Second Chance, Final Draft
The day I announced I was quitting writing, the entire internet celebrated.
Everyone except my girlfriend's rumored boyfriend, the famous mystery author, Bryan Vega. In a short video, he looked genuinely regretful.
"This is all a misunderstanding. I’ve always admired Kobi’s work, and I hope he’ll come back for the sake of his readers."
I turned off my phone and ignored him completely.
In my previous life, the web novel I wrote was identical to the mystery novel he published.
People online called me a plagiarist and wished death on my whole family.
I tried to defend myself, posting my drafts, outlines, and timestamps.
Yet, it didn't matter.
The last edit timestamp on his document was ten minutes earlier than mine.
Just those ten minutes destroyed me.
The messages never stopped. Strangers flooded my inbox with insults. Some even showed up at my house and threw paint on the walls.
Years of nonstop harassment dragged me into depression.
My parents tried to clear my name, but obsessed fans hunted them down and murdered them using methods copied straight from his novel.
In the end, on the very day his book won a major award, I sealed my windows and burned charcoal, ending my life.
And then, I opened my eyes again.
I had returned to the day my new book was supposed to be released.