Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, I was 10 years old. At 163 cm (5'4"), I wasn't the smallest in the room anymore, but I wasn't exactly tall either. My body was starting to catch up with my mind, and everything felt more... solid. There was a quiet strength that came from living with my uncle in the forest. I had learned how to move through the trees without making a sound, how to read the wind and the signs of the land. My movements were smoother now, more controlled. I wasn't just living here—I was thriving.
As I grew, I also started to realize something else: I was turning into someone I could actually like. Uncle Michael often remarked on how I was changing. He'd give me an appraising look and say, "You know, you've got a lot of your dad in you. But, hell, you're a good-looking kid. You're gonna turn heads when you're older."
That always caught me off guard. Me? Good-looking? I didn't know what to think about it. But Uncle Michael seemed to think it was a big deal, and maybe, just maybe, it wasn't so bad. I never gave much thought to looks, but I wasn't about to argue.
In the mornings, we'd work on school. My uncle had homeschooled me for the past few years, and I had to admit, I was learning faster than I expected. But soon, it became clear that the curriculum was too easy for me. I was racing through math, science, and history, finishing what most kids my age would take a year to complete in just a couple of months. My uncle started to look at me differently. He'd raise his eyebrows and say, "You're a lot smarter than I thought, kid."
I just kept quiet. I didn't want to admit I was purposely slowing down. I didn't want to finish everything too fast. I had to keep a low profile, or else the weirdness of my situation might get noticed. If I finished everything too quickly, I'd risk moving on to something else. But, as much as I tried to slow it down, I found myself craving knowledge. I couldn't help it. It felt good to challenge myself.
Another year passed
Damn, you've only got a bit more to go, and you'll be done with everything for middle school," my uncle said, clearly impressed.
Samuel glanced at the small pocket watch he'd gotten once upon a time, a strange gift he'd received from a spin on his 10th birthday. It ticked softly in his hand, elegant and a bit too refined for someone his age—but he liked it that way.
I wanted to tell him I could have finished school in a year, but I didn't. I didn't want to make it obvious how quickly I could learn. So, I just smiled and nodded, letting him think I was just a regular kid.
In the middle of the day, I went outside to shoot some arrows and clear my head. It was peaceful out here in the woods, and I found it easy to slip into my own thoughts. Wow, I've really become good at this, I thought, I could even make it to the Olympics if I tried. But that thought left me quickly. It wasn't something I was focused on. My mind wasn't on big goals like that anymore—it was just about being in the moment, finding peace.
That peace, however, was shattered when I heard the sound of an engine—a small plane getting closer and closer. It was a strange, unexpected noise, out of place in the otherwise still forest. The sound grew louder and louder until, suddenly, there was a crash. The impact was jarring, and my heart raced as I sprinted in the direction of the wreckage.
I started running in the direction of the crash site. It took about two hours to get there, but the moment I saw the wreckage, I slowed my pace and approached cautiously. There were already people standing around, helping the pilot of the small plane.
At first, I didn't think much of it. But then, I looked more closely. I swore I recognized one of the people. Spencer and Gus from Psych?
What the hell?
I took a few steps closer and heard Shawn Spencer's voice: "Gus, I told you the map would work, and now Chief Vick has to have us for this job."
I froze. This wasn't just some weird coincidence. These were the characters from the show. What kind of world was I living in?
("Thank you all for your support! Just to clarify, more TV shows will be added as we go—this is just the beginning of what's to come!".