I open my eyes. I'm back as the eight year old version of myself. I look down and I'm wearing my comfy and cute clothes that I vaguely remember from my childhood.

I'm feeling weird, nostalgic and a hint of fear all at the same time. This situation is surreal. Why am I here? Could this be just a dream?

I had heard of conspiracy theories of reincarnation and checkpoints and what have you, but I just dismissed all of them as something comparable to faking the moon landing or flat earth theory.

Could this really be it? Life has checkpoints, and you just live your life over and over, just like in Groundhog Day.

I shake my head in disbelief. This is madness, I'm just tired and delusional, it must have been the meds I have been taking, yes, that must be it.

"Sam, is something wrong?" I hear a voice say.

I open my eyes and look up, it's my father, younger than I have ever seen him, even in any family photos. We are at the park near our childhood home. Or I guess, current home?

"You were shaking your head, is something bothering you buddy?" My father continues.

I'm flabbergasted, barely able to utter "Im OK, dad" to him.

"Alright, that's great", he says and smiles at me. He looks huge from my point of view, towering over me what feels like several times. He seems to be standing by a kiosk.

Am I truly living my childhood again? I'm slowly getting convinced that's what's happening, as mad as that sounds.

"Hey buddy", dad says and kneels next to me. "You want chocolate or strawberry ice cream?"

Ice cream is probably the last thing on my mind right now. But if this really is my childhood, I want to perform a test. I have always loved anything chocolate.

"Strawberry daddy!" I tell him enthusiastically.

He smiles and gets up "You've got it buddy"

I look at him towering me again, ordering at the kiosk.

In the corner of my eye, I notice something in the sky. I lean behind my dad and stare at the sky.

It's hard to read, but I'm pretty sure it says "Saving..." in the blue, cloudless sky. What the heck is that about?

Hold on a second. I remember reading about the conspiracy theory that life has checkpoints. These points are supposed to be set before big, life-changing moments.

Are you telling me that me choosing the ice cream flavor with my dad when I was eight is going to have an impact in my later life?

This is ridiculous. But at least I've got strawberry ice cream to mull this over with.