I open my eyes, and I'm immediately struck by the sheer whiteness that surrounds me. It's an endless expanse, an empty world encased in a soft, glowing light. There is no sound, no movement, no sign of life—except for me. I stand alone, feeling both weightless and grounded at the same time, as if the very concept of gravity is optional here.
"Is this… heaven?" I murmur, my voice sounding strange in this ethereal silence. The words feel like they belong to someone else, someone far away, as if they are echoing from a distant memory.
I take a hesitant step forward, my eyes straining against the overwhelming brightness. The ground beneath my feet is smooth, almost like glass, but without any reflection. It's as if the world is waiting for something—for me to move, to speak, to think.
Suddenly, the silence is broken by a soft, chiming sound, like the gentle ring of a bell. I turn, my heart skipping a beat, as a figure begins to take shape in the air before me. A glowing, radiant light coalesces, forming the delicate outline of a girl. As the light settles, I see she has wings—beautiful, ethereal wings that seem to shimmer with every color imaginable.
Startled, I instinctively step back, but my foot slips on the smooth surface, and I tumble to the ground. The girl—no, the angel—giggles, the sound light and melodic, like the tinkling of wind chimes on a breezy day.
"You don't have to be so scared," she says, her voice as soft as a whisper yet carrying an undeniable warmth that puts me at ease. She's still giggling softly, clearly amused by my clumsiness.
I sit up, rubbing the back of my head, more embarrassed than hurt. Despite the brightness of her form, I can't see her face clearly; it's obscured by the light, but I get the distinct impression that she's smiling at me—kindly, maybe even fondly.
"Who… who are you?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly.
"I am an angel," she replies gently, "and I've come to guide you."
"Guide me? To where?" I question, still trying to process everything that's happening. The last thing I remember is lying on the cold pavement, my life slipping away with every drop of blood. And now I'm here, in this strange, otherworldly place, talking to an angel.
The angel's wings flutter slightly as she floats closer to me. "You have two choices," she begins, her tone becoming a bit more serious. "First, you may choose to remain in this realm forever. Here, there is no suffering, no pain. You can live peacefully without fear, in eternal rest."
I blink, trying to grasp the enormity of her words. No suffering? No pain? It sounds too good to be true. But before I can fully consider it, she continues.
"Or," she says, her voice softening, "you can choose to live your life over again—not in your original world, but in another world. A place where you might find the redemption or fulfillment you couldn't achieve before. If you have any regrets from your past life, I would recommend you choose this."
Her words hang in the air, heavy with implication. I suddenly feel a knot in my stomach, a mix of excitement and fear twisting inside me. The idea of starting over, of getting another chance… It's something I've never even dared to dream of. But it also terrifies me. What if I fail again? What if I end up in the same place as before, filled with regret and despair?
The angel seems to sense my hesitation. She doesn't push, but I can tell from the way she's looking at me—though I still can't see her face clearly—that she's waiting, expecting me to make a decision.
"So, what will you choose?" she asks, her tone gentle yet urging. There's a faint urgency in her voice now, as if time is slipping away, and I need to decide quickly.
I take a deep breath, my mind racing. The first option sounds tempting—no more suffering, no more pain. I could finally rest, escape the misery that haunted me in life. But as I think about it more, another thought pushes its way into my mind. If I choose that, would I really be at peace? Or would I spend eternity wondering what could have been if I had the courage to try again?
No… I can't let fear dictate my choices anymore. I've been a coward for too long. If there's even a small chance that I can find happiness, or make things right, then I have to take it. I can't let this opportunity slip away.
"I…" I start, my voice shaky but growing stronger with each word. "I choose to be reborn in another world." I lift my head, meeting the angel's gaze—or at least, where I think her eyes should be. "I promise… I will live my life to the fullest this time."
There's a pause, and for a moment, I worry that I've made the wrong choice. But then, the angel's wings spread wide, and a warm, gentle light envelops me. "I respect your choice," she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. "Now, close your eyes."
I do as she asks, closing my eyes and feeling the warmth of her light surrounding me, comforting me. I can feel a sense of peace washing over me, not because I'm escaping my past, but because I'm embracing my future.
"Thank you," I whisper, my voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for this second chance."
The angel doesn't reply, but I feel a soft breeze, like the brush of a feather against my skin. And then, I'm falling—not in a terrifying way, but gently, as if being cradled by the air. I drift off to sleep, a deep, dreamless sleep, knowing that when I wake up, a new life awaits me—a life full of possibilities, challenges, and the chance to become the person I was always meant to be.