A leap to the past

As the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, Alex Turner's eyes gently opened, revealing an unfamiliar room around him. The sense of bewilderment overcame him, and he sat up, rubbing his eyes as if expecting the scene to change. With a career spanning more than a decade and a half in the finance industry, he had tackled innumerable complex challenges. Yet, this perplexing situation seemed to surpass them all. He wondered if he had slipped into a dream, a creation of his mind. However, the distinct details of his surroundings, the vintage decor, and the crisp morning air denied such a possibility

He pinched himself, hoping to awaken from what he assumed was an incredibly vivid dream. However, the sharp sting on his arm reassured him that this was no illusion. Panic started to creep into his mind, threatening to engulf him in a sea of uncertainty.

"No, this can't be happening," Alex murmured to himself, trying to make sense of the inexplicable. He glanced around the room, searching for something, anything, that could anchor him to his reality. But everything he saw only strengthened the realization that he had indeed traveled back in time—26 years into the past.

His thoughts raced, trying to grasp the reality of the situation. How could he be in 1997 when just yesterday, or so it seemed, he was living in the bustling city of New York in the year 2023? It was inconceivable, a concept that defied all logic and reason.

Questions flooded his mind, and he sought to find a reasonable explanation. Perhaps he had been drugged or had fallen into a deep slumber that distorted his perception of time. But deep down, he knew that wasn't the case. This was no ordinary dream, and the sense of displacement was too profound to dismiss as mere illusion.

With trembling hands, he reached for his phone on the bedside table. It was a sleek, modern device he was accustomed to using in his future life. However, the one in his grasp was a relic of the past—a clunky, outdated phone from the late '90s. The date displayed on the screen confirmed what he had feared—May 10, 1997.

A whirlwind of emotions swirled within Alex—confusion, disbelief, and even excitement. He had often fantasized about the idea of time travel, but now that it had seemingly become a reality, he was overwhelmed by its implications.

In an attempt to clear his mind, he took deep breaths, trying to focus on the present moment. Memories of his future life fought for attention, intermingling with the sights and sounds of the past. It was as if two timelines were colliding, causing a storm of thoughts in his mind.

But amidst the chaos, Alex resolved to embrace this extraordinary chance. He remembered the saying, "Carpe Diem"—seize the day. And here he was, with an entire lifetime of future knowledge at his disposal. He knew he couldn't let this golden opportunity slip away.

Taking another deep breath, he decided to calm his racing thoughts and trust in the unfolding of events.

"26 years in the past. May 10, 1997," he whispered, committing the date to memory. Alex was determined to leverage his future knowledge for a better life, making amends for the mistakes he knew he had made.

As the initial rush of excitement subsided, stark reality descended upon him—an era when his life was ensnared in a relationship devoid of joy. The memories of her presence weighed heavily on his heart, a connection to a loveless existence.

Right on cue, his phone emitted a sharp ring, prompting him to pick it up with quivering hands. The voice on the other end belonged to Lucy, his girlfriend notorious for exploiting their relationship for personal gain, a fact that had become painfully evident over time. Her high-pitched tirade filled the airwaves as she was in the midst of throwing a tantrum about her friend's boyfriend lavishing her with a dazzling diamond ring.

"Alex, can you even believe it? That guy gave her a three-carat diamond! And what have you ever given me? Absolutely nothing!" Her shrill cries reverberated, as she ruthlessly compared him to others, laying bare his financial struggles and perceived inadequacies while conveniently overlooking her own self-serving tendencies.

In that very moment, a pivotal realization coursed through Alex. He couldn't continue to endure this emotional turmoil driven by Lucy's relentless selfishness. The time had come to sever the shackles that bound him to a relationship devoid of genuine affection but rife with exploitation.

"Lucy, it's over," he declared, the words escaping his lips with a newfound conviction. "You deserve someone who can give you everything you desire. I set you free."

As he hung up, a mix of relief and sorrow washed over him. Yet, deep within his heart, he knew it was the right decision.

He looked around the room, trying to figure out where he was and what he should do next. He saw a suitcase on the floor, with a tag that read “Alex Turner”. He opened it, hoping to find something useful.

Inside, he found clothes that looked familiar, but also outdated. He recognized them as the ones he had worn when he was younger, in the late '90s. He also found a wallet, with his ID and some cash.

His attention was drawn to a table where a newspaper lay sprawled open, its headline capturing his focus. "Thai Baht Faces Crisis Amidst Speculative Attacks on Currency," the words leaped out at him, sparking a surge of recognition. His years in finance had exposed him to the intricacies of currency manipulation and the devastating consequences of speculative attacks.

As he read through the article, Alex's mind raced, connecting the dots between his knowledge of the future and the events unfolding before him. The Thai baht crisis was a pivotal moment in history, one that had far-reaching implications for the global economy.

Determined to seize this unexpected opportunity,

Alex folded the newspaper and tucked it under his arm. His thoughts churned with a mix of excitement and trepidation, envisioning the potential consequences of his actions. He had always been a risk-taker, navigating the turbulent waters of the financial world with a calculated boldness that had earned him both success and setbacks.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***