Do you know that feeling you get when you don’t comprehend the transition from last night to the next day? That same disorientation was happening to James as he struggled to open his eyes. There appeared to be a strange sky that was constantly changing from a kaleidoscope of colors. That’s when James noticed he was lying on top of a grassy hill top, seemingly surrounded by gentle hills.

“I thought this would be a good place for us to talk, considering how things ended for you James. But don’t worry, this is the start of your brand new life and it will be so much better!”

Hearing a voice caused James to push himself up into a sitting position and look to his side to see an attractive women in silk, sitting on a bench, painting. A small smile gracing her warm looking face. She had long, brown hair and a slender body, with some paint dried on her hand. James was utterly annoyed at her bright and cheery pep talk.

Why the hell is she so irrationally cheerful, ugh she’s gorgeous too?

Putting the paintbrush down, she stood up and walked over to James. She reached her hand out to help James up. Still not sure what was going on but reasonably sure he take her in a fight James grabbed her hand and finally stood up. He quickly let her hand go, but she didn’t seem surprised by this and the strange woman motioned for James to follow her down the hill.

How did I even get here last thing I remember was…

The hypnotic mess of a sky above them changed from its endless colors to a familiar scene to James. It was the alley where he lived, piles of trash and homeless lumped together clogging the alley. He could see himself with a needle in his arm. His eyes had gone into the back of his head, foam formed around his mouth, and his chest motionless.

“I died” James emotionlessly stated.

“Yes, I know it must be hard, but, like, as I said before, I have some exciting ne… James don't you think it's time to stop acting like that?”

She must have been reacting to the smile forming on James’ face and the look of longing he had while staring at the heroin and liquor bottles that surrounded his dead body. Nothing else mattered besides getting another hit, James could just imagine the relief and peace he could get it he could get if he just had more. James turned looked up the woman to see her face twisting into horror. She rushed over and grabbed his shoulders.

“No! Don’t be like that”

Like what, happy?

“The life you had with drugs and alcohol is over”

A life without those sounds horrible

“Your next life can be one without the hurt and shame you carry even now”

How could you even promise that? Who would even believe that?

The smile on James face vanished, causing the woman to rush to explain herself.

“I am the great goddess Sorya and I have watched over you for some time before your tragic end. I feel like, without those bad things in your life, you could have been a great person. I glanced through your entire life and thought I could put you in a world with a brand new set of abilities to help you.”

The sky changed again, the paint colors shifted until another world appeared above them. People in armor were fighting magical creatures, spells of all sorts flying from one direction to the other. It was a fantasy world come to life in the sky above them.

“As a child you use to imagine living in a place like the world above you and now you will get the chance to fulfill your dreams. I great at picking new worlds for souls to be reborn in and this totally would be perfect for you”

James had to admit that the idea of living in a fantasy world would be exciting, but there was no guarantee his life wouldn’t be as disparaging as before. James could tell she noticing his negative thoughts. Reminding him of his parole officer, the annoying man could tell when he was spiraling out of control. Even now James was disheartened by how little the cop cared as long as he checked in when he was supposed to and slide him some cash every now and then.

I deserved it

No one stayed around to help James, not his parents, not friends. By the end he had screwed up his life so much that they could no longer be around him. How could this Goddess make him anything different.

“But that’s not all, also like those games you like. You will be given stats plus bonuses points each time you level-up, making sure you are above average along with any skills you learn will level up faster. In other words, you have nothing to worry about!”

The Goddess Sorya was beaming at this point, she was nearly sparkly with positivity. It amazed James how even as she gave him everything he dreamed of as a kid, he was becoming irrationally annoyed with her as time went on.

“Wow, it really seems you want to give me a perfect life.”

James started to joke to which the Goddess started to laugh at herself in response.

“Seems you got me all figured out, giving you this much pushes what I am allowed to give to one person. All the gods have decided there must be a limit on how powerful we can make a person. Also, the souls we govern over are our responsibility so if they die too soon it’s our fault, and assist them with their next life.”

“Seems fair.”

“Good to hear” James chuckled to himself. Maybe things can be different but it won't last. Since I already know I’ll screw it up why not try to get more out of it while I can

“Goddess Sorya truly you have offered me such great gifts but, I am sure you can agree, I am easily discouraged. I need an ability I can use as soon as I go to this new world or who knows what will happen.” James said as he attempted to milk more abilities from the Goddess.

“What you say James does make sense but given what the abilities you already have been given…”

“Do you want to see me dying of a drug overdose again? Because I will unless you give me at least one more thing.”

James felt shame saying that to her, but he just added that to the pile of repressed guilt and other clogging emotions he wanted to escape from.

The Goddess Sorya looked worried at the thought of seeing James reaching the same tragic end. He watched her pace for a minute, walking in circles she mentally weighed her options. Finally, Sorya took a deep breath and breathed out.

“Alright… but just one and you're going to have to do something for me”

“Agreed”

A menu popped up with a wide list of abilities but James had already decided upon the kind he wanted. James read through the list until he found one closest to it and the ability was called [Gift of Intelligence].

“That’s it, no more.”

“Of course, now what do I have to do”

“Explain this.”

The sky changed yet again, it was James as a small child watching his parents argue. He was hiding behind a wall watching them with wide eyes and scared. The goddess gestured at James so you began to describe the painting.

“Really? This is a waste of time…. Fine. I was five years old when this happened, this was the start of the many fights between my parents before their divorce. Screaming which one should have me.”

“Was it always this bad?”

James looked at the painting again, his parents were screaming so loud at the kitchen table there veins were popping out of there necks.

“Yeah, it was.”

“Must have been hard...” The goddess said open-endedly

“It was so long ago, what adult could remember something from when they were that young?” James said while lightly shaking his head knowing he just lied but refused to admit it

“You're probably right.” The Goddess agreed, light heartedly. Then motioned him to look at the sky.

This time he was older and standing on a street corner with a bloody lip while three other boys stood around him in the darkness of night.

“I was forteen, those kids were bullies I kept running into because I like to stay outside. Do you have a problem with that? Actually, can we just stop now?” James was really beginning to feel uncomfortable.

“Why were you outside? Look at how dark it is surely you wanted to sleep. You must have had school the next day.”

“Like I said I like outside and besides my mom told me not to waste my time in the house.”

“And why did she tell you to do that James. Be honest.”

James closed his eyes, talking about these things was something he had avoided for a very long time, but he knew there was nothing he could do to get out of this.

“... My mom had remarried two years ago at that point, he use to hurt my mom and I when he got angry. Mostly my mother, but he beat me to if he had a especially bad night. One time I woke up to him still beating me, after knocking me unconscious after going to bed for the day… It was so dark.” James barely choked out.

“Alright, just one more. We’re nearly done.”

“Please… don't show it, isn't this enough?” He already knew what was going to be shown and didn’t know if he could stomach it.

The goddess was not looking at the sky, she was watching James’ reaction as the paint came together to recreate the final scene. James was holding his mouth shut with his hand while tears streamed down his face.

“Tell me what you see James.” She walked closer to him but he did not even notice.

In the sky should was horrific image of James kneeling over his mother, with a fist pulled back, screaming incoherently while his father and one of his friends were attempting to pull him off of her.

“I was 23, and had been kicked out of my apartment, they had all set this intervention up at my dad’s house. My dad had drove us back to his place, they were already waiting in his living room. You want to know the first thing I heard?”

“Yes, I do”

“It was my mother, she said “James it's alright, I’m here to help.” and when she did I…” James started to cover his mouth but the goddess with a light touch pulled his hand back.

“You need to say it if you are truly ready to start a new life.”

Hearing those words made James freeze in place, was this really worth it? In the end the hope of something better, he began to hope and let himself speak.

“When I heard those words coming from my mother I snapped. I dropped what I was carrying and just rushed her out of mind drunk. I just started screaming. “What right do you have to say that to me after all these years? Why do magically care and not when our family fell apart or when your fucking husband beat me. Why did you force me to be live with you and that psychotic asshole?”

James stopped speaking and just looked at his mother's face filled with complete terror and tears.

“Hearing all those things from me was just too much for her… my mother died of a heart attack right under me. Because.Of. Me.”

Saying those last words finally caused James to finally break down into the goddess’s arms. All of those memories were repressed by James. Pushing it away had become his one and only job, he had used drugs and alcohol to do it. He cried because he was just so tired of being this much in pain and remembering what he had done. James didn’t know how much time had passed but eventually his tears stopped and he just clung to the goddess.

“You're ready to begin again.” the Goddess said while standing up.

“Look at me! Do I really look like a person who can do anything?” James said defeatedly.

In response the goddess just gave a soft smile that for James was like a small ray of sunshine.

“Only a person in your position is truly ready”

James was still an emotional mess, but with trepidation grabbed her hand allowing the Goddess to pull him up.The goddess resumed walking and James followed behind her, it was only a short walk until he saw a simple door on top of the hill in front of them.

“As soon as you walked through that door your new life will start and soon after you will be able to call upon your status. There is one condition that comes with me granting you a full life in another world”

Both of them were now in front of the door, Sorya motioned for James to open it and he did showing a bright white light.

“You will be starting your life right the very beginning and you have the choice to decide your own fate, enjoy it” She said with another warm smile

Before James could respond about what she meant, she pushed him from behind and he went flying into the light.

The next time James opened his eyes a huge man and women were standing over him, their faces full of smiles as they spoke in high-pitched, squealing voices as they leaned inside his crib.