The Reborn Veteran is an Aristocrat

Prologue: The Light at the End of the Tunnel

(FOR THOSE UNAWARE, this novel is going under rewriting. Expect some story alterations for those who have read this novel before April 2024. Things will now be predominantly in a first person perspective.)

Life, it seemed, was a cruel mistress. Some were born into the lap of luxury, others to the harsh realities of poverty. I, Ethan Emerson, landed somewhere in between.

My childhood memories were filled with warmth, love and laughter. I was the eldest, with a pesky little sister named Olivia trailing behind me by two years. My parents were decent folks, middle class with enough to provide the basics. But soon, my world would expand beyond the familiar walls of our home.

It all changed when I met her. Alice McMahon lived across the street, our families practically joined at the hip. We were yin and yang - she, a firecracker of a girl, and me, the calm to her storm. We balanced each other, always had each other's backs. When bullies dared to pick on her, I was there to step in, just as she was my shield against teasing classmates.

Over the years, Alice became more than just a friend. She was an anchor, someone who knew how to chase away the blues with a single look. As we entered middle school, something shifted within me. Butterflies, the kind that made my stomach do flips, became a regular occurrence whenever I was around her. Adolescence was hitting me hard, and I knew what it meant:

I was smitten.

Maybe "smitten" wasn't strong enough. We'd known each other forever, but these feelings went beyond childish infatuation. Talking to her used to be easy, but now words stumbled out of my throat like a drunken fool. It was infuriating, especially since Alice remained my confidante.

The fear of rejection gnawed at me. What if my feelings scared her off? Did she even see me the way I saw her?

These questions became a relentless torment, spinning a web of doubt around my heart. Finally, at the end of sixth grade, I gathered my courage and blurted it out.

"Um...Alice, I'm sorry for not saying anything sooner, but...I like you," I stammered, desperately hoping for a positive response.

A blush crept across her cheeks, a reaction that surprised me. "Actually, Ethan, I like you too..." Her smile faltered, replaced by a frown as she nervously fiddled with her thumbs. I braced myself for the inevitable "but."

"My parents are moving," she blurted. "Dad got this big job offer in Chicago, and he couldn't say no. I'm so sorry..." Her voice cracked, tears welling up in her eyes.

My world went numb. My childhood best friend, leaving? It wasn't fair. Why couldn't things stay the way they were? A childish denial bubbled up, but her tear-streaked face told a different story. This was happening.

"Why do you have to go?" The words tumbled out, desperate and raw."I wish I could stay," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "But Dad thinks I need new experiences outside this town. Besides, isn't it time you started looking at other girls?" A playful smile peeked through her tears, a test of my loyalty.

"No! It's only ever been you, Alice!" My outburst made me cringe. My cheeks burned like a furnace, and Alice couldn't help but giggle at my flustered state.

But then, her eyes locked with mine, a new resolve shining through the tears. She grabbed my hands, her voice filled with a quiet strength.

"With a little luck, I'll be back before you know it. Just promise me you won't forget about me, okay?"I nodded, the heat in my face slowly receding. Sadness lingered, but a spark of hope ignited within me. Alice wouldn't be gone forever.

Saying goodbye was brutal. With Alice gone, I threw myself into making new friends. Dates with other girls were forgettable, mere shadows of the connection I shared with Alice. Life felt... muted without her.