The soft beeping of monitors filled the hospital room as Maya lay still, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was overwhelmed by memories—not fragments or dreams, but the entirety of her past life.
She remembered everything.
Her past life had been one of immense power and influence. She had lived in a world of cultivation and magic, where strength and skill dictated respect. With no family to call her own, she had devoted herself to others, lending her strength to nations and helping kingdoms rise. She had protected the weak, forged magical artifacts of incredible power, and fought tirelessly for the greater good.
But her growing power, which had once been admired, became a source of fear.
Those she had once saved turned on her. The leaders of the nations she had helped conspired against her, their gratitude curdling into paranoia. They feared her strength, believing she would one day threaten their rule. And so, they betrayed her, stripping her of everything and leaving her to die.
Maya let out a quiet sigh, her hands trembling slightly as she thought of that betrayal. In her old life, power had been everything, but it had also isolated her. And yet, in this life, she had something far more precious: her family.
She thought of her children—their laughter, their boundless energy, the way they filled the house with joy. Her eldest in the 2nd grade, always eager to learn and share stories, and her youngest in the 1st grade, whose curiosity knew no bounds. They were her world now, her purpose.
"I don't need to be powerful," she murmured to herself. "Not this time."
Her memories were a gift, a treasure trove of knowledge from a world long gone. She wouldn't use them to chase the strength she once had, nor would she let herself fall into the same traps of ambition. Instead, she would focus on her health—on regaining her strength not for glory, but to care for the ones she loved.
Her children, her husband, even Clara—they were the reason she had been given this second chance. She would use what she knew to keep them safe, to make their lives better. If her knowledge could craft remedies, improve their health, or teach them resilience, then that would be enough.
For the first time, Maya felt truly at peace. Her past life had been consumed by the pursuit of power. This life would be different. This life was for her family.