Voices From The Past

SOME LEGACIES DON'T STAY BURIED ;

I woke up to silence, not the sterile silence of a hospital, not the ringing pressure of pain in my ears - but the soft, steady quiet of my old bedroom.

Morning light rest gently on the curtains. The air smells faintly of lavender.

I sit up abruptly, my body move easily… No weakness. No pain. No reminder of illness. My hands trembles as I press them against my chest, my heartbeat is strong, steady, alive. This isn't how it ends .

My gaze falls on the antique mirror by the window . The woman staring back at me looks younger - softer , untouched by years of suffering. Her hair is longer, her eyes clearer… Too clear. 

  " This isn't possible " I whisper .

 A calm voice answer in the room, "It is. But only once " 

 I freeze.

  I turn slowly. Aya sits in the armchair near the window, her posture straight, expression compose - as though she has been waiting for this moment all along . Time has not softened my grandmother... if anything, age has sharpened her presence.

  "You're awake earlier than last time " Aya said quietly .

My breath tightens " Last.. time ?"

Aya stands. The air seems to shift with her movement. " You died in 2024 " she said plainly . " Betrayed, broken, regretful "

Her words landed without cruelty, My knees weakens. I grip the bed for support .

“ I remember " I said hoarsely . "so this means… "

  " I redirected you," Aya interrupt . "Not your body. Your soul " 

I look up sharply " You brought me back.”

  " Yes " Aya's gaze hardens " And it nearly cost me everything "

The room fall silent .

My mind race . " Why?" I ask . " Why me?”

Aya studies me for a long moment, then she said. " Because you were gentle in a world that feeds on gentleness .And because your death was not meaningless - it was preventable”

I swallowed.

Images flickers in my mind: Marcus's voice. Judy's push. The trust I had given so freely.

 " I was weak "I said.

  " No " Aya corrects " You were unarmed"

She turns towards the window. " The Carter family once held influence that never appeared on paper. We didn't chase power - we contain it. We prevent outcomes , guided transitions , protected legacies”

I listen , heart pounding.

" There are two inside businesses ," Aya continues . " One control's outcomes when the world turns hostile .The other preserves families when they are about to destroy themselves.”

I realize something then - slow and terrify. " Marcus " I said " He knew”

 "Of course" Aya replies . "And Judy also" 

 I cleach my fists. " Then I can stop it. I can change everything " 

 Aya turns back to me. "You can change your fate," she said evenly . "But you cannot remain who you were”

I met her gaze .

The fear was still there - but beneath it is something new. Stillness. Resolve .

"I don't want to be saved" I said . "I want to be prepared " 

A faint smile touches Aya's lips. " Good ," she said. " Because this chance will not forgive hesitation "

“You understand now,” Aya said softly.

I nod slowly. “Yes.”

I understand.

I understand that power isn't given… It is taken. And I understand that Marcus Blackwood has been part of my destruction in my first life.

Aya gaze softens slightly.

“Be patient,” she advice. “Do not rush your revenge.”

My jaw tightens. “I won't.”

I mean it.

Revenge isn't something I will waste. It will be calculating… Slow… Painful.

“Your path has changed… but the enemy still remains.”

The room falls into a brief silence.

Then - A soft knock sounds at the door and I turn my head immediately.

Aya did not react.

A maid enters carefully, bowing slightly. “Ms. Carter,” the maid said respectfully, “there's a call for you.”

My expression remains calm. “Who is it?”

The maid hesitate. “... Marcus Blackwood.”

The name lands like thunder inside the quiet room. My breath stops for half a second. My fingers stiffens.

Marcus Blackwood.

…..

Carter holdings looks exactly the same.

Glass walls.vQuite authority. The faint hum of controlled power.

I stand in the lobby for a moment longer than necessary, my fingers tightening around my bag. 

In my previous life, this building had felt like a burden - something I carried alone, something I was afraid to lose. Now , it feels like a chessboard .

 “Ms. Carter?” The receptionist voice pulls me back.

I nod and walk forward , heels clicking softly against the marble floor .

Every face I pass smile politely… Too politely .

I remember them all.

The assistant who leaked schedules… The manager who hesitated when Marcus spoke… The board members who always avoided my eyes .

Nothing has change yet, I thought. That's the danger .

Inside the elevator, I caught my reflection in the mirrored wall. I look calm, composed. No one could see the memories pressing against my chest .

The doors open to the executive floor.

" Welcome back," Andrea, my secretary said warmly. " You look… well " 

 " I am" I reply .

 And this time , it is true.

 …….

The board meeting was routine… Too routine. Reports. Projections. Careful optimism.

I listen more than I speak .

In my past life, I would have fill the silence explaining,reassuring, softening my authority so others don't feel threatened . Now ,I let the quiet stretch. People shifted in their seats.

Power didn't need to explain itself.

As the meeting ends, I begin to gather my files calmly. That is when the door open again. Marcus step inside.

 He looks the same. Tall, well-dressed, smiling like a man who knows exactly where he belongs .

"Amanda ," he said warmly. " I heard you were back. I thought I'd surprise you."

My pulse didn't change.

In my past life, my heart would have leapt. Now, I studied him… The careful concern . The respectful distance. The patience that had once fooled me .

" Marcus,” I reply evenly. "This is unexpected”

He chuckles softly . " I was in the area. I thought I'd check on my beautiful girlfriend"

Several board members exchange knowing looks…. I notice .

"So thoughtful" I said, my tone polite but distant . "But I'm in the middle of work " 

Marcus raise his hands slightly. " Of course . I wouldn't interrupt. Maybe dinner later? just to catch up."

There it is…. Not a demand. Not a push. An opening.

"I'll let you know," I said.

I watch the brief flickers in his eyes - surprise, quickly hidden.

As Marcus leaves, one of the board members leans closer. "He seems very invested," . He remarks lightly .

I smile.

"Yes" , I said "He always is"

Later, alone in my office, I close the door and exhaled slowly. My phone buzz. It is an unknown number. I hesitate, then answer .

"You returned sonner than expected,” a calm voice said.

I straighten. "I was careful" I reply.

A pause . "Good," the voice said " Because people are watching again"

The line went dead and I stare at my phone… Aya has warn me ' Observation comes before action '

I turn towards the window overlooking the city that had once swallowed my whole life.

Marcus thought time is on his side so did Judy - Suddenly I become aware of voices in the hall outside my office door. It takes a moment to process what I can here.

“Ms. Carter says she doesn't want any visitors.”

“Are you crazy! Don't you know who I am.”

“Am sorry ma, am just following orders.”

“ Am her sister for crying out loud.”

“ I know ma'am.”

“Amanda!” Even i hear the anger in her voice.

I stare at the door, wide-eyed with humored horror. She's here. The woman who pushed me off the balcony… The woman who killed me in my first life… My half-sister.

“Judy.” I whisper.