I died in 1990. It was not a remarkable occurrence at the time. I was just another victim of a car crash, a statistic in a society where death was commonplace. Now, thirty years later, I am once again alive. I have no idea how this occurred.

I initially believed that it was a dream. I awoke in my 1990-era bedroom, surrounded by the same posters and literature. Yet when I observed my surroundings, I noticed that everything had changed. The posters were immaculate, unlike the worn-out old ones I had posted on my walls as a teen. And I had never seen any of the novels before.

I stumbled from my room into the corridor, bewildered and disoriented. Then, I encountered my parents. They were both alive and appeared identical to when I was a teenager.

To learn more I opted to keep this encounter to myself since I did not want to cause any confusion or concern among my family and friends.

Yet when the days became weeks and the weeks became months, I couldn't help but feel that something was off. In spite of the lovely exterior of my hometown, a shadow lurked beneath the surface. Individuals appeared to be concealing information that they did not want me to know.

I began having bizarre dreams, nightmares, in which I was stuck in an universe that was slowly dissolving. In these dreams, I would catch glimpses of my former life, which I had abandoned in 1990. However, everything was warped, deformed, and ghastly. Everything appeared to be deteriorating; the colors were darker, the individuals were odd, and there was a general air of decay.

When I was going through the park one day, I heard a voice behind me. “Hey, you!” When I turned around, a man was approaching me. His hair was filthy and he had a scar above his left eye.

“Do you know me?” I inquired, feeling apprehensive.

The man wore a grin. “No, but I recognise you. You are the boy who perished in the vehicle crash. Despite this, you continue to act as if nothing has happened.”

I made a retreat. “Who are you? What do you desire?” The man's grin widened. “I wish to assist you. I wish to reveal the truth about this location. But, you must be willing to take a leap of faith.” I was uncertain as to whether or not to trust him. Nonetheless, my curiosity overcame me, and I nodded in accord.

The man led me to an abandoned structure on the city’s outskirts. Inside, it was dark, humid, and covered with cobwebs. Yet, as we descended deeper inside the building, I witnessed something that chilled my blood. There, in the room’s middle, was a machine unlike any other I had ever seen. It was a jumble of wires and tubes, emitting a faint humming sound. “What is that?” My voice scarcely rose above a whisper as I inquired.

The gentleman smiled. “This is the machine that restored your life. It’s been kept from the rest of the world for decades.” I was overcome with fury and confusion. “Why would somebody do such a thing? Why would they want me to return?”

The man gave a shrug. “Who can say? Perhaps they believed they could alter the course of history. Perhaps they believed they could play God.”

I retreated from the machine, fearing that the darkness was coming to consume me. “I wish to depart,” I stated. The man nodded his head. “I understand. Yet, there is something you must see first.” He guided me to a small room adjacent to the main area. There were several TVs and monitors within, each displaying a different scene from my life. I said, pointing to one of the TVs, “That’s me. That’s when I passed away.” The man nodded his head.

When I observed it closely, I noticed something for the first time. A figure, shrouded by the darkness, appeared to be moving behind the vehicle shortly prior to the collision. I murmured, “That’s not possible.” There was nobody present.

The man’s head was shaken. “Someone was there, someone who was keeping watch over you. And now, that person desires your return.” I had no idea what to say. The entire thing was too complex and bizarre to fathom. “Mom? Dad?” I stated, my voice trembling.

Their faces were turned to me with expressions of amazement on their faces. “What’s wrong?” inquired my mum.

“I...I have no idea. I think I am dreaming or hallucinating. Everything feels so real.” My parents exchanged concerned glances, and my father placed his hand on my shoulder. “Let’s go downstairs and discuss this,” he suggested.

As we made our way to the living room, I could not help but observe how everything had changed. The furniture was identical, but the colors and cloth were brighter and cleaner. It seemed as if I had been transported to a more idealised version of the past.

After settling into the living room, my folks began asking me questions. They wanted to know what had transpired and why I was acting so peculiarly. I had no responses, however. I only knew that I had died in 1990 and was now resurrected.

As the days passed, I began to notice more peculiar aspects of my new life. My high school pals were all still alive and appeared identical to how they did thirty years ago. My hometown remained the same, but everything else had changed. The sky was bluer, the streets were broader, and the buildings were all clean and new.

I attempted to find a logical explanation for what had happened. Perhaps it was a peculiar coma or a delusion caused by brain damage. But the more I attempted to explain it, the clearer it became that there was no explanation.

I decided to go for a walk one evening. I wanted to determine if additional changes had occurred in my tiny town. As I traveled down Main Street, I noticed a distant person. It was a woman who was dressed in vintage attire and using a cane. As she approached, I could tell that her face was aged and wrinkly.

“Pardon me, ma’am,” I said as I stopped before her. “May I assist you in any way?” She looked up at me. “ I know who you are,” she said. “You are the boy who perished in the automobile accident.”

My heartbeat skipped. I asked, “How do you know that?” The woman grinned. “Because I was present. I saw you die.” I was astounded by what I was hearing. “However...how is this possible? How am I still alive?”

Her smile gradually disappeared. “I do not know, youngling. But, you should be cautious. Some things in this world were never meant for us to comprehend.” I could not shake the sensation that she knew more than she was giving on as she walked away. Yet I had no notion how to leave this location and never return.

I could not escape the impression that someone was following me as I returned to town. When I looked back, no one was there, but I could feel eyes upon me.

I hurried across the streets with my pulse thumping. As I rounded the corner onto my own street, though, I halted in my tracks. A man I was all too familiar with stood in front of my residence. It was either me or a version of me. Yet, this version was distinct. It was older, more worn, and its face was carved with lines. “What are you...who are you?” I inquired, retracing my steps.

The elder version of myself smiled with regret. “I am your future self. Or, rather, the future that ought to have been.” I shook my head, feeling faint. “I don’t understand.” The elder version of myself approached. “You were never intended to return. Your passing was intended to set things in motion and alter the path of history. But now that you’re here, the equilibrium has been thrown off.” A feeling of dread washed over me. “What exactly do you mean?”

My elder self shrugged. “Who can say? Maybe nothing. Perhaps everything. All I know is that you must return. You must travel back in time to the day of the accident and ensure that everything goes as planned.” I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare as I peered at the older version of myself. How...how do I fix this?

The other version of me grinned. “That is the simple part. The only requirement is to go into the machine. It will transport you to the time before the accident. You can fix everything and then return to your proper place.”

I hesitated, uncertain as to whether to trust this version of myself. I realised, however, that there was no other option. I entered the machine and felt the familiar hum as the wires and tubes encircled me. Then, with a startling jolt, I was suddenly whisked back in time.

I was standing on the side of the road, observing the approaching vehicle. This time, however, I was prepared. I anticipated what was to come and was resolved to make amends.

As the car drove by me in the darkness, I saw the figure who had been looking over me for so many years. I now understood that it was my future self attempting to make amends.

I stepped out into the street, flailing my arms and yelling with a sudden surge of courage. The driver slammed on the brakes, and the vehicle stopped within inches away from me.

Everything stood motionless for a second. As I continued to observe, the figure in the darkness vanished, and the environment around me transformed.

I had returned to the present, but everything had changed. The town was brighter, the residents were happier, and I finally felt at home.

I returned to my previous residence with a weight lifted from my shoulders. When I ascended the stairs, I noticed my folks standing on the porch. Obviously, they had aged, but they were still the same caring parents .

“Hello, Mom,” I said, giving her a hug. “Hello, Dad.”

Both of them glanced at me with perplexity on their faces. “Do we know you?” my mother inquired.

I smiled. ‘I’m your son. I’m back.”