That Time I Reincarnated as a Stone

Chapter 2: The Cycle of Life

I began to look around, and everything felt strangely unfamiliar. The plants were nothing I could recognize, and the trees—though they resembled those on Earth—were not the same.

Perhaps I was on another planet. Around me I saw small insects, ant-like in shape, and worms burrowed beneath the soil. Yet, for some reason, I could not see my own body, nor could I feel anything at all. I could only look.

A few more days passed. By my calculations—yes, I literally began counting the seconds—the days here last roughly twenty-six hours. It was the only thing I could do, since I cannot even move.

All I could do was wait for something to happen. But being something that cannot move, I highly doubt much action was to be expected. Is this punishment for bad karma? I could only ask myself questions and dwell on fragments of my previous life. Having a phone right now would be incredible.

But this was what I wanted, wasn’t it? Peace and quiet. Life is often complicated, and I almost always despised the fragile happiness I once had. What is my wife doing now? I suppose she must be in mourning. And what about little Jesús—my ten-year-old son? What if my wife finds another man? What if my son loves him more than he ever loved me?

Well, it doesn’t matter. I am already dead.

And so what I would call weeks passed—or perhaps months. Who knows? I did not bother counting. My mind was beginning to dissociate from so much solitude—or perhaps from too much peace. Or maybe it was simply boredom; I was growing sick of it. I wanted to know whether Messi would win the league this year or not.

Then, out of nowhere, a predator appeared, chasing a small creature. It closed the distance and struck it violently across the face. The prey resembled a cat—but a strange one. It had antennae and, at the same time, a fluffy tail like a sheep’s. It moved like a monkey or a chimpanzee.

The predator looked more like a dog—but an ugly one, almost demonic. It had horn-like protrusions, grayish fur, and red eyes. All I saw was the hunted creature collapse beside me and begin to be devoured. I know it is the food chain, but it hurt me deeply. I do not know why.

After the predator had finished its feast, all the blood—or whatever passed for blood—of that small animal spilled over me. Or at least, I thought it did.

My consciousness slipped out of my body, and I saw the dead creature lying beside me. In that instant, I also grasped the truth: I was literally a rock. A miserable rock lying at the base of a tree. None of this made sense. But just after that revelation, I returned to my body—back to being trapped inside that damned stone.

A few more days passed. The animal that had died beside me began to rot until nothing remained but bones. One day, another creature of the same species—slightly larger—approached. It saw the remains of the one who might have been its companion.

It came toward me with curiosity, the way cats investigate things, and picked me up with both hands. The creature stood about a meter tall. Its ears resembled a kangaroo’s, and its eyes were strikingly human.

It picked me up and carried me away. Even if only indirectly, I could finally move and see more of the world around me…

…"

–Continue reading in its original Spanish language at fictograma.com-