In a world far, far away—yet painfully similar to our own—there lived a boy who understood very little and cared to do even less. He wasn't a hero, or a chosen one, or even remotely special. He was simply a college student, supposed to be studying for finals, yet far too immersed in the glowing screen of his computer.
His name was Tod.
He lived on campus, working part-time for the school while also being a full-time student, which basically meant he was exhausted at all times except when he was supposed to be productive. His dorm sat oddly close to the road—close enough that if a truck ever swerved off course, the first thing it'd hit would be his wall. He knew this, vaguely, but like most things in his life, he ignored it.
The universe, unfortunately, did not.
POV: Tod
"Man… I need to fix whatever is going wrong with me," I muttered to myself. "I have finals next week, yet here I am trying to write a fanfic."
The white glow of my screen reflected the sad truth: only a few paragraphs of my wannabe creation stared back at me—and man, did it suck. I wasn't even mad about it anymore. I was barely passing my classes anyway. This was just another thing I wasn't good at.
But college? College sucked. Boring lectures, endless assignments, sudden quizzes dropped without warning… and then they tell us to study with no prep time. Honestly, it felt like the system was designed to make us fail unless we were superhumans—or rich.
"Man, I miss my girlfriend," I sighed, picking up my phone. The time told me she was still in class. "She's too busy for me to bother her right now… ugh."
After a few seconds of staring at my screen, I gave up.
"Whatever. I'm just gonna go to the gym for a bit."
Quick Third-Person POV
Tod stood up, stretched, and grabbed his third white Monster of the day. He downed his supplements—part motivation, part placebo—and grabbed his wrist wraps. If he couldn't pass his classes, at least he could try to get stronger.
He walked through the hallway with the kind of confidence you fake until it becomes real. People still looked down on him—literally. At 5'6", he wasn't winning any height contests, but he wore it with pride. Weighing a solid 200 pounds, mostly muscle, he'd already proved wrong every person who told him he'd never get above 180.
The gym was his escape. The iron didn't judge, didn't grade, didn't lecture. It simply waited for him.
But fate wasn't waiting.
Third-Person POV (Overall)
Tod, unaware and exhausted, sat somewhere between existing and procrastinating—pushing off his eight-page review assignment with only 25 of the questions done, a growing dread curling in his stomach like a storm he refused to acknowledge.
And outside, on the road so dangerously close to his dorm, a different storm was brewing.
Random Drunk Student POV
Man, this week has been hell, but you know what? I don't even know… but I'm relaxing, THAT'S WHAT!
I grabbed another beer—maybe my fifth? Sixth? Didn't matter—chugged it, then tried to throw the can forward. It slipped, splashing into the driver.
Driver POV
"Dude! What the hell, man? I'm driving!" I yelled, wiping beer from my eyes. The alcohol stung, and my vision blurred for a second—not ideal when you're behind the wheel, even less ideal when you're drunk out of your mind.
The campus lights sped past us like streaks, and I felt the truck drifting a little to the right. My buddy was laughing, uselessly drunk, waving his empty beer can like it was a trophy.
I looked over at him for just a second—just long enough to shout, "Seriously, knock it off!"
Then I looked forward again.
And my stomach dropped.
A building filled my entire windshield.
I jerked the wheel hard, but my arms felt heavy, slow, like they weren't fully connected to my brain.
The tires screamed.
The truck swerved.
Everything blurred.
Then… impact.
We slammed through an empty room, the walls exploding into white dust and splinters. The force barely slowed us; it felt like the truck didn't even care about the building in its way.
And then we hit another wall, stopping our truck
I remember seeing someone inside.
I didn't even have time to process the look on his face before the wall collapsed on him with all the force we built up.
Then the windshield exploded inward.
Metal twisted. Yet we live… I'm so going to lose the truck.
Tod's POV
A sound you can't describe.
A feeling you can't place.
A moment where your body forgets where it is, and gravity feels wrong.
Then nothing.
Just black.
A heavy, endless black.
And then he felt a warmth—the kind that washes over you after a lost football game, when your father pulls you in and tells you he's proud of you anyways.
Tod's breath broke, and he began to cry. The fear, the pain, the stress, the regrets he had carried for so long—all of it slipped from him like weight lifted from aching shoulders. For the first time in years, he truly felt… forgiven.
When he finally opened his eyes, a figure wrapped in radiant light stood before him, patiently waiting for Tod to regain himself. The sight was overwhelming, yet familiar. Deep down, Tod knew instantly who he was looking at.
It was his Father
his peace,
his comfort,
his God.
Tod fell to his knees, trembling, tears spilling again.
"Lord… I know I wasn't perfect. I know I sinned every day, and I don't deserve Your love. But God… I'm not ready yet. I still need to take care of my family. My girlfriend. I--I know I am nothing compared to—"
A warm, steady hand rested on his shoulder, silencing him.
"You are My child," God said gently. "I will always love you. And do not worry, young one, you will return and live. I made you and that young lady for each other, I have plans for the two of you." Through the brilliant light, Tod could make out a warm smile—one that felt like home.
God continued, His voice soft but full of certainty.
"I gave you a gift, the ability to connect with others. You never saw it, but people were drawn to you, especially when you trained. You will make a wonderful lifting coach, Tod. You will guide many young hearts, and you will lead them back to Me. But a part of you will remain with Me."
Tod looked up, startled. "But Lord… I'm not worthy. I don't unde—"
God interrupted him with a gentle squeeze.
"I decide who is worthy. I am the one who judges—not you, My son."
There was no harshness in His tone, only truth spoken with love.
"Fear not, child. Until the day you and your partner reunite, you will go to a world of My choosing and live again. My decision is final."
His smile grew even warmer. "Go. Live. Enjoy what I have planned for you."
Before Tod could react, God snapped His fingers.
And his soul drifted away.
Another World
In a dimly lit room, a young orphan suddenly jolted upright, breath sharp, eyes wide with confusion and panic.
Tod's POV
"…Huh?"