When Arthur opens his eyes, he sees before him a figure that looks more like a mannequin. Without a face or clothes, hair, or any other distinguishing characteristic, its stark white body emanates a soft white light that, somehow, calms him.
"Hello, Arthur. I wasn't expecting you here so soon! But I believe it was my fault, for getting distracted with other things and neglecting this task," the figure says with a soft, calm voice.
"Huh? What is this? What kind of crazy dream is this? Wait a minute, when did I fall asleep? Damn it, did I fall asleep at the wheel?!" Arthur starts questioning himself, growing increasingly frightened as he concludes he must have fallen asleep while driving.
"Calm down, you didn't fall asleep at the wheel," the figure replies calmly.
"Then how did I end up here?" asks an apprehensive Arthur, who then starts looking around. "Wherever 'here' is."
"The one who fell asleep was the driver of the truck that hit your car," the strange figure replies, trying to sound as if it were something funny.
"Oh, good… Wait, what?! So I died?!" Arthur asks, almost panicking again, but for some reason, his brain seems to refuse to freak out.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Wait. I know I've been so tired lately, but I can't be losing it like this," he says, trying to calm himself, beginning to control his breathing.
Finally, starting to come out of the state of shock, Arthur looks at that strange figure and asks, "What do you want with me?"
"Believe it or not, I'm tired of this endless task of taking care of my creation. I'm lovin' it, truly, but I would like to start a new project and leave this one to someone else. Considering that your death was my oversight, and that you were a reliable person in your last life, a good father and all that… To tell the truth, it's mainly because I liked you and how you developed within your possibilities. So, I would like to offer you a deal."
"Wait, wait, wait! First of all, who are you?"
"I am known in various ways and by many names, but to make it easier, let's say I am God."
"Okay. And you want me to believe that you want to give me the job of GOD?!?!?"
"More or less that. You learn quickly."
"Hold on. Was that it? I just said any random thing! And, to begin with, you don't even have a face! How can you not have a face?!"
"Ah, that? I see no reason for it, seeing as I am not a person. I can assume any form; I just chose this humanoid model to facilitate our communication."
"Then why not choose a complete form, with a mouth and everything?"
"That really bothers you, doesn't it? Well then, how about now? I believe this is the form that humans think I have," as he says this, his body assumes the form of a strong man with long, graying hair and a beard, covered only by a tunic of light white fabric.
"Whoa!! So it's true?" Arthur asks, completely incredulous.
"And to think that, upon discovering that you died, this would be your first concern. You never cease to surprise me," God says, laughing.
"Wait a minute. I've always heard that God knows everything. So that's not true?"
"Do you really want to know the truth? Wow, you are quite a curious individual. Alright, let's say I can know, yes, but I have chosen not to do so and just watch, which has proven to be a much more interesting experience. It may seem like a positive thing for you all, but believe me, after a while it becomes more of a nuisance than anything else. You know, what's the fun in observing my creation if I already know everything that's going to happen? It's like watching a movie you already know the script by heart. But let's get to what matters: my offer. I'm sure you have many questions, but I will not answer them now. It will be better for you to discover most of these things for yourself."
"Wait, go back a little. Did I really just die? What about my family? My daughter's birthday is next week! My team was counting on me for the competition!"
"Calm down. Your family will be fine. You have a group of very good friends who will help them. As for your team, if you accept my proposal, you will see them again soon."
"What do you mean? Are they going to die too? Explain that properly!"
"Everyone dies at some point," God says with a smile. "But not now, so don't worry so much. You will understand at the right time… If you accept my offer."
"Alright. Let's hear it," Arthur sighs once more in an attempt to calm down.
"Well…" God makes a dramatic pause, staring at Arthur as if imagining the man's next reaction. "My offer, as you must already imagine, is to gift you with the power of administrator of one of my worlds. If you accept, I will send you right now to a new world called Tera, where you must help the people prosper and grow."
"Even if you say that, I have no idea how to do such a thing. I wouldn't even know where to start. I don't know these people, their customs, nothing!"
"Calm down, young grasshopper," God says, holding back another laugh. He seems to enjoy the situation very much.
"Oh, sorry," Arthur replies, feeling his ears get hot with embarrassment.
"Again, do you accept?"
"I don't know. All this power is very tempting, but I wouldn't know what to do with it. I can die and never manage to accomplish this. Maybe I won't even discover a way to do something so big. And if I fail, what happens?"
"Ah, I understand your confusion. By accepting my offer, I can give you an immortal body. Thus, time will not be relevant, and I will also give you 'tools' to help in this mission."
"An immortal body? But it must be sad to live longer than those you love. To see everyone leave and you stay behind. I can't even imagine what the feeling of seeing my children die would be like," an increasingly thoughtful Arthur says, noticing God's expression as he speaks.
"Indeed. It is a great problem for humans."
"You mean that, by accepting the proposal, that will no longer be a problem for me?"
"You must have already heard the idea that you were made in my image, haven't you? In essence, it depends far more on how you face things than on your inherent nature. But I cannot promise you that it gets easier."
"I'm still not sure. Could I be responsible for the world where my family lives?"
"Unfortunately, no. That would be complicated. That world has already been designated for another cosmic being from a different region to avoid this kind of problem."
"Seriously? Though I do understand the logic," a disappointed Arthur says.
"Yes. But I can make you a new offer. Let's do this: I will give you a new body in this new world. You will not be transported like the others. You will be reborn there. I will give you an improved body that will evolve as you age. When you are mature enough, you will unlock the full potential of your powers. But until then, you will have to help the people of this world as a human would. That is, without presenting yourself as God."
"Alright. I accept, with some conditions."
"Oh? Let's hear them," God seems, somehow, to enjoy Arthur's audacity.
"First, I need some cheat abilities, like in those animes I watched when I was younger."
"No problem. With some limitations, I can guarantee that."
"Second, I would like to see my family one last time."
"That can be arranged, but only in a dream. That is the condition."
"In a dream? Alright, that's enough."
"So, do we have a deal?" God extends his hand to Arthur.
"If I can keep my memories, then yes. But what can I call you? I don't want to say 'God' when I refer to you."
"Call me whatever you want, but never forget to respect the free will of living beings. That is my condition," as he says this, their hands touch and Arthur's vision is taken over by God's white light.
In the next moment, he is in front of his house, but there are three front doors. Each one with a name: the first with his wife's name, the second his youngest son's name, and the third his daughter's name. Then he thinks:
"This means I'll only be able to talk to one of them. I guess this is going to be my last birthday present." Arthur sighs, trying to come to terms with the idea.
Then, upon passing through the door, he finds himself in the hall where his daughter's Sweet Sixteen party will be. She is at the far end of the hall, looking at herself in a mirror, wearing a beautiful light dress, with a flower crown on her head. Upon seeing him, she asks:
"Look, Dad, what do you think of my dress?"
"Beautiful," Arthur replies with his eyes full of tears as he thinks that he will no longer be there for her, nor for the rest of his family.
"Dad, are you okay?" the girl asks, approaching as she notices her father's expression and tears.
"Yes. I'm just happy to see the beautiful woman you are becoming. Unfortunately, I won't make it to your birthday. So, I would like to give you one last hug before I leave," Arthur struggles to get the words out. His throat burns, his lungs feel weak, his eyes sting.
"Dad? What do you mean? What are you talking about?" the girl asks, already starting to get scared.
At that moment, Arthur feels something move in his pocket and a voice in his head says:
"Give this to her. It's going to be your farewell gift."
Arthur puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. Upon looking, he understands what it is. He takes a deep breath, places that folded paper in his daughter's hand, and says:
"When I'm gone, memorize what it says here and write it down as soon as you wake up. Then, give it to your mother. Please, don't forget. This is going to be my last gift to you all."
The girl, understanding nothing, merely nods. Arthur gives her his last hug, and tears immediately stream down his face. He sobs like a child, clinging to her. His vision blurs with tears, then the blinding white light consumes him once more. The girl wakes with a start and hurriedly jots down the numbers from the paper her father gave her, her hands trembling as she writes in her bedside diary. Moments later, she finds her mother crying in the living room, phone in hand.
"Mom, what happened?" the girl asks, already fearing the answer.
"Oh, honey..." Her mother takes a few deep breaths, struggling to say the words. "Your father... He suffered an accident while returning home. They found his body inside the river with the car. It seems that a truck hit his car and knocked it into the river."
"So he really died?" the girl asks in shock.
"Yes," her mother replies, starting to cry again.
"Mom, I just dreamed about him! He told me he wouldn't make it to my birthday. And he gave me this paper—he said to write it down when I woke up and give it to you. He called it his last gift. I don't understand what these numbers are."
As the girl shows the paper to her mother, a faint smile touches her mother's lips as comprehension dawns.
"Even now, he worries about us," the mother murmurs, a mix of sorrow and emptiness washing over her. "I think... I think these are the lottery numbers." They cling to each other, staying there through the long night.