Three Requests

Her consciousness slowly returned, as she groggily tried to return to sleep out of habit, only to snap to awareness, realizing her situation.

'Am I alive?' She wondered in shock to herself.

As she looked around it started to become obvious she wasn't. The first thing she noticed was the colors, a warm golden dusk emanating in front of her and passing behind her, turning pink and purple. She looked around but found no semblance of any physical structure; there were no buildings, people, or even ground to speak of. The vivid and colorful scene was a stark contrast to her hospital room, and the beauty of it leaving a deep impression on her.

"I see you've awoken," a voice boomed all around her. Shocked, she spun around to look at the center of the golden light, where the voice seemed to emanate from.

"You've had a hard life," it acknowledged.

'Who are you?' Anna tried to ask only to find she couldn't speak, she couldn't feel her mouth, or throat, or the breath in her lungs. She looked down to realize she had no body, and instead there was only a small pink glow.

"I am a god," the voice patiently yet simply answered. "Unfortunately, I cannot answer all of your questions," it said before Anna could ask anything. "All I can say is you died due to the unique nature of your soul, causing it to accumulate an abundance of energy far greater than most others. A typical body of Earth cannot tolerate such amounts, causing the energy to slowly and progressively harm your body."

To Anna this was an astonishing piece of information, 'my soul had too much energy?' She didn't know what that meant, but it was still the answer she'd been studying and searching to find her entire life. 'What does that mean?' although it had said it wouldn't answer her questions she tried asking anyways.

"I can answer that," it had read her thoughts, "your consciousness itself is energy, otherwise you wouldn't be here like this: as your soul."

'This is my soul?' Anna pondered at her magenta existence.

"Souls expend energy by existing, and they replenish this energy from what naturally flows in the universe." The voice continued.

'Like mana?' Anna thought to herself, not thinking to ask because she felt it was embarrassing.

"Yes, like mana." The voice answered regardless, "The energy can be used with an appropriate vessel to enact one's will into the universe."

Anna's figurative head was spinning. It was a lot of information to process. First she was still alive after death, she'd met a god, mana and magic were real; to be honest she felt like she should sit down for a bit.

But without giving her time the voice picked up again. "Alas, we must carry on. We pity your hard life and will allow you to make three requests for the next."

Anna had to press down all her thoughts, to think about what it had just said. Three requests? Like wishes? The god didn't say anything in objection so she assumed she was right. She thought for a bit before quickly answering 'I want a strong body, one that can bear my soul.' This was an easy choice.

"Alright," The voice simply acknowledged.

Anna had to think more for her second request. After a while she announced 'I want to keep my memories of this life.' She'd concluded on this one after pondering for a while. She didn't want more than what she'd worked for, as she felt that would make her next life boring. Whether that be extraordinary abilities, wealth or more knowledge, and she didn't want to lose the knowledge that she'd already studied in her life. But more importantly, she felt that she didn't want to lose the memories and knowledge of what it felt to live a disadvantaged life. She didn't want to become someone who would take life and happiness for granted.

"Good choice," the voice seemed happy with her decision. Then it abruptly said "Please continue thinking for your third request, I'll be back in a moment." The golden dusk faded, leaving her in what she realized to be space. With millions of sparkling stars visible, it was a grand sight to behold.

After taking in the view for a while, Anna reflected more on her life, trying to think of what she would ask of from a god. What was important to her? Then she remembered the doctors and nurses, and the warmth and kindness they brought to her. If she could, she would've smile at the thought of them.

Then as quickly as it was gone, it was back, the golden light had returned. 'For my final wish I want to be cared for.' Anna stated. To Anna this meant she wanted loving parents or guardians, it didn't matter if they were a biological family or not, just people who cared for her.

"Alright" The god seemed to be in a hurry and quickly summarized, "Interesting choice, I'll give you a strong body, and a caretaker. I'll also let you keep your memories, Goodbye Anna."

Anna was surprised at the abruptness of it, but she felt her consciousness fading, and being pulled somewhere else, fading to black.