2 CHAPTER 2: I'm back?

'BEEP BEEP BEEP'

I awoke to the sound of my alarm clock, which rang like a church bell. Because of the sunshine peeping through my window—my window?—I sluggishly open my eyes. I immediately focus my attention on where I am lying—it's my bed! Is this my room?

I instantly looked around; I can see my study table in the left side corner of my room, and I can see our family photo on top of my dresser; this is my room. I was stunned to find myself in this room.

How come I'm here? How did I end up here? The last thing I can recall is that I was dead,

I suddenly felt a strange feeling in my chest, it felt like something is missing; my memories of the events leading up to my death are fuzzy and uncertain, I felt something heavy inside of me; I felt grief and agony, but also a sense of emptiness. What is going on?

Why?

The alarm clock interrupted my thoughts.

I tried slapping and pinching myself to test if this was a dream, but oh boy it does hurt. Is this real? what exactly is this? Am I still alive? This is simply not possible.

"Aaaah!" I exclaimed from inside my bedroom. I simply cannot believe it. The things that happened, I know it's real, did I just dream? the moment that I died, it felt so real.

I was surprised to hear a knock on my door.

"Nicole? dear? what's going on? I just heard you scream." that voice, Is it—is that my mother?! Did I just hear my mother's voice? I raced toward the wooden door and immediately opened it; it was her.

My cheeks broke out in a wistful grin.

"Mom!" I instantly hugged her tightly, she was startled by what I did but eventually, she eloquently hugged me back. I am so happy, I am so happy that I get to see my mother again.

Tears began to stream down my cheeks as I struggled to suppress my joy.

"Why, my dear? Did anything happen? Are you okay? Are you hurt?" my mother said, alarmed. I missed my mom since it had been so long since I gave her a hug like this.

"I should've listened to you, I should've trusted you, it was all my fault mum, please take me with you...please don't leave me..." I sobbed from behind her head, still hugging her.

"Oh honey, I will never leave you; don't worry, okay?" she said as she patted my back.

"Now, I want you to tidy up your room and come downstairs to eat with me; I had your breakfast ready; get up now; you don't want to be late for school," she added as she walked out of my room.

I still can't believe this is happening. I don't want to be separated from my mother anymore, I've had enough when my father abandoned us both when I was 16. It was the worst day of my life; it seemed like a nightmare.

As far as I can remember, he abandoned me and my mother because he loved someone more than us, he picked someone over us and seeing my mother crying crushed my heart to bits. We were sad at that moment, not knowing what to do, but along the road, my mother learned and recognized that she should be concerned about something that was still present and that something was me.

She lavished me with love and attention. That is why I am eternally grateful for having a mother like her. Despite the hardship she was going through, she never gave up.

Even though I know she is in pain, she decided to move on and start afresh. Everything that happened prompted us to move to a different town, which compelled me to transfer to a different university.

Everything seemed perfect, we were happy—at least that's what I thought, not until the day my mother died...

I was ready to open my door when I noticed the date on the calendar: August 16, 2016. As far as I recall, I died in the year 2023 but why did I get back? and how?

I don't know the answers to my questions, but there is one thing I am certain of if this is a chance for me to change the life I lived that led to my death, even if I barely remember it, I'll take this opportunity to rewrite the conclusion to my own story without hesitation.

I walked downstairs to the kitchen and found my mother waiting for me to eat breakfast with her. I cracked a smile. I just want to stay by her side for the rest of my life.

I was about to put my plate in the sink when I noticed my mother doing the dishes. I hugged her from behind her back as she turned away.

"what is this? don't tell me you want me to purchase you another book for your collection," she teased, and I laughed, still embracing her from behind.

"All right now, go upstairs and get dressed for school; you don't want someone who's going to give you a ride to school to catch you in your PJ once they get here," she remarked as she continued to wash dishes.

Oh yes, I almost forgot about school, but wait—what? Did I hear it right? someone?

"Come again, mother? Someone will come here and give me a ride to school?" I asked.

"Yes? You just informed me yesterday that you wouldn't need me to drive you to school," she said.

I have no idea what my mother is talking about; 7 years have passed; how am I supposed to remember it?

"Who is it? Is it someone I know?" I replied.

"What? Are you okay, dear? Of course, you know, it's—" before my mother could finish speaking, the doorbell started to ring.