{"id":613,"date":"2026-08-17T17:06:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T17:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:13:17","slug":"the-life-on-the-other-side","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613","title":{"rendered":"The Life on the Other Side"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tales from the Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moral Dilemma:<\/strong> If you could escape the life you cannot bear by giving it to someone who willingly accepts the trade, is that freedom\u2014or does consent become complicated when neither person truly understands what the other&#8217;s life costs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren wanted Toma&#8217;s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not metaphorically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eventually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it began metaphorically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone wanted Toma&#8217;s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma was beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not unusually handsome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The kind of face painters asked to borrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not obscene wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enough that broken shoes were annoying rather than frightening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had a large house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Healthy parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Friends everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And an irritating ability to enter a room as though the room had been waiting for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren disliked him immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren repaired roofs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He lived with his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His father coughed constantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The medicine was expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The roof leaked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was professionally humiliating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren knew exactly how to repair it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He simply spent his days repairing everyone else&#8217;s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By evening, he was exhausted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whenever rain entered the kitchen, his father put a bucket underneath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren always said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His father always answered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then Ren fell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A rope caught him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He survived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Afterward, heights became impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was inconvenient for a roofer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He tried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Climbed ladders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reached the second story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hands shaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vision narrowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Breath gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He would descend furious with himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His employer eventually said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI can&#8217;t keep paying you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That made it worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma, meanwhile, performed music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People paid to hear him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren saw him one afternoon outside a caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma played three songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People applauded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone handed him enough money to cover two weeks of Ren&#8217;s medicine expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>For singing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He hated himself for thinking it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then thought it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The woman selling mirrors appeared on Fifth Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody knew where she came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her mirrors were small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hand-sized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat are these?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDoors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo where?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cElsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUseful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren should have walked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCan they change a life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The woman looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren almost laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen come back when you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI want another life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhose?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren immediately thought of Toma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That frightened him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDoes it matter?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey must want yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNobody wants mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The woman said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A week later, Ren met Toma in a tavern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Probably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren had begun going to places Toma went.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He told himself he was curious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma was drunk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Very.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He sat beside Ren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re the roof man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFormer roof man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren expected pity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There wasn&#8217;t any.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just tiredness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They drank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma became increasingly strange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not loud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo you ever wish you could disappear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cConstantly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI mean actually stop being you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren stopped laughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma hated performing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren could not understand this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPeople love you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou make money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen what is wrong with you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe question everyone asks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma&#8217;s father had been a musician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Famous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma had been performing since six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every adult around him had agreed that his talent was extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody had asked whether he wanted it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou sound like my mother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re thirty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo stop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy parents depend on me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo does my father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy musicians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFind another singer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy contracts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBreak them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy audience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYour audience?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma looked embarrassed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then Toma said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;d rather repair roofs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren nearly hit him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou have no idea what you&#8217;re saying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI can&#8217;t work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy father is sick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe count coins before buying food.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren became angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo, you don&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren remembered the mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They visited the woman together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She listened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then placed the black glass between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou exchange completely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBodies?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEverything the world recognizes as yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMemories?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo I&#8217;ll remember being me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut everyone will think I&#8217;m him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou will be him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat doesn&#8217;t answer anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt answers exactly enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The woman warned them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Repeatedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren thought this was encouraging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fraudsters rarely tried this hard to stop customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou will inherit obligations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRelationships.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cConsequences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThings neither of you knows about the other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The woman sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPeople always say that before information becomes specific.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They traded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren woke in silk sheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For approximately thirty seconds, he believed every decision he had ever made was correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then someone knocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cToma?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren looked at his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma&#8217;s hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No roofing scars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cToma, rehearsal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rehearsal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He could handle rehearsal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He could not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma&#8217;s body knew music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren&#8217;s mind did not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His fingers moved almost automatically, but interpretation was wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Timing wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Breathing wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The musicians stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBad morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou have the royal performance tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Across town, Toma woke beneath a leaking roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A bucket filled beside the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren&#8217;s father called:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma sat up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His back hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His hands hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everything hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No rehearsal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then Ren&#8217;s father began coughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blood hit the cloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma stopped smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first week destroyed both fantasies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren discovered Toma owed money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The house was rented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The beautiful clothes belonged to sponsors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The contracts contained penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma&#8217;s parents did not merely depend on him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His father had gambling debts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His mother controlled his finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His manager controlled his schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People touched Ren constantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stylists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Musicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Strangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone wanted something from Toma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren began locking doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma discovered poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not conceptually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specifically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Medicine cost twelve silver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They had eight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The landlord wanted rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren&#8217;s old employer would offer ground work but not roofing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The kitchen roof leaked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma tried repairing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He smashed his thumb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren&#8217;s father laughed until he coughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re terrible at this today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma laughed too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then cried in the privy where the old man couldn&#8217;t see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Months passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Something unexpected happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They adapted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren learned music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not like Toma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Audiences noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some hated it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Others preferred it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren renegotiated contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fired the manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His new life became less unbearable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma found warehouse work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then carpentry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He repaired the kitchen roof badly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren&#8217;s father became fond of this changed version of his son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That hurt Toma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because the affection belonged partly to someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They met after six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren stared at his old face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma stared at his.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is disturbing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They sat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither immediately asked to trade back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That surprised both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow&#8217;s my father?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma answered carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSicker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren&#8217;s stomach dropped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re taking care of him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cProperly?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma became angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m asking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI sold your tools for medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren stood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe needed money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThose were my father&#8217;s tools.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo, you don&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma stood too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd you canceled my eastern tour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI couldn&#8217;t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat tour supported three musicians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey found other work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne didn&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lives extending outward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTrade back,\u201d Ren said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo you want to?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren opened his mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither wanted their old life back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was the ugliest part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren missed his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But he did not miss poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He did not miss the ladder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma missed music sometimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certain friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But he slept better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody applauded him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He loved that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then Ren&#8217;s father died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma was beside him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren was performing two hundred miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The message arrived after the concert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren collapsed backstage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He traveled home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the funeral, people embraced Toma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Called him Ren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou were a good son.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma looked sick every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren stood ten feet away in Toma&#8217;s beautiful body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody knew why he was crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Afterward, Ren struck Toma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma did not resist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou took it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou took the last six months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma wiped blood from his mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou gave them to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren hit him again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because that was true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And because it wasn&#8217;t enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They found the mirror woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cReverse it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She looked at them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBoth?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The woman retrieved the glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause it was mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause it wasn&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The woman nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBetter answers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not to the moment they left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To the lives as they existed now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren returned to his body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His father remained dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tools remained sold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma returned to his.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contracts remained broken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His career had changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing reset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They had not escaped consequences by returning to ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren grieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or as properly as anyone does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma visited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes they sat without speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They were not exactly friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was too much between them for such a simple word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years later, Ren became a carpenter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mostly ground work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Occasionally he climbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Never high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stopped treating fear as a moral failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma continued music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Less touring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smaller rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He earned less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He liked the songs more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once, over dinner, Toma asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWould you do it again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause my life was worse than it looked?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren looked at his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His own hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scarred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause I thought I was choosing between two lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wasn&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat were you choosing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhether to abandon mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a while he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI still think about the warehouse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re insane.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI liked it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou carried boxes for ten hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNobody asked me to sing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They finished dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outside, rain began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren looked automatically toward the roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had repaired it himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood roof.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThink it will hold?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren listened to the rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toma smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood enough?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ren smiled back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTonight it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If you could escape the life you cannot bear by giving it to someone who willingly accepts the trade, is that freedom\u2014or does consent become complicated when neither person truly understands what the other&#8217;s life costs? Ren wanted Toma&#8217;s life. Not metaphorically. Eventually. But it began metaphorically. Everyone wanted [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tales-from-the-universe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Life on the Other Side - Depth Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Life on the Other Side - Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If you could escape the life you cannot bear by giving it to someone who willingly accepts the trade, is that freedom\u2014or does consent become complicated when neither person truly understands what the other&#8217;s life costs? Ren wanted Toma&#8217;s life. Not metaphorically. Eventually. But it began metaphorically. Everyone wanted [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-17T17:06:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-18T22:13:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"ifiockitsune\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"ifiockitsune\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?p=613#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?p=613\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"ifiockitsune\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/14b294ce600f58c067559a7da881ec5d\"},\"headline\":\"The Life on the Other Side\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-17T17:06:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-18T22:13:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?p=613\"},\"wordCount\":1737,\"commentCount\":0,\"articleSection\":[\"Tales from the Universe\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?p=613#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?p=613\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?p=613\",\"name\":\"The Life on the Other Side - Depth Guide\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-17T17:06:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-18T22:13:17+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/14b294ce600f58c067559a7da881ec5d\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?p=613#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?p=613\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?p=613#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Life on the Other Side\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Depth Guide\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/14b294ce600f58c067559a7da881ec5d\",\"name\":\"ifiockitsune\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d97e9bc625f92dc0afa2630fc43ca1fbec835b8f0138d1addee73426f53060b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d97e9bc625f92dc0afa2630fc43ca1fbec835b8f0138d1addee73426f53060b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d97e9bc625f92dc0afa2630fc43ca1fbec835b8f0138d1addee73426f53060b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"ifiockitsune\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/depthguide.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Life on the Other Side - Depth Guide","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Life on the Other Side - Depth Guide","og_description":"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If you could escape the life you cannot bear by giving it to someone who willingly accepts the trade, is that freedom\u2014or does consent become complicated when neither person truly understands what the other&#8217;s life costs? Ren wanted Toma&#8217;s life. Not metaphorically. Eventually. But it began metaphorically. Everyone wanted [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613","og_site_name":"Depth Guide","article_published_time":"2026-08-17T17:06:13+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-18T22:13:17+00:00","author":"ifiockitsune","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"ifiockitsune","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613"},"author":{"name":"ifiockitsune","@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/#\/schema\/person\/14b294ce600f58c067559a7da881ec5d"},"headline":"The Life on the Other Side","datePublished":"2026-08-17T17:06:13+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-18T22:13:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613"},"wordCount":1737,"commentCount":0,"articleSection":["Tales from the Universe"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613","url":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613","name":"The Life on the Other Side - Depth Guide","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-08-17T17:06:13+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-18T22:13:17+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/#\/schema\/person\/14b294ce600f58c067559a7da881ec5d"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=613#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Life on the Other Side"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/","name":"Depth Guide","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/#\/schema\/person\/14b294ce600f58c067559a7da881ec5d","name":"ifiockitsune","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d97e9bc625f92dc0afa2630fc43ca1fbec835b8f0138d1addee73426f53060b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d97e9bc625f92dc0afa2630fc43ca1fbec835b8f0138d1addee73426f53060b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d97e9bc625f92dc0afa2630fc43ca1fbec835b8f0138d1addee73426f53060b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"ifiockitsune"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/depthguide.com"],"url":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?author=1"}]}},"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=613"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":614,"href":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613\/revisions\/614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}