My name is Justin. I'm a medical student at the university—a career as demanding as it is rewarding. Sleepless nights have become part of my routine; sometimes I feel exhausted, but I remind myself that sacrifice builds character. That every late night, every page studied at dawn, is one step closer to the future I want to build.
I remember that particular afternoon. I was going over my notes when I heard a soft voice behind me.
"Hey," a girl with a bright smile greeted me. It was Sofía.
She and I have always been close. I could say there's something special between us, although deep down, I don't dare imagine a future together. Maybe because life has already taught me how fragile bonds can be…
I'm an only child. My parents died three years ago, and since then, loneliness became a quiet companion. I work to pay for my studies, to afford food every day. Sometimes I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders, but I can't stop. If I give up, everything I've done so far would lose its meaning.
"Hey, we should grab lunch. Being buried in your books day and night can't be healthy," Sofía said with a playful smile.
I couldn't help but smile back.
"Sure, should we go now?"
"Of course," she replied, standing up.
We walked together toward the exit of the university building. As we went down the stairs, Sofía pointed excitedly toward the street.
"Look, they're building apartments."
I looked up and saw the massive structure already rising into the sky.
"Yeah… they look pretty tall. Do you think they're safe?" I asked, a bit unsure.
"Seems like it," she said with a shrug. Then, as usual, she quickly changed the subject. "But anyway, look! That café… the same one as always."
I let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of my neck.
"Yeah… the usual one," I muttered.
"Come on, Justin," she said warmly. "You need to put more energy into your life. You're always so serious… you should be more like that Steven Universe."
The comparison caught me off guard, but before I could respond, Sofía looked at me with bright, wide eyes.
"That show… it's my favorite. You watched it because of me, right?"
For a moment, it felt like my heart skipped a beat.
"Yeah, Sofi… honestly, I did like it," I replied as we walked toward the café. "Think about it—a kid in a world that basically feels post-apocalyptic."
"Huh?" she blinked, tilting her head. "I never saw it that way."
I smiled, enjoying her curiosity.
"Well, Steven isn't just any kid. He's a Gem—and not just that, he's half Diamond. That's incredibly powerful, even if he can't fully control it yet. Think of it like this: he's a rough diamond, with huge potential he doesn't even understand yet."
Sofía placed a hand over her chest, eyes wide with amazement.
"That's true… a Diamond! That's insane. And being half Diamond, his potential must be huge."
"Exactly," I said, satisfied.
When we reached the counter, we ordered coffee. While we waited, the conversation flowed naturally, as if time itself had slowed down. We talked about shows, studies, and dreams, getting lost in words and smiles.
In the end, we left the café still chatting, with the feeling that such a simple, ordinary moment would stay with us forever.
"Come on, Just," Sofía said cheerfully. "We're going out again tomorrow too, right?"
"Of course," I replied with a smile that promised a peaceful day.
But fate had other plans.
As we walked near the newly built apartments, something unexpected happened. A massive section of the unstable structure began to give way. No one around us noticed—until it was too late.
By pure chance, I looked up… and felt a shock run through my body.
A huge wall was about to collapse.
Right onto Sofía.
She kept walking, unaware.
I didn't think.
Something took over me.
"Sofi!" I shouted, pushing her with all my strength.
She fell to the ground, confused, turning toward me with wide eyes.
"Justin…?"
But it was already too late.
The collapse thundered like a storm. A massive block fell in front of her.
The impact was brutal.
Dust rose.
Silence followed.
When the air cleared, Sofía saw the wall—covered in blood—just inches away.
Her breath caught.
She understood.
That sacrifice…
Was Justin's.
Her friend…
Or maybe something more.
Justin opened his eyes.
But there was no light.
Only darkness.
An endless void surrounded him, silent, as if time itself had stopped.
"What… happened?" he murmured.
Memories began to swirl in his mind—his childhood, sleepless nights studying medicine, laughter with Sofía, and that final moment…
The falling wall.
"I saved her… right? I hope I did…" he whispered into the emptiness.
Time passed strangely.
Seconds?
Minutes?
Years?
There was no way to tell.
It was just him.
And his thoughts.
Over and over, he relived everything. He studied his life, watching himself like an outsider. At first, it hurt.
Then it became routine.
After the hundredth time—or was it the thousandth?—he lost count.
"…What a boring life I had," he said finally, letting out a faint laugh.
The darkness embraced him.
Endless.
Patient.
"Will someone come get me? Or am I stuck here forever… alone with my memories?"
His voice faded.
And in that silence, he began to wonder if the worst part wasn't death…
But being trapped with himself.
Then—
A voice.
From nowhere.
"Hello, Steven," it said, warm and calm.
"Steven?" I asked, confused.
"Yes, Steven," the voice repeated, with a smile I could somehow feel.
I tried to stand—or thought I did. My body felt strange, heavy, like time itself weighed on me.
"Who are you?" I asked quietly.
"That doesn't matter," the voice replied gently. "I just want to ask you something. Do you accept the name Steven?"
The question hit me hard.
My name?
Change my identity?
Then—
A figure appeared.
A girl.
Her silhouette felt painfully familiar—black hair falling over her shoulders. I couldn't see her face clearly, as if the light refused to define it.
"...Sofi?" I whispered.
She didn't answer.
She simply extended her hand.
An invitation.
My hand moved—barely, stiff—but it moved.
"Do you accept the name Steven?" she asked again. "If you do, you'll follow a legacy full of adventures."
The idea shook me.
Would I become someone else?
Would I lose myself?
But her hand felt warm.
Real.
I closed my eyes.
And squeezed it.
"…Okay," I said softly. "I accept. I'll be Steven."
She smiled.
And the darkness felt… less empty.
Something passed through me.
Like the name itself was a key.
"Welcome to the world of fiction," the entity said.
I began to fade.
The last thing I saw—
Was that figure watching me.
"This one took longer than usual," it murmured. "I'm surprised he didn't try to create his own world in his mind."
A soft laugh echoed.
"I hope this second chance reaches your soul."
And then—
Everything disappeared.
The void collapsed.
And with it…
So did I.
End of Chapter 1.