The First Proof

Daniel sat frozen in bed, staring at the silver coin in his hand.

It was real.

It shouldn't be.

Nothing from the dreams had ever followed him before. Not the places, not the people, not the lives he had lived and lost.

But now, sitting in his palm, cold, solid, real. It was the proof he had been searching for.

His heart pounded.

This changes everything.

*****

Monday morning passed in a blur.

Daniel barely heard his mom talking at breakfast. He barely responded to Emily's teasing. He nodded when necessary, mumbled answers when required, but his mind was elsewhere.

His fingers stayed curled around the coin in his pocket, brushing against the cool metal every few seconds just to be sure it was still there.

That it hadn't disappeared.

That he hadn't imagined it.

The entire walk to school, his thoughts raced.

What did this mean?

Was this a loophole? Could he bring other things back? Bigger things?

Could he—

He cut the thought off before it could fully form.

He couldn't let himself think about it yet.

Not her.

Not them.

"Dude, what's with the cryptic stare?"

Marcus waved a hand in front of Daniel's face as they sat at their usual lunch table.

Daniel hesitated.

Then, without a word, he pulled the coin from his pocket and set it on the table between them.

Marcus frowned. "Okay… congrats, you have a quarter. Want me to be impressed or—"

Daniel spoke quietly. "I didn't have this yesterday."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Cool, man. You found a coin. Real mystery solved."

"No," Daniel said. He leaned in, voice low. "I brought it back from the dream."

Marcus snorted. "Bro. What?"

Daniel clenched his jaw. "I told you. The dreams—they're real. I lived an entire life this weekend. A different person, different place. I picked up this coin there. And when I woke up—" He tapped the table. "It was still in my hand."

Marcus stared at him.

Waiting for the joke. Waiting for Daniel to laugh and say gotcha.

But Daniel didn't.

Marcus picked up the coin, turning it over in his fingers.

It was old. The edges were worn smooth, the silver slightly tarnished. One side had an unfamiliar crest—something like an anchor crossed with a sword. The other had a date: 1907.

Marcus frowned. "Where the hell did you get this?"

Daniel exhaled. "I told you."

Marcus studied him for a long moment. Then he set the coin down and leaned back in his chair.

"Okay. Let's say I believe you. Let's say you really pulled this from a dream-world. What does that mean?"

Daniel shook his head. "I don't know. But it's proof, Marcus. Something's happening to me."

Marcus tapped his fingers against the table. "Then we need more proof."

Daniel hesitated. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, next time? Try bringing something else back."

Daniel swallowed hard.

The next time.

Because there would be a next time.

Another world. Another life. Another ending.

And now?

Now, he had a mission.

*****

Daniel spent the rest of the school day lost in thought.

If he could bring back objects, what else could he do?

Could he write something down in the dream and read it here?

Could he leave messages for himself?

And the biggest question of all—

Could he bring back a person?

The idea terrified him.

Because if he tried—if he really tried—and it didn't work...

Would it erase them forever?

*****

That night, Daniel lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the coin resting on his nightstand.

He was exhausted, but he couldn't sleep.

Couldn't stop thinking about Elena.

About Sophia. About Lily. About Casner.

The lives he had lost.

The lives he might be able to save.

His eyes grew heavy.

His thoughts blurred.

And just before sleep took him—

A voice.

Soft. Cold. Right next to his ear.

"You're not supposed to do this."

Daniel's body locked up. His breath hitched.

He tried to move.

Tried to turn his head—

But sleep crashed over him like a wave.

And the world faded to black.