Chapter Fifteen : Am I Dead?

What is life?

Life has different definition in the eyes of different people. There is no clear cut definition for it. For some, life is all about building a family and leading "life" as it is. For some, life is all about accumulating wealth.

For others , life is all about engaging in academic circle. Still for others, life is all about art. For many life is all about love. For a few, life is all about religious practices. For philosopher like Aristotle life is about happiness: "Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." Hence life has different definition for different people.

But what was life to lia?

life was a Godda*mn bully she had to woke up to everyday. But that's no more . Now she's dead!

Eyes closed,she felt peace like no other. She was finally free from the trials, temptations and bullsh*ts of the world. Though , a bit aggrieve she didn't get to spend her final moment with her family instead of some rabid wolf.

But things are finally going to be perfect. No more disturbances, dramas, distraction, besides she heard people in the afterlife have no recollection of their pastlife cause their memories are taken away. Was she finally getting the freedom she desired?

She forced her eyelid open.

Paradise here I come!

Eyes slowly opening, she blinked repeatedly trying to clear out her hazy sight which proved to be a bit effective cause she managed to make out a white.... was that the sky?

She squirted her eyes, why did her afterlife sky look a lot like her bedroom ceiling?

Wait. What? Bedroom!!

"Ahh!!!" Lia screamed, instinctively rolling off her bed and landing on the ground with a loud thud.

She continued screaming as she take in the familiar environment. What the hell? Was this an afterlife prank?

She shrieked tumbling upon her reflection in her full length standing mirror. Oh my God! wasn't she supposed to be dead?

She was still clearly dressed in her tattered, and bloody off shoulder little black dress.The f*ck.

She fearfully walked closer to the mirror, trembling with every step she made. She looked like something that was hurled out of a horror movie.

She shivered involuntary, countless thoughts running through her mind?

Why was she was alive? wasn't she supposed to be in heaven or was it called paradise ? Why was she sleeping on her bed like nothing happened? Why wasn't her mom banging down her door by now ?

She could hear her heartbeat which was hammering furiously cause of her wild hormones. She reeked of adrenaline right now.

Lia checked out her cheeks, shoulder, stomach and leg and was rendered mute at the sight . There was not a single claw mark ,

bruise, nor injury infact her skin was as good as new aside from dried up blood serving as evidence that something crazy went down last night.

So if she wasn't dreaming nor hallucinating, then this was probably reality and not the afterlife . She stared at the muddy and dirty footprint starting from her door to the inside of her room abruptly stopping beside her bed before continuing on her bed sheet.

If she wasn't hallucinating then that's a clear proof she walked into her room herself. But how was that possible?

Deducing the amount of blood she lost during the attack that led to her death, she knew there was no way she would come home with such injuries, she wouldn't be able to stand talk more walk such a distance , it was absolutely impossible.

Moreover she didn't know the way home. How did she find her way home? What the hell is wrong with this place?

Also, didn't her mom see her in this hideous and rugged state? who let her in the house? There was no one way anyone would see her in this condition and not scream in shock unless she sneaked in.

Realizing that she must have snuck in without her mom's notice, she peeled off her filty clothes and entered the bathroom for a wash.Lia felt so unclean she scrubbed her skin rosy for almost an hour.

Done with her bath, she grabbed her filthy clothes and bed sheet and tossed them in the laundry basket making a mental note to wash those before her mom's does.

Compared to her mom, Lia wasn't hyperventilating, she was oddly calm which was a good sigh she was handling this well. She couldn't imagine what would happen if her mom finds out, it won't probably end well.

She grabbed a rag and wiped off the dirty footprints. She had to cover up her tracks until she figured out what was going on. Little Town was strange,so nobody was to be trusted including her family members, who knew what spell they casted on them last night during her disappearance.

Done with her cleaning she was about to get rid of the clothes when her door snapped open and in came her mom. Lia felt her heart leap out of her chest , that was a close call .

But surprisingly when her mom stepped in, the sudden panic turned into longing when her eyes stared into those familiar, caring, protective and assuring gaze. God! she missed her mom like crazy.

Without giving her any clue, she threw herself at her mom and gave her a bone crushing embrace.

"Mom, I missed you " She cried tightening her grip, afraid if she let go all this would be a dream.

Jenny sighed wishfully, it would've have being good If this was ten years ago. Then she could stand these knock - the - wind - out - of- me hugs but now her stamina was failing.

"Easy sugar pie, I'm not as strong as you " She complained but that gave Lia the initiative to tighten the hug more startling her.

Jenny was dazed at her daughter's sudden clingy attitude, it was so unlike Lia.

"Well" She breathed in and returned the hug, relishing the feel of her daughter's body pressed against her.It's not every day her daughter gets to be this emotional and touchy-feely

Lia tightened her grip afraid she would disappear if she let go. Eventhough death had given her the freedom she desired the most but it was too cold and lonely, an empty void.

Why was she even freaking out at her sudden resurrection, maybe it was just God giving her a second chance to live her life, to do things she never finished before now. She just had to grasp this opportunity well , she thought.

But beneath that calm facade, she knew this was all a lie, something was going on here and she seem to be stucked in the middle of it all.