'"I've been here before."
The sound of waves crashing against each other and the gentle footsteps of a woman running on the white sand filled the air. Long, thick, and wooly hair fluttered in the wind, and the sun's rays illuminated her light brown skin, revealing every pore and hair.
"I have lived, loved, fought, won, lost, and known, but..."
Nwayirindu spread her soft hands wide and turned, allowing the breeze to caress her nearly bare skin, as she was clad only in white silk undergarments.
Her brown eyes, adorned with long and soft lashes, watched the sun's final descent for the day. She gazed skyward, taking deep breaths and savoring each moment.
"Yet, no one has lived for me, loved me, fought for me, won for me, lost for me, or truly knows me." A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she ran forward toward the island.
"I have been here before, and the only thing that feels familiar is the presence of a force I once knew." She came to an abrupt halt in front of a coconut tree and gently sat beneath it, relaxing her back and head against the trunk, as if remembering that she should not be running in such a manner.
"Nothing else feels familiar. The pastor who preached on Sunday, my family, my friends—none of them seem familiar. I do not recognize these people or this place."
She crossed her legs and lifted them to rest against her chest, gently placing her head between them and quietly speaking to herself. Her hair flowed gracefully down to her waist, brushing against the sand beneath her. She lifted her head from the tree trunk and skillfully tied her hair into a neat bun by rolling it together, creating a swirl and securing it tightly within itself.
"I have been here before, but I am curious about who I was in the past, what kind of life I lived, and why I have returned to this place."
"Virtue!" her father's chauffeur politely called out to her.
She let out a soft sigh and rested her back and head again on the trunk of the coconut tree. She closed her eyes, and her mind wandered freely.
She thought of the time before she arrived on the island, with no memories to hold onto and no way to access her past.
'I've been here before, and I…'
"Virtue." Gentle hands touched her shoulder.
She sighed once more. "I will be there shortly."
"Your father has a message for you," Kiva said and quickly left before she could respond.
"The villagers claim that the current year is 2024, an era of advanced technology, but all I can recall is being adrift in a vast ocean, struggling to breathe due to the overpowering stench of fish and seawater." Various thoughts raced through her mind. She stood up, brushed the sand off her undergarments and body, and made her way back to the island. Two women waved at her before rushing to cover her body with a piece of cloth. She expressed her gratitude and offered her warmest smile.
"Virtue has returned," Kiva announced, facing the house.
"It's not as if she was missing," he mumbled to himself as Nwayirindu playfully ruffled his hair and placed his head under her arm. She gently guided him into the house with her.
"Please stop," he said, groaning politely.
"Why? My dear husband, why?" She tickled him, and they laughed.
Kiva's mother came to get him and saw them playing. She was surprised by the sight and advised them gently. "Virtue, please behave in a more ladylike manner."
Nwayirindu finished the line with her in a playful manner, and Kiva chuckled.
"Mother."
"Kiva, please be quiet and go inside," Beatrice requested politely. The teenager dashed into the house without a second thought and only stopped to look at Virtue one last time.
"Please stay away from my son, Virtue. You may have returned back to life, but I still feel uncomfortable with your presence here."
Nwayirindu considered responding but decided against it.
"Take care," she nodded towards Beatrice and walked to her side of the mansion.
"Tomorrow, I am to wed a man I feel nothing for, a man people of this island know to be my lover." She strolled into her room and untied her hair. She had a hot bath and wore a red cotton robe on top of a long cotton nightwear. It was a cold evening, and she had also spent all day at the beach with less than a dress on.
"I'm told I was betrothed to him before my death, and I died trying to leave the island, they said."
She lay on her bed and covered herself with a duvet. One of the helpers came to turn on the heater and adjust the lighting of the room to suit her eyes while she slept. "Lady Virtue, won't you come down for dinner?" The helper asked humbly.
"Susan," Nwayirindu sat up on her bed, adjusted herself to one corner of the bed, and gestured for the helper to sit beside her. "When you're in my room, it's Virtue. When we're outside, you can add the 'lady'," she said, tucking a strand of hair into her cap. Susan got up and bowed to her, "I'm sorry, ma'am. You said I should never come close to you or touch your skin." She looked up and saw the disappointed look on her lady's face and felt foolish for bringing up an old issue.
"That was before you died and came back. I'm sorry for bringing it up." Susan bowed her head again. Nwayirindu laid back on the bed, covering herself. She said, "I'm not hungry."
"But, Ma, your father insists."
Virtue turned to face the wall and didn't say another word. If there's anything anyone should know, everyone imposed things on Virtue, but the soul that now resides in her is self-aware and intelligent, very wise and wild. It's been six months since Nwayirindu woke up in Virtue's body, but no one could tell.
"I've been here before—by here, I mean Earth; but this island, this life isn't mine. I have to find my way out of here, married or not."
She turned on her side and fell asleep, drifting deep into darkness...