Gene remained seated beneath the giant tree in the real world, his breathing calm and steady as his consciousness drifted deeper into his subconscious.
His trial had already begun. When Gene opened his eyes, he found himself once again within the vast realm that resembled outer space. Galaxies spiraled endlessly around him.
Stars shimmered like countless jewels scattered across an infinite sea of darkness.
There was no ground beneath his feet. No sky above his head.
Only an endless expanse of pure energy stretching beyond imagination.
To Gene…It felt like a dream and a beautiful one.
"…Guess this suits me."
His voice echoed through the silent cosmos.
He floated alone within the almost infinite realm, surrounded by streams of radiant energy flowing like rivers between the stars.Suddenly…The entire realm began to warp.Space folded inward. The galaxies compressed into a single point before exploding outward once more.
An immense surge of energy swept across existence. It was unlike anything Gene had ever witnessed. His body was caught in the current. He began to fall. There was no up. No down. Only endless descent.
Gene slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again everything had changed. He was a baby, his tiny hands and feet wrapped in warm blankets. Two smiling faces looked down upon him. His parents.
His mother gently cradled him while his father laughed with tears of happiness in his eyes. Gene could feel it….Their warmth and love. The safety of being held by the people who loved him most.
The years passed quickly. He turned ten years old. Then…Disease came.
His parents grew weaker each day. No medicine worked. No prayers were answered. Eventually…they were gone. Gene mourned them. Time continued moving forward. Life went on.
Then everything changed again. Gene opened his eyes. He was older. This time…he was a farmer and his parents were alive. Older now. Wrinkles covered their faces.
Their bodies had grown frail.. ..The harvest had failed and food became scarce.
The crops could only be harvested during specific seasons. Some required weeks, Others…months. Gene worked tirelessly. Morning until night. He cared for the fields. He cared for his parents. He gave them everything he could. But it wasn't enough. Hunger claimed them. Once again…they died. Gene buried them with trembling hands. He cried. He mourned.
Then another life began. Another and another. Again and again.
The years blended together until Gene lost count. Sometimes he was a merchant, a soldier, a craftsman, a traveler, rich, poor.
No matter where he awakened…No matter who he became…The ending remained the same. His parents always died. He always mourned them. He always continued living. Only to wake up again. At some point…Gene stopped counting.
He was simply…tired. His shoulders felt heavy. His heart heavier still. No matter what life he lived…Nothing changed Yet strangely…because he had lost his parents so young in reality…a part of him had already accepted it. Somehow…he had become accustomed to loss.
Then…another life. Gene opened his eyes. He sat inside a laboratory. Books lined every shelf. Scientific journals covered his desk.
He had become a scientist. A professor. His research was respected across the world.
This time…his parents were alive. Gene smiled.
"I won't let anything happen this time."
He made certain they never lacked food.
Never lacked warmth. Never lacked medicine.
He watched over them every single day. Years passed peacefully. Then One evening…Gene returned home. The lights were still on.
The house was quiet. Too quiet. He smiled softly.
"They're probably sleeping."
He walked toward their bedroom.
Slowly…he opened the door. His parents lay peacefully beside one another. Their expressions were calm. Gene stepped closer.
"…Mom?"
No response.
"…Dad?"
Silence. He reached out. Touched his mother's shoulder. Cold. He immediately checked both of them.
No wounds. No illness. No pain. They had simply… passed away in their sleep. For no visible reason. Gene lowered his head. His hands trembled. Tears rolled down his face once more.
"…Why…"
His voice cracked.
Then…voices surrounded him, Whispers. From every direction.
"You should just give up."
"You can't save anyone."
"Just grow old and die."
"Just accept it."
The whispers grew louder and more numerous.
They echoed endlessly inside his mind. Gene remained silent. His tears continued falling. Then…he slowly looked upward.
"I look around every day…"
His voice trembled.
"I see that everyone's happy…"
His fists slowly tightened.
"Why can't I be happy too?"
The voices fell silent.
Gene gritted his teeth.
"Don't I have things I want to accomplish?"
His breathing steadied.
"Seeing my parents alive…"
A single tear fell.
"…is one of them."
The darkness around him began trembling.
Gene slowly closed his eyes. His expression became peaceful.
"If this dream doesn't want to follow my wants and will…"
His voice carried unwavering conviction.
"…then I'll make a dream of my own."
Everything disappeared. The whispers vanished and the sorrow faded. Within the darkness of his own mind…Gene began imagining.
A world filled with life. Eight billion people. Children laughing. Families smiling. Friends walking together. Cities full of happiness.
No despair or loneliness. Only ordinary people living ordinary lives. Then…he imagined something even more precious.
His parents, Living beside him..Watching him grow, Laughing together, Growing old together. Sharing countless ordinary days.
Until one day after living full lives…they passed away naturally and Gene…fulfilled everything he wished to accomplish.
He too grew old and died peacefully and Satisfied. The dream felt so vivid…that it became real within his heart. Silence embraced the world.
Then…a voice echoed gently throughout the endless darkness.
"You have proven that you are worthy of the Gift of Dreams."