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Ethan Carter never thought much about fate. To him, life was simple—wake up, go about his day, and enjoy the little things, like cooking his favorite meals and watching anime late into the night.
It was just another normal afternoon in the city. With a bag of fresh ingredients in hand, he walked through the streets, AirPods in his ears, music drowning out the urban noise. The cool autumn breeze carried the scent of fresh pastries, leading his gaze to a familiar spot—Alise's Café.
A small smile crossed his lips as he pushed open the door. The cozy warmth of the café welcomed him, the rich aroma of baked goods mixing with the chatter of customers. It was a family-owned business, a staple of the neighborhood, and behind the counter stood Alise, his childhood friend.
Her blonde hair was tied in a neat ponytail, her green eyes lighting up as she spotted him. "Hey, Ethan! Haven't seen you in a while."
Ethan smirked. "Been busy. You know, adulting."
Alise rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. Still watching cartoons till 2 AM?"
"Anime," Ethan corrected with a mock-offended look. "And I'll have my usual."
She laughed, ringing up the order. "That'll be four dollars."
Ethan handed her the cash and leaned against the counter. "Tell your folks I said hi."
"I will," she said, sliding his drink across the counter. "Take care, Ethan."
"You too."
With that, Ethan stepped back onto the bustling sidewalk, taking a sip of his drink as he headed home. The city hummed with life, people moving in all directions. He reached a traffic light and stopped, watching the countdown tick toward green.
That's when he noticed them—a little girl and her mother waiting beside him. The girl, no older than six, held a red rubber ball, bouncing it lightly against the ground.
Then it happened.
The ball slipped from her hands, rolling onto the street. Without thinking, the girl ran after it.
The mother's panicked scream cut through the noise.
"NO! STOP!"
Ethan's eyes darted to the side—a car was speeding straight toward her.
In that moment, his body moved on its own. He dropped his bag and sprinted forward. Faster. Faster.
The girl was inches from danger. Ethan lunged, shoving her out of the way just as—
CRASH!
Pain exploded through his body as metal struck flesh. He was weightless for a moment before hitting the pavement with a sickening thud. The world spun. His vision blurred.
Distantly, he heard screams. Footsteps. Someone calling his name.
Through hazy sight, he saw Alise pushing through the crowd, tears streaming down her face. She was shouting something, but the words didn't reach him.
His head felt wet. Was it blood? Sirens wailed in the distance. Red and blue lights flashed.
Then—darkness.
Everything faded away.