactly how that weight had crushed her. I knew if I could relieve some of that financial burden, she would have more freedom—more time for us.”

He took a deep breath. “That’s when I turned to Leonard Johnson, our neighbor across the street. At first, I only shared small insights—little things to build his trust. But eventually, I told him everything.”

Katie blinked, clearly surprised. “And he believed you?”

Josh smirked. “He did. He’s always been a sharp guy, and somehow, he just ... accepted it. Maybe he saw something in me that convinced him. Through him, I used the lottery—not to get rich, but just enough to help Mom pay off her debts. I knew exactly what she owed, so I made sure the amount wasn’t suspicious, just a windfall big enough to give her breathing room.”

Katie tilted her head. “And that was enough to change things?”

Josh nodded. “It was. She switched from night shifts to morning shifts. That meant she was home for dinner, more involved in our lives. We talked more. For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t just working to survive—she was present. And that changed everything.”

A cool breeze drifted through the park, rustling the leaves as they walked. Josh hesitated before continuing, his tone darkening slightly.

“But there was still one more thing I had to prevent. Danny.”

Katie tensed slightly at the mention of the man. “What happened?”

Josh exhaled slowly. “With Mom working mornings instead of nights, she met him earlier than she had before. But this time, things played out differently. Instead of suddenly springing him on us and announcing we were moving in with him, she introduced him gradually. That gave me time.”

His grip on Katie’s hand tightened slightly. “I knew what kind of man he was. I remembered everything. And I refused to let history repeat itself.”

Katie’s voice was careful. “So ... what did you do?”

Josh gave a humorless chuckle. “I pushed him. I made little comments, subtle jabs, just enough to get under his skin but not enough to be obvious. I knew the type of person he was—an abuser who hid behind charm until the mask slipped. I just needed to make sure that mask fell off in front of my mom before it was too late.”

Katie inhaled sharply. “Josh, that was dangerous.”

He shrugged. “I knew the risks. And yeah, he did snap. He gave me some bruises, but it was worth it. Mom saw everything—his temper, his true colors. That was all it took. She kicked him out before he had the chance to sink his hooks into her and tear our family apart.”

Katie let out a long breath, absorbing everything he had told her. “You really are rewriting everything.”

Josh nodded. “I have to. If I want a better future, I need to rebuild the foundation first.”

They walked in silence for a moment, the enormity of Josh’s efforts settling between them. Finally, Katie spoke, her voice soft but filled with emotion. “Josh ... thank you. For trying so hard. For not giving up.”

Josh met her gaze, his heart swelling. “For you? I’d do it all over again.”

And in that moment, Katie knew he meant every word.

Katie walked in thoughtful silence for a moment, processing everything Josh had just told her. Finally, she turned to him, her curiosity piqued. “What did you mean when you said Death gave you a wish?”

Josh glanced at her, exhaling slowly. “On top of sending me back, Death granted me a single wish—something to help me in this second chance at life. I had to think carefully, and in the end, this is what I wished for:”

He took a deep breath before reciting, “I wish for the ability to access any information—whether publicly accessible or restricted, including secure or private sources—in a manner that is accurate, entirely under my control, and solely visible to me upon my mental command. The information will manifest as a clear, user-friendly augmented reality interface, which I can navigate, resize, filter, and remove as I please. This access will have no adverse effect on my memory, mental well-being, or physical health. Moreover, the accuracy of the information will prioritize consensus from reliable and up-to-date sources. And this ... this includes information from the year 2051.”