I'm sick of this life.
Ryan West stood at the edge of the old, crumbling three-story building behind Westbridge High. His torn uniform clung to his bulky frame, flapping lightly in the wind.
His face was swollen with bruises. Blood stained his lip and chin. One shoe was half-off. His fists were clenched. His knuckles bled.
He smiled. Not the smile of someone hopeful.
It was broken. Hollow. Quietly hysterical.
Yeah… I'd rather die than stay alive in this shit-ass world and suffer every single day.
His eyes drifted shut. The wind whispered around him, almost like it was waiting.
And then—
He stepped off the edge.
---
**Earlier that day…**
The cafeteria was alive with noise. Dozens of students packed every table, shoveling down cheap food and laughing over drama, rumors, and weekend plans.
A few were huddled over their phones. Others were too busy staring at Sophia Lane to eat.
Ryan sat in the far corner with his only two friends. His tray of fries and nuggets sat untouched. His eyes weren't on the food. They were locked on her.
Sophia.
The girl he'd loved since the first day of high school.
Golden brown hair. Model-tier beauty. Effortless popularity. She was surrounded by her usual crew—two girls, two tall guys from the basketball team. She was laughing, eyes shining, the center of it all.
"She's sitting with the jocks again," one of Ryan's friends muttered. "You still gonna do it?"
Ryan didn't answer.
"You've been obsessed with her since freshman year," the other whispered. "Just do it. What's the worst that could happen?"
I could die from embarrassment. Or worse...
But today, something inside Ryan had snapped. Not in a violent way. Just… tired. Tired of being scared. Tired of hiding. Tired of letting life walk all over him.
He stood up, stomach churning.
Students barely noticed as he walked across the cafeteria, step by step. But when he stopped in front of Sophia's table, everyone turned to look.
Sophia blinked up at him, confused.
Ryan took a shaky breath.
"I like you, Sophia."
Silence.
The whole cafeteria paused.
Then she laughed. Loud, clear, brutal. She stood up and tilted her head.
"You like me?" she repeated, voice rising. "I would date a dog before I ever date you."
Gasps. Laughter.
Her friends snorted. One girl dropped her fork, wheezing.
"At least dogs are cute," she said, voice thick with disgust. "You? You're fat, ugly, and pathetic. You're not even worth pity."
Ryan froze.
The laughter spread like wildfire. A wave crashing over him. Students laughed. Some pulled out their phones. Others pointed.
Josh, one of the jocks, stood up beside her.
"You serious right now, chubs?" he sneered. "You thought you had a shot?"
Before Ryan could speak, Josh shoved him in the chest.
Ryan stumbled.
Brandon, the other guy, moved in and punched him straight in the gut. Ryan collapsed, gasping.
Then came the kicks.
One to the ribs. Another to the shoulder. A third to the leg.
"Go confess to a cake next time, you fat freak."
"Should've worn a bra, bro!"
"Hope the floor breaks before you do!"
He curled up, crying—real tears, helpless sobs. Every word, every boot to the side drove it deeper. Humiliation. Shame. Despair.
No teacher came. No one helped.
When they got bored, the jocks walked away, laughing and high-fiving like they'd just scored a win.
Ryan lay there on the dirty floor, blood on his lip, arms trembling.
I don't want to live anymore.
---
**Now...**
The wind screamed around him as he plummeted.
Three floors wasn't that tall, but it would be enough. Enough to break something. Enough to end it.
The ground rushed closer.
Ryan felt… peace.
Finally... it's over.
[DING!]
The sound was clear and loud—like a chime ringing inside his head.
What the hell...?
A glowing blue screen flashed before his eyes in midair.
[Awakening Detected.]