REBIRTH YET! ABUNDANT

I was in pitch blackness, unable to move or feel anything. I only vaguely remembered then a woman in white was sleeping beside me. I glimpsed her briefly through blurry vision—she was stunningly beautiful, with golden-blond hair falling over her shoulders and ocean-deep eyes. But she was crying—a lot. A man sat beside her, comforting her, but I could only see their figures through a hazy mist.

Exhaustion pulled at me like an anchor, and my eyes closed slowly.

When I opened them again, flakes of snow fluttered down, melting into my flesh. I looked up, at the vastness of the night sky. It dawned on me almost at once—I was dead. It wasn't a shock, really; I had killed millions, it was inevitable. But where was I?

My hands… they were so small.

No way.

Was this heaven? No, if it were why was I in this little body? Had I been born again?

If God reincarnated me, he should have wiped away my past memories, because they were no good. But fate was cruel—I was abandoned at birth. Was this my punishment for past sins? How ironic. I briefly thought I might live a happy life this time, but it didn't seem to be so.

But something was odd. I wasn't cold, not even with the snow on the street and my newborn body. Some strange warmth was filling me.

And then, I saw it.

A faint glow in the darkness—an glowing orb beside me, glowing with an otherworldly light.

What… is that?

I tried to reach for it, but my minuscule hands could not grasp even the air between us. There were perks to this little body, I was learning. But one thing was for sure—this orb was keeping me warm, protecting me from the cruel winter. I doubted it would even let me die.

The clatter of hooves came up the street then, and a coach came to a sudden stop in front of the alley.

A woman stepped out.

She was dressed in a red velvet gown of rich splendor, her countenance was majestic and her countenance was regal. A maid stood at her side with an umbrella to protect her lady from the snow.

Slowly, the woman walked towards me.

I could see her now, as she came closer: black hair around her pretty face, deep violet eyes filled with an emotion I could not read. She knelt down, taking my tiny body in her arms, her heat radiating into my cold body. She turned, holding me gently, back to the carriage.

Still, as she held me, the orb floated beside her, keeping silent watch. The maid, clearly disturbed by its presence, tried to rip it away from me. But when her fingers touched its surface— The orb responded, sending a ripple through the air.

A surge of blinding white light erupted from within.

The maid screamed and pulled her hand back, catching my eye as she yanked it away. I saw her palm—it was burned.

Her eyes lingered on the injury for a moment and then she sighed.

"Let's take this thing with us as well," she murmured.

The maid, obediently, stepped forward to follow her mistress into the carriage. I could scarcely keep my eyes open; my body was weary again.

But just before I dozed off I caught one last look at the maid who, though her hand was burning like a torch, was smiling at me.

A strange comfort washed over me.

And with that, I allowed myself to drift into slumber.