The Second Encounter

Chapter 5 - I Love you even if it's not you

Rachel's Pov

It's been a month since the tragic accident that took Zion away from me, and every day feels like a never-ending struggle. The grief weighs heavily on my heart, making it impossible to eat properly and affecting my performance at work. No matter where I go, memories of Zion flood my mind his laughter, his smile, the way he would light up a room just by being in it. The longing for him is an ache that never seems to fade. With each passing day, I find myself mired in a cycle of what-ifs that torment me. What if I had confessed my feelings to him that night? Would he still be alive? What if I hadn’t stopped trying to reach out to him over these past few years? Maybe we would be basking in happiness together right now instead of drowning in sorrow. I feel like I was given a chance at love, but I couldn’t seize it, and now I am left with the haunting echo of regret.

Due to my deteriorating condition, my father has insisted on taking me to the hospital. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting and several tests, the doctor confirmed that I do not have any serious health issues. Nonetheless, he urged me to adopt a healthier lifestyle by exercising more regularly and eating nutritious meals at appropriate times.

"Did you hear what the doctor said earlier, Rachel?" my dad asks as he helps me into the car, worry etched on his face.

I can’t muster the energy to reply. My mind is elsewhere, lost in a haze of grief and memories, as I check out mentally during the ride home. The scenery outside blurs; it feels as if I am in a dream floating in a world where Zion still exists and everything is okay.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoes from up ahead, snapping me out of my stupor. All the cars in front of us come to a sudden halt, and my dad jumps out to investigate. The minutes stretch out, every second filled with anxiety, until he finally returns with the grim news: there has been an accident involving a white car and an 18-wheeler truck. In that terrifying moment, Zion's face flashes in my mind, lying in a hospital bed, and I am overwhelmed by panic. My chest tightens, each breath feels labored, and I start sweating profusely.

The next thing I remember, I am staring up at a ceiling that feels eerily familiar.

"Welcome, young lady," a voice greets me warmly.

Before me stands a radiant figure, radiating warmth and love God, the Creator of everything. The room around us is bright, adorned with gold accents, a stark contrast to the heaviness I felt moments earlier.

"My Lord," I say, filled with remorse. "I’m so sorry. You gave me such a precious opportunity, but I didn’t treasure it. Perhaps Zion and I were never meant to be together."

"Don't mention it," God reassures me, his voice soothing. "You tried your best, and you have been a good person. So many lives have changed for the better because of you, and for that, I am thankful."

"I am honored, my Lord, to have met Your expectations. I lived a life filled with love from my family and friends, and I am grateful for the opportunity You gave me."

"Do you have no regrets?" God asks, his gaze piercing yet compassionate.

Even though I am in the presence of divinity, the truth emerges. My heart sinks. I wish desperately for a do-over, to confess my feelings to Zion before it was too late.

"I have regrets, my Lord," I admit, swallowing hard. "But I find comfort in the fact that I met him before I died."

"Would you like to be reincarnated?" God offers. "You have fulfilled many of the requirements."

"I'm not sure," I reply hesitantly. "Even if I were to reincarnate into a different world, my heart would always belong to Zion. I can't conceive of loving anyone else as deeply as I love him."

"Okay, I can't force you to love anyone other than Zion from the prior world. But can you at least try to live in the new one? There is a shortage of good deeds in that realm, and I would greatly appreciate your help. You don’t have to fall in love there; just enjoy life and spread kindness, and I will be satisfied."

"Thank you, my Lord, for believing in me. I promise I will embrace this new life and dedicate myself to spreading goodness."

With a gratitude-filled heart, I blink, and suddenly I find myself staring at a familiar ceiling once more. I’m back in my own room. Rushing to the bathroom, I check my reflection and realize that I have traveled back in time to when I was on vacation, just two months before I would start high school.

I hurry downstairs, excitement bubbling inside me as I see my parents enjoying breakfast together.

"Good morning, Rachel! Why are you awake so early? We just got here yesterday; you can rest today," my mom says, concern radiating through her voice.

"Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad. It’s okay; I’m actually excited to explore our new neighborhood!" I respond, feeling nostalgic. This house will be our home until after my high school graduation, and it brings back fond memories.

"Alright, after you finish your breakfast, feel free to explore. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood since we’ll be living here for a while," my dad says, his protective nature shining through.

"Just make sure to bring Gabriel with you. I can't feel at ease if you go out alone," he adds anxiously.

"Oh, let her enjoy herself!" my mom interjects. "She’ll be a high school student soon. It’s essential for her to be independent. Having a bodyguard at this age is a bit excessive, especially since this neighborhood is safe. Don't worry too much, okay?"

Finally, my dad relents after my mom’s convincing arguments, and I can’t help but smile to myself. I’m not just the teenager they think I am; I carry the weight of my past experiences and the promise of my future. I walk out with renewed purpose, ready to explore, to embrace the life ahead of me, and to honor Zion’s memory by spreading kindness and love in this new world.

After I finished my breakfast, I stepped outside, eager to explore this new neighborhood and see if it resembled the one I remembered back on Earth. To my amazement, the scene before me was almost a perfect replica of my old neighborhood; every detail seemed familiar. From the lush park where I used to spend lazy afternoons to the charming little restaurant that served my favorite dishes, everything looked almost as I had envisioned it in my mind.

There’s a popular saying that if you truly enjoy what you’re doing, time has a way of slipping away unnoticed. As I took in the sights and sounds while strolling through the neighborhood, I lost all sense of time. I was so engrossed in reminiscing and absorbing the vibrant atmosphere around me that I completely forgot about the hours passing by. Suddenly, a wave of concern washed over me as I realized I needed to head home soon, lest my dad begin to worry about my whereabouts.

I racked my brain for the fastest way back, recalling that there was a shortcut I had used many times before. I remembered there was a small bridge just around the corner, so I turned right, hoping it was still there.

As I approached the bridge, a feeling of nostalgia enveloped me, and I couldn’t help but exclaim quietly to myself, “There it is, just like back on Earth!” Everything about this neighborhood felt so similar, with just a few minor differences, like the colors of the signboards that adorned the streets. It was almost uncanny how familiar it all felt; there were no significant differences that I could discern.

However, as I stood at the bridge, lost in my thoughts, I was suddenly interrupted when someone approached from a distance, catching my eye. To my surprise, it was Zion an unexpected encounter that sent a thrill of confusion racing through me.

Just moments before, I had been trying to forget about him and the complicated feelings that came with our past. I had hoped to settle into this new life, helping others as I could, but what was I supposed to do now that fate had thrown us together so soon? Our first meeting back on Earth had been during the entrance examination, and here we were crossing paths again. Why did we have to meet on my very first day in this new world? A deep sigh escaped my lips as I grappled with the weight of this unexpected dilemma.

I tried to ignore Zion, pushing the thought of him aside as I continued walking. Yet, from the corner of my eye, I could see him standing there, seemingly fixated on me. Was he really watching me? Did he recognize me? After all, this was a different world; how could he possibly know who I was? Surely, it was impossible. This new version of me had only just arrived.

Even though we were walking in parallel, I couldn’t shake the sensation that something was different this time. My heart raced unexpectedly. Why was I feeling this way? I had intended to forget about him, to distance myself from that chapter of my life, but here we were crossing paths far sooner than I ever anticipated. What was this intense feeling deep within me? Could it be was I falling in love at first sight all over again, and for the same person, no less?

Caught in the whirlwind of my emotions, I halted in my tracks and turned around to catch another glimpse of him. As I watched him walk away, a sense of clarity washed over me, leaving me grappling with a profound realization.

“What should I do now?” I wondered to myself, feeling an inexplicable tug at my heartstrings. “It seems like I love you even if you’re not exactly the same as the Zion I knew.” The confusion lingered, but regardless, there was a glimmer of hope and intrigue in this strange new chapter of my life.