What Life am I on Again?

Chapter 1

People say that when you are on the brink of death your entire life flashes before your eyes...and well, they are right. Though my situation is a bit different. Today makes the end of my life as Carly, but I know it doesn't end for me here yet. I've lived various lives, Carly, Amy, Georgia, Diane, you name it. And now as I lay here the mild pain in my head and the pool of blood mixing with my hair becomes the least of my concerns.

How did I even get here. I should have had at LEAST forty more years of life, but no here I am. I only made it sixteen years this time. My eyes wander to my boyfriend who is staring at me in horror. His eyes are wide and his mouth is covered. I say boyfriend but ex now. We got into some argument about....actually I don't  even know what it was about. Well It doesn't matter now.

"Oh my god- please get here. We were just arguing and she started to walk away and and...God I don't know. I pulled her back and I didn't even use that much strength but she fell into the vase on the granite counter top." This man is in so much denial.

I look to the ceiling once again. My eyes blank, I blink and when I open them again I find myself back to the beginning.

The beginning sounds like I've restarted this life, right? No, I just call this place the beginning, but really it signifies both the beginning and the end. The end of my last life but the beginning of a new. This world is too bright and colorful to be real. It's like an abstract painting you would see an ai create.

I try to cherish my time in this domain, as I know it won't last long before I'm sent back to a new life.

I look at my hand or where a hand should be, but there is nothing. This is the only time I'm something besides a human. No matter how many lives I've lived, I'm faced with the same pain and human emotions. I don't get used to it, as much as I'd like to. Each betrayal each, heart break, each love, I feel. I always feel, you'd think whatever is subjecting me to this would give me some sort of break.

The warmth of the domain slowly engulfs me and as I shut my eyes I feel a new sensation. It's a pressure and when I open them again I find myself in the arms of a woman. The light is bright and it takes me a while to adjust but I hear a crying. I thought it was coming from me, but as a tear hits my cheek I realize it is both of us.

"Oh my beautiful daughter. Oh Aspen..." She wails and kisses my forehead. A man approaches her and wraps and arm around her.

"Aspen oh my we thought you'd never wake up..." The man smiles softly as he dabs a tissue on the inner corner of his watery eyes. There are various things I could do in this situation....with no recollection of this girls past memories I could play the amnesia card.

"W-who are you?" I stutter out and I try and sit up. My body shakes as I sit, the bodily strength not yet there.  But the woman notices this and helps me settle in a sitting position. The stranger joins us as well. "Why can't I remember anything?" I ask them as they both stare at me. They both look confused and nervous, but there is nothing to indicate that I am the cause of their tension.

"Aspen...it's your parents..." the woman replies gently and tears start flowing down her cheeks. My father stands up and leaves the room. I watch him leave and turn to the other man to see if he has any answers. He does but they aren't helpful.

I nod solemnly, "How did I get in this position..." I whisper quietly under my breath as the stranger looks down sadly. 

I look at my hands again and the woman sighs, "You don't remember your dad or the rest of us right? You don't know anything from before." She pauses to take a deep breath, trying to maintain composure.

"I'm sorry I don't. Was I in some kind of accident?" I ask prying for answers.
My mother looks at me sadly before nodding, and the man, assuming it's my father, sits back down beside me.

"You were in a serious car crash and fell into a coma." My father says as he rubs circles on the top of my hand. It's so sad. The original user of this body, dead... Hopefully she can be happy in the afterlife, something I've craved for the longest time.
-
Eventually days turned into weeks, and as my body began to heal, the doctors finally deemed me fit to leave the hospital. A mixture of anticipation and anxiety filled me as I prepared to venture back into the world I have no idea of. With my parents by my side, I took cautious steps towards the exit, leaving behind the sterile environment that had become my temporary home. For the first time I really take in the appearance of my mother and father. My mother, Grace, has a warm and nurturing presence. Her hazel eyes are filled with a mix of concern and love, always reflecting her deep care for her daughter. Grace's chestnut hair cascades down in soft waves, framing her gentle smile.

My father, Michael, carries a strong and stoic demeanor. His deep blue eyes hold a mixture of sadness and hope as he gazes at me, his only daughter. Michael's salt-and-pepper hair is neatly trimmed, adding a touch of wisdom to his rugged features.

My parents had done their best to recreate a familiar and comforting space in their home, preparing for my arrival. They had transformed my room into a sanctuary, adorned with photographs of smiling faces and memories that belonged to the original Aspen, even if I couldn't remember them. The walls were painted in soothing pastel shades, and fresh flowers adorned my bedside table, their fragrance filling the room.

As I gaze at the photographs adorning my walls, I can't help but notice a recurring theme -