Justin in his 10 year old form

Justin slowly opened his eyes… or at least tried to.

His body felt… weird.

Light.

Too light.

Justin (thinking): "Wait… I died, right? Then why do I feel like I’m floating? Don't tell me… am I in hell?"

He squeezed his eyes shut again.

"No flames… no demons… maybe this is peaceful hell?"

Just as he was about to overthink his afterlife situation, a voice interrupted him.

Not a scary devil voice.

Not even slightly threatening.

It sounded… normal.

Too normal.

Voice: "Justin, wake up. You're going to be late for school." 😐

Justin froze.

Justin (thinking): "School?"

Slowly...

Very slowly...

He opened his eyes.

And then—

Justin: "AHHHHHHH!" 😱

Standing in front of him was Lauren.

But not the "serious adult aunt" Lauren he remembered.

This Lauren looked...

Young.

Too young.

Suspiciously young.

Lauren: "Why are you screaming first thing in the morning?" 😐

Justin: "Aunt Lauren?! Why do you look so young?!" 😱

Lauren blinked.

Then frowned.

Lauren: "Excuse me? When did I ever look old?" 😒

Justin immediately sat up.

His heart pounded.

Justin: "Wait... you said school..."

"...SCHOOL?!" 😱

Lauren: "Yes?" 😎

Justin: "...How old am I?" 😅

Lauren stared at him as if questioning every life choice that led to this moment.

Lauren: "Fifteen."

"...Did you hit your head while sleeping?" 😑

Silence.

One second.

Two seconds.

Then—

Justin: "AHHHHHHHHH!!!" 😱

Lauren instantly covered her ears.

Lauren: "MY EARS! Sister Megan! Come here! Justin has officially lost his mind!" 😫

---

Megan Rushes In

Megan hurried into the room.

She stopped in the doorway.

Justin looked like he'd seen a ghost.

Lauren looked ready to throw him out the window.

Megan: "What happened?"

"Justin?"

"Justin?!" 😶

Justin slowly turned toward her.

He saw her face.

Young.

Alive.

Healthy.

Justin: "...AHHHHHH!" 😱

Lauren sighed dramatically.

Lauren: "I told you."

"He's broken." 😮‍💨

---

Meanwhile...

Thomas's Room

Thomas jumped out of bed.

Thomas: "AHHH! EARTHQUAKE! FIRE! THE HOUSE IS UNDER ATTACK!" 😱

He grabbed his blanket and hid underneath it.

---

Emily's Room

Emily didn't even lift her head from her book.

Emily: "...Again?" 😐

She calmly turned the page.

---

Dining Hall

Joseph calmly sipped his tea.

Joseph: "That's your son, Stephen." 😎

Stephen didn't even bother looking up.

Stephen: "...Again?" 😑

Jonathan silently drank his coffee. 🫥

Grandmother smiled gently.

Grandmother: "I wonder what happened." 😊

Grandfather sighed.

Grandfather: "What did Thomas do this time?" 😒

Back in Justin's Room

Megan had finally reached her limit.

Megan (shouting): "JUSTIN! THAT'S ENOUGH! BE QUIET!" 😡

Justin instantly froze.

Completely silent.

Inside...

Something felt strange.

He wasn't frightened.

He was...

Shocked.

Justin (thinking): "She... scolded me?"

To anyone else...

It would have been completely normal.

But to Justin...

It was something he'd almost never experienced.

Not because people ignored him.

But because no one had ever spoken to him like family.

For some reason...

Being scolded like this...

Didn't hurt.

It felt...

Warm.

Like someone genuinely cared.

Lauren folded her arms.

Still annoyed.

Lauren: "Honestly..."

"What's wrong with you today?" 😤

---

In the Hall

Joseph nearly spilled his tea.

Joseph: "Wait..."

"Was that my wife's voice?!" 😳

Stephen looked confused.

Stephen: "...Did Justin just scream?" 😶

For the first time...

Jonathan slowly lifted his head.

The entire hallway became quiet.

Something felt...

Wrong.

Normally...

Justin was the calm one.

Quiet.

Polite.

Far too mature for a fifteen-year-old.

Whenever loud noises happened...

Everyone automatically assumed it was Thomas.

Because Thomas was...

Well...

Thomas.

A certified expert at causing morning chaos.

But today...

The screaming came from Justin's room.

All three brothers slowly turned toward the same door.

Justin's Room

Justin sat silently on the bed.

His hands trembled.

Justin (thinking): "I really came back..."

"I'm fifteen years old again..."

"Same house..."

"Same family..."

"Same future..."

"The same tragedies are still waiting..."

He slowly looked around.

Lauren was still complaining.

Megan was rubbing her forehead in frustration.

Outside...

The family continued their normal morning.

Everything...

Was exactly as he remembered.

Except one thing.

This time...

He remembered everything.

Continue....

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