The sun had barely risen, casting a soft golden light across the small village of Wrenford. The quiet was only interrupted by the distant calls of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind. Caelia sat by the window of her room, staring out at the familiar yet strange view. She was still processing everything—her death, her return, and what she was going to do with this second chance.
A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts.
"Caelia? Are you awake?" The voice belonged to Mira Calloway, Caelia's best friend. Mira was always punctual, always making sure to visit Caelia every morning, bringing herbs and remedies from her mother, who was the village healer.
Caelia's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected anyone so soon. She stood up, her legs still unsteady from the shock of it all. She straightened her clothes and took a deep breath, forcing a smile to her face.
"Come in," she called softly.
The door creaked open, and Mira stepped in, carrying a small basket filled with freshly picked herbs. Her bright green eyes immediately swept the room, and when they landed on Caelia, she froze. The basket slipped from her hands and fell to the floor with a soft thud.
"Mira?" Caelia blinked, surprised by her friend's reaction.
Mira's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Caelia. She looked like she had seen a ghost. "C-Caelia? Is that really you?" she stammered, stepping forward slowly as if afraid Caelia might disappear at any moment.
Caelia couldn't help but chuckle, the sound foreign to her after the days of sickness. "Yes, it's me," she said, her voice warm with affection. "I'm... I'm fine."
Mira blinked several times, her expression a mix of shock and confusion. She glanced down at the herbs scattered on the floor, then back up at Caelia. "But—" She paused, taking a step closer. "But you... you were dying. You were—" Her voice trailed off as she looked Caelia up and down, disbelief still evident on her face. "You're healthy... You look—" She reached out tentatively, as if testing if Caelia was real.
"I'm fine, Mira," Caelia reassured her, her smile growing wider as she saw the relief in her friend's eyes. "I don't know how, but I'm fine now. I'm back."
Mira's mouth opened and closed a few times, her mind clearly struggling to process the impossible. She bent down quickly to pick up the fallen herbs, her hands trembling as she adjusted them back into the basket. "You're really... not sick anymore? You're not pale and weak? No fever?" She reached out and touched Caelia's arm gently, almost like a test. "You're... you're completely fine."
Caelia laughed softly at her friend's disbelief, but there was a tinge of sadness behind her smile. "I don't understand it either, but yes, Mira. I feel better than I have in weeks."
Mira stood up, her eyes still wide. She took a step back, putting her hands on her hips, and regarded Caelia with a mix of suspicion and awe. "I need to check something."
Caelia raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What?"
Before Caelia could react, Mira grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the mirror hanging on the wall. The mirror was cracked in a few places, but it still served its purpose. Mira placed Caelia in front of it and made her look into the reflection.
Mira stepped back, her eyes scanning Caelia's reflection critically. "Tell me," she said in a mock-serious tone, "how do you explain this?"
Caelia looked into the mirror, seeing herself as if for the first time. Her skin had regained its healthy glow, her eyes sparkled with life, and there was a brightness about her that hadn't been there before. She looked... normal. Alive.
"I don't know how to explain it, Mira," Caelia said, turning to face her friend, her voice soft but firm. "But I'm here. And I intend to make the most of this second chance."
Mira stood there for a moment, still processing the scene before her. Then, with a sudden exhale, she laughed—a light, bubbly laugh that filled the room with warmth.
"Well, I don't care how or why," she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "I'm just happy you're back. I've missed you so much, Caelia. I... I thought I'd lost you forever."
Caelia felt a rush of emotion in her chest. She hadn't realized how much she had needed her friend until that moment. Mira had always been there for her, and now, in this new life, Caelia realized just how precious those connections were.
"Thank you, Mira," Caelia whispered. "Thank you for not giving up on me."
Mira grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Of course I didn't give up on you. You're my best friend, Caelia. You've been with me through everything, and I'm not about to lose you now."
They shared a warm, comfortable silence for a moment, both of them taking in the newfound reality of their situation.
Caelia broke the silence, her voice filled with quiet determination. "Mira, I have a plan. I'm going to change my fate. I won't live in the shadows anymore. This time, I'm going to do things differently."
Mira's expression softened as she placed a hand on Caelia's shoulder. "Whatever you need, I'll be right there with you."
Caelia smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she wasn't alone. And with Mira by her side, there was nothing she couldn't face.