1 CHAPTER : A DREAM?

In a bed in the intensive care unit of one of the world's main health centers, there was an elderly man. His body was connected to a complex network of tubes that, in addition to monitoring, also supported his life. At that crucial moment, only the machines witnessed their last signs of life.

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—"I am still alive?! Where am I and what is happening?!" I thought, scared when I woke up from the coma. Disoriented, for a moment, I struggled to hold my thoughts. Recovering, I realized I was not in the hospital room, but in a large, unfamiliar waiting room.

Looking around, I saw people dressed in white. Looking for someone I knew, I found no one. Anxiety grew as I tried to understand if I had been kidnapped or if I was dreaming.

Before waking up, I thought that the coma would be the end, an eternal sleep, as the serious internal infection and multiple organ failure left me with only one option for survival: an induced coma. The doctors said the coma would preserve my energy, allowing the antibiotics to finally work against the infection.

I knew I had no chance of coming back, but I accepted it anyway, because only with the coma would I not feel unbearable pain. The painkillers had no effect. In this context, the decision was easy. I always believed that a quick and painless death would be the best thing I could have.

But, to my surprise, I woke up. When I realized I couldn't move, I was dismayed. However, over time, I began to become strangely calm.

Observing the environment, I noticed a sequence of doors spaced along a white wall in the waiting room. Individuals dressed in black occasionally opened the doors, calling those dressed in white by name, who promptly rose from their chairs and headed to the designated rooms.

Then, I saw some surreal things. For example, whenever those in white entered a room, a new person appeared in the empty chair. Each time a door opened, a different person opened it, and the interior of the room changed, as if they were different rooms, each with a different interior. It was as if the doors were magical, reminding me of an animated monster movie I watched many years ago.

Feeling disconnected, as if watching a movie scene, With each passing second, my doubts about this strange series of events only increased, convincing me that this was one of the most bizarre dreams I've ever had.

However, my reverie was interrupted when a blonde with long, wavy hair opened one of the doors and called my name and then looking at me said: "Sir, please come in. It's your turn." I was stunned when my body stood up and walked towards the room without me being able to control it.

Upon entering the room, I noticed that the woman was sitting in an armchair behind the table. She was about 30 years old, dressed simply but elegantly. Then I heard her say mechanically, as if she had done this a thousand times before: "Hello, welcome to my office. I know you have a lot of questions, but before I answer them, please sit down," she said.

As I sat down, involuntarily, she said, "No need for introductions, this will be the only time we see each other." And when she started talking, I couldn't believe what she was hearing, because she said that we, people in white, had died in our world and were now mortal souls who would go through the process of reincarnation.

I even tried to interrupt her, but again my body didn't respond, increasing my irritation. "In your world," she said, "you call us 'Gods'. Yes, I know it's hard to believe," And as if she knew what I was thinking, she said, "It's easier to think you're dreaming , but it is my duty to inform you that this is not a dream."

When she was finished, she asked if I had any questions. Finally regaining some autonomy, I asked in an emphatic tone: "Why am I calm? How can I be sure I'm not dreaming? Are you reading my thoughts? What is the process of 'reincarnation'?"

Then the Goddess first clarified that there were spells designed to prevent panic and restrict the autonomy of mortals in order to make the encounter more peaceful. "One of the objectives was to preserve the emotional stability of you mortals in the face of such an exceptional situation," she explained.

"The other was to prevent us from having to punish them for disrespect and attempted aggression. The humans on your world, for example, are arrogant and constantly interrupt us when we speak, perhaps because they are the only civilized species there." She continued, "Some of you even dare to see us as servants who fulfill your desires."

"We were tired of this disrespect and the bureaucracy to punish them. So, a few thousand years ago we came together and sent a petition to the administration demanding solutions and with a strike notice." The Goddess continued: "The board acted quickly and ordered the creating these spells across all branches, realizing the threat was real."

Listening to her explanation, I understood the usefulness of these spells, I even agreed with their use, albeit in a somewhat uncomfortable way, since I myself would have interrupted her thousands of times, it was even difficult not to recognize the human tendency towards arrogance and pride.

And also, I was surprised, that even the gods, suffered from bureaucracy or that ironically they also resorted to strikes, to be heard.

"As for proving that you're not dreaming. Rather than trying to convince you, I'd rather emphasize that where you are is your current reality, however surreal it may seem. Risk ignoring what you perceive or what I say would not be the most sensible decision in this context," she said.

The Goddess concludes her explanation by saying that she did not need to read my thoughts, but that her vast experience and reading a detailed record of my life allowed her to understand me better than I understood myself, even stating that she could even predict my behavior and admitted that he liked my story.

And for the first time I saw her smiling, she revealed that she had already decided how I would be reborn. His strange expectation and behavior left me disconcerted.

However, the most intriguing moment was yet to come. Suddenly, the Goddess excitedly declared, "We will use the 'Coin Toss' game to determine your fate!" I thought I had heard wrong or that she was joking. It was really unexpected and I couldn't believe that theoretically something so important would be decided in this game.

Realizing I had regained some autonomy, I asked, "Coin flip? Do you want my future to be decided with a ridiculous game like that?" She answered; "Yes, this game is an interesting and impartial way to determine fate," with a mysterious smile...