In Another Life

Sketch A Memory

Maria had been trying to search for an answer for her and Manolo's visions for a few weeks, and so far, she had found nothing.

Since she found out about the pregnancy, the symptoms she hadn't felt before had started. She found pretty quickly that she could do without them, especially the nausea. 

Manolo and Joaquin had been doing their best to support Maria through it all, tending to her whenever she needed something. 

Maria had written to her mother to tell her about the pregnancy while also mentioning what's been going on with her and Manolo. If she couldn't find anything from her own books, maybe her mother had something. 

When Maria had started her third month, Maria left the bathroom after a morning of nausea, Manolo right behind her after holding her hair back.

"Hey, Maria!" Joaquin said as the two entered the kitchen. He held up a package wrapped in simple brown paper with a letter tied to it with string, "This came for you. It's from your mother."

Maria sat down at the table as she took the package and opened the letter.

Dear Maria, 

I was so overjoyed when I read that you were pregnant! You and Manolo are going to make wonderful parents. I'm gonna have to come visit to see how you're doing. Expect me to come within the next month. And please don't tell your father, I do love his reaction when he sees me. He looks so terrified. As for your predicament, I do believe this book should help and I expect to get it back when I come.

Best wishes,

Mama

After having a breakfast enough for two people, Maria had been in the sitting room reading the book her mother had sent. It was about dreams and how to interpret them.

It was a large book, but Maria had refused to put it down until she got answers.

It wasn't until late afternoon when she finally found something that seemed helpful. 

While many dreams are of what's to come, what one desires, or what could have been, there is the possibility that what you're dreaming of could be a past life. It may be difficult to confirm this possibility, but it could be why your dreams have people and beings you've never encountered before. 

"Maria?" Manolo said as he sat next to her, "Have you been spending all day going through that book?"

"Yes." She said, "And it was worth it because I finally found something. After six hours."

"What did you find?"

"It says that there's a chance we're remembering a past life. I know it sounds a bit crazy, but it's the only thing that makes sense."

"So, it's saying that reincarnation is real?" 

"I guess. But don't you think that's amazing? I mean, who knows who we were in our past lives. We could've been kings, queens, knights, warriors."

"That does sound unbelievable. I can't imagine who I was in a past life."

"I bet you were someone great."

Manolo smiled warmly as he kissed her temple.

Just then, Maria felt a sharp pain around her eyes. She groaned as she shut her eyes. It seemed as though each time she had a vision, the pain became more and more unbearable.

"Maria." Manolo held her close waiting for the pain to end. After the first few visions, he knew the pain would subside soon. It still hurts seeing his wife in pain.

Maria heard a voice saying, "Be well, Princess Maya. I will see you soon." What was strange was that it was her husband's voice. She saw a white-haired boy wearing black armor with red eyes, the image was in her head long enough for her to somewhat focus on.

After a second, the pain stopped. She panted as she regained herself. She almost didn't notice Manolo was holding her close to his chest. 

"Uh, Manolo." She said, "I'm good, now."

"I know." He said.

Maria smiled and snuggled closer to him, keeping in mind how much space her stomach had.

"What did you see?" Manolo asked. 

"I saw... I saw a boy." She said.

"A boy?"

"He had white hair and black armor, that's all I saw."

"Do you think he was important to you in that life?"

"Maybe. Are you jealous?" 

"No."

Maria looked up at Manolo with a smirk and a raised brow. 

"Maybe a little. It's not you I don't trust, it's other people."

Maria laughed as she got up, "And there's nothing you need to worry about. But it's good to know you have an eye out."

She gave him a quick kiss before going upstairs, leaving her husband a blushing mess.

She found her sketchbook and pencil and made a quick sketch of the boy in her vision. She wanted to draw it while it was fresh in her mind.

After about five minutes, she had a rough sketch of the boy. Looking at him more closely, she didn't notice at first that his bangs covered one of his eyes. He looked younger than her, but seemed handsome for his age.

Maria didn't know who it was, but she knew he must've been someone close to her in her past life. Maybe even someone she loved.

She sighed as she set the book down and went to the bathroom to shower.

Little did she know of the goddess of the sun watching through the window. As soon the mortal left, Maya stepped into the room and walked to the sketchbook. 

She opened it and flipped through to the page that was used moments ago. 

As soon as she saw the sketch, her heart stopped. It was a rough sketch without much detail, but she recognized who it was. Her husband. 

This only confirmed Maya's suspicions that they were remembering their past lives.

In an instant, she left the mortal realm back to the realm of the gods. 

She found Zatz outside their home, the twins off playing elsewhere. 

"Zatz!" She said when she got right in front of him.

"Maya, what's wrong?" Zatz asked, seeing how uneasy his wife looked.

"Maria, she drew you. She's remembering you."

Zatz's eye went wide, "So they are remembering."

"Should we tell someone?"

"Not yet. We should keep record next time they remember. We need to have proof that this is happening."

Maya agreed as they went inside. They didn't know what this meant or if this was even possible.