[ WP ] : One day , you find yourself uncontrollably jumping into the bodies of other versions of yourself .

`` As usual, there's nothing on TV,'' Aaron sighed as he navigated the guide menu. Having just got home after a double-shift from his catering job, all he wanted to do was lounge around and fall asleep. However, you ca n't just fall asleep with any old TV show playing in the back ground. Aaron lived by himself. He found roommates to be more bothersome than necessary, seeing as he worked enough to afford his own place. Speaking to no one in particular, Aaron said, `` This would n't be so bad if I had some... 
 
... company.'' 
 
 Aaron's girlfriend turned her head and looked at him. `` What about company?'' she asked. 
 
 Aaron looked at her, confusion sweeping through his head. This was his girlfriend, he knew that. But he did n't have a girlfriend. Or, he did n't just seconds ago. He knew all about Nicole though. Ever since he went to watch the Arabian Nights play with his Aunt, where he met Nicole, he knew that they'd end up together. Except, he did n't go to the Arabian Nights play. 
 
 `` Aaron... you okay?'' Nicole asked. `` You look confused.'' 
 
 `` Uh, no, no, I'm alright.'' He brushed her hair away from her face. `` Just had a random thought.'' 
 
 Nicole smiled. `` Okay!'' And she cuddled back into his arms. Aaron could n't understand what had happened? It was almost as if he just switched to a new universe. Having read comics, he was away of the idea of the multiverse, but never would have thought it was real! 
 
 `` Baby?'' 
 
 `` Yea?'' 
 
 `` Do you remember when we first met?'' 
 
 Nicole turned and looked at him, somewhat quizzically. `` Of course. I went to the Arabian Nights play with my mom, and you were there with your Aunt. Why?'' 
 
 `` Nothing. I was just thinking about it and wondered if you remembered.'' 
 
 `` Of course I do! You spilled ketchup on your shirt and your Aunt either did n't see it or did n't care to tell you. You looked adorable!'' 
 
 Nicole went back to watching a re-run of Quantum Leap, but Aaron could n't focus. He knew this was n't him, but it was. He never went to the Arabian Nights play, but he did. Every other event he could think of was the same, it was only the Arabian Nights play that had two different memories. `` This is so... 
 
... strange.'' 
 
 `` What's strange Aaron?'' His mom asked. 
 
 Aaron looked around. He was n't in his apartment anymore, but instead on his parent's couch. His mom and sister were sitting on the other couch. His apartment was gone, but he never had an apartment. His girlfriend was n't here, but why would she be, seeing as he did n't have one. 
 
 `` Aaron?'' his mom asked again. 
 
 `` Nothing. Just thinking.'' 
 
 He did it again! he started thinking back. He did n't go to the Arabian Nights play. He went to Josh's house instead that night. But on the way home, after his dad came and picked him up, there was an accident. His dad passed away after a drunk driver ran a stop sign and t-boned their car. Aaron did n't have any injuries from the accident save for a few scrapes and bruises. His dad was gone. Sadness crept through his thoughts. He tried to continue thinking, seeing what had changed, but he could n't focus on anything else. His dad was gone. Dead for almost ten years, but he had been alive just a few minutes ago. He did n't want to do this anymore. It was nice seeing what his life was like with Nicole, but this was n't what he wanted. 
 
 `` Mom?'' 
 
 `` Something wrong Aaron?'' 
 
 `` Not really. I was just thinking about... 
 
... Dad.'' 
 
 `` What?'' Aaron's Dad answered. 
 
 Aaron looked up. He was outdoors, rifle in his hand, ragged clothes draped from his body, backpack filled with essential items on his back. 
 
 `` What's going on?'' 
 
 His dad looked at him with confusion. `` What do you mean?'' 
 
 Aaron stopped and thought. What was different this time. He went through elementary school, but everything seemed normal. Junior high everything seemed normal there too. Except Josh. Josh set off a nuke. Not in middle school, but later. He was bullied all the time, but Aaron did n't stop them this time. Aaron stayed after school to flirt with Nicole instead of meeting Josh to ride bikes home. Josh got beat up real bad. He ended up switching schools, which he later ran away from. Aaron never heard from him again, until he was on the news. They talked about how he had broken into a military facility and launched a nuke. He killed his commanding officer and stole his credentials. They said that in his psych profiles, there was a red flag due to an event in middle school that may have contributed to him being pushed over the edge. Josh had started World War 3. 
 
 `` I could have stopped it Dad.'' 
 
 `` Stop what Aaron? You're starting to really confuse me. You know we ca n't be distracted out he- 
 
 His Dad was cut off as bullets tore through his chest. 
 
 `` NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!'' Aaron ducked behind a tree and waited for the shooting to stop. After the very quick nuclear battle, nothing was left. People lived, but there was no more government, no more schools, no more businesses, no more countries... no more rules. Life had become hell. Everyone was in it for themselves. There were a few rumors that spoke of civilization, but they were always far enough away to seem to good to be true. 
 
 The shooting died down and Aaron crawled over to his father. He was dead, again. But he had n't been dead before. This was the first time he died. 
 
 `` I promise Dad,'' Aaron said through the tears. `` I'll do better next time. I'll be a good person.'' Aaron laid back against the tree. He did n't know how to make himself jump again. He thought about the fading memory of him laying on his own apartment couch. `` I just want to go back. I just want things to go back to the way they... 
 
... were.'' 
 
 Aaron sat up and looked around at his apartment. It seemed normal. He thought back. He did n't go to Arabian Nights. He did n't go to Josh's house. He stayed home that night. He met Josh after school, and they rode home together. Everything was back to normal. He laid back down and let out a long sigh. He was looking forward to going to sleep. His phone beeped. He picked it up and swiped his security pattern in. `` Is it cool if I come over? I need to vent man,'' Josh's text said. `` Yea, no problem,'' Aaron replied. Again, speaking to no one in particular, `` I hope I never do that... 
 
... again.''
