After You

Chapter 2 - Reborn

People say your life flashes before your eyes before you pass. For me, the memories that appeared were largely dominated by my family. Despite all the hardships we faced, we were still able to live happy lives. We were living in a time where the world began to revolve around a new factor of 'elitism'. A power resulting from human evolution that my husband and children possessed but I didn't. I hope that my next life would be more peaceful. With that thought, I surrendered myself into the void. 

***

"...na..."

Hmm?

"..Elena!"

A sudden rush of pain spread across my body starting from my rear. 

"..Uwww..Ahhhh!" That hurt! Isn't heaven supposed to be more peaceful?

"..haha...she's crying!" A woman exclaimed in relief. I felt my body begin to be engulfed by a gentle warmth. "Elena," the lady crooned. "It's okay mamá."

My body responded to her voice as I began to calm down. Wait..am I dreaming? It all seems to real... I could barely see past my eyelids but I knew that I was in someone's arms and that person was my mother. And I was a baby. I tried to comprehend what was going on. A dream? It had to be.

"Hi Elena," a voice said, getting louder as the speaker came closer. This time, it was a man's voice, deep and gentle. I'm assuming my father. A rough hand gently stroked my palm open. My hand instinctively curled around my dad's thumb. 

I think I'm in a coma. I mean...I died right?

"She's beautiful." I knew my dad was smiling when he said that. "Thank you Ana."

I heard a soft smack as my parents quickly exchanged a kiss. "Here, hold her." I felt my body being lifted as large hands crept under me and brought me towards them and away from my mother. The hands were large, but gentle, I couldn't help feeling comforted in my father's arms. As he held me close to his chest, I also felt myself drifting to sleep. 

"Mí princesa," my dad cooed. My princess. I couldn't figure out what was going on and was too tired to piece things together. Instead, I chose to fall asleep. Who knows? Maybe God showed me this small experience before I die...

***

Ok. So I'm not dead.

I was recently able to open my eyes and assess my current situation. It was probably only two weeks since my birth and I've been in and out of sleep. I am now Elena Noemi Luna. My memories as Sofía Nova still remained, making me believe that I had somehow reincarnated. When I found out my last name, I wanted to laugh at the irony. Died as a Nova, born as a Luna. It seems that someone in the stars is watching over me. My memories as Sofía are still a bit blurry, the clearest were from my time at the hospital as an old lady. I understood that I had suffered from dementia at an old age, maybe this was why I had fragmented memories. 

I didn't know what year it was or where I was. For all I knew, I could've been born in completely different world than my previous life. Maybe another dimension? I would find myself lost in thought many times, only breaking from them to call for food or something else. My mother was also mostly by my side. Because I was still young my absentmindedness didn't cause my parents to worry, instead they praised me as a calm baby. 

My mom, Anastasia Luna, looked like she was in her late twenties. She had caramel-colored skin and long dark straight hair that fell to her waist. Her face was slightly round and always smiling. Her honey-eyes would also always look at me full of love. My dad, Thomas Luna, stood a head taller than my mom. His skin was slightly darker than my mom's and soft chocolate-brown curls framed his face. He had dark eyes and long lashes that I hoped I inherited. Like my mom, he seemed to be someone who tended to smile more than not.

There was also someone else I was introduced to my first days. Since I was always in and out of sleep, I didn't get to see my brother's face until a few days after my birth. Xavier Luz Luna. He had dark wavy hair and my mother's honey eyes. From his size and round face, I guessed he was around three or four. He would always watch me curiously, unsure of whether he liked me or not perhaps. I was the only child in my previous life so I wanted to develop a close relationship with him. 

"Amor, can you close the door? I can feel the wind coming in." I was nestled against my mom's arms when I felt a chill. My mother covered me up and told my dad to close the door. My dad waved his hand towards the door, making it close using his energy. 

I stared at him in disbelief. Energy exists here. When I died in my previous life, 300 years had passed since the worldwide discovery that changed the structure of society. People born with the capacity to hold extraordinary power began to appear. To this day, scientists have a hard time trying to understand how these supernatural forces suddenly came to existence. The human body seemed to have developed the ability to conduct and store an energy that came to be known as the 6th sense. Most people tended to call it energy or even magic. This is the evolutionary progress that significantly changed the power structures in the world. 

"Look Tom," my mom said with a laugh, "Elena is watching you so intensely after seeing your magic."

My dad looked over at me and laughed at my expression. "What's wrong princesa? Papi was just using some magic." He waved his hands in front of his face and took careful steps as he came closer. 

Xavier giggled seeing dad's silly gestures and turned to me. "Look Lena, look! Papi's doing magic!" He pointed at dad while laughing at me. 

My mom laughed too. "When Elena grows up she'll be using magic too." I turned my eyes to my mom. Me? Magic?

"Me too! Me too!" 

"Both of you," my dad said. He tousled Xavier's hair.

Will I be able to use magic? I slightly panicked remembering my past life. I didn't have any magic previously. Even though Alan...with his power, he was able to outlive me. A surge of emotions suddenly came over me. 

Loss. Love. Regret. Sadness. Loneliness. 

A cry rang throughout the room as my small body reacted to my emotions. 

"Ay mamá what's wrong?"

"Maybe I scared her?"

What year is it? Where am I? Is he still alive? I couldn't help but think I had a chance. A slight chance to see him again.

[A/N: Here are some translations for the words I used:

Mamá : Literally translated as mother. In many cases, can be used as a term of affection to someone (usually females).

Papi: Daddy

Luna: Moon]