They All Voted for My Death Then I Came Back Reborn Chapter 06

They All Voted for My Death Then I Came Back Reborn Chapter 06

My mother in the parallel universe was named Lisa Wilson.

She drew the hospital curtains halfway closed so the sunlight fell across the floor without touching my face.

Every time she spoke, she checked my expression first.

“Is my voice okay at this volume? Would you like the lights dimmer? Does it make you nervous when I stand

here?”

I gripped the edge of the blanket, my throat painfully tight.

She was not tiptoeing around me to win my affection.

She was genuinely waiting for me to feel safe.

My father was Liam Wilson.

He spooned the oatmeal into a bowl and rested the spoon along the rim.

“It’s still a little hot. Your stomach used to hurt when you were anxious. Just try a few bites first.”

I picked up the spoon. My wrist trembled from weakness.

The oatmeal was plain. There was no cilantro or shellfish anywhere on the tray.

I swallowed one warm spoonful. The warmth hit my long-empty stomach, and the sudden ache brought

tears to my eyes.

Lisa offered me a tissue but did not ask why I was crying.

“Take your time. There’s no rush.”

That afternoon, they took me home.

There was no welcome banner and no cake waiting at the door.

A pair of pale blue slippers sat in the entryway.

Lisa crouched and gently pushed them toward my feet.

“We always kept these for you.”

I stepped into them. The soles gave slightly beneath my feet, and the slippers fit perfectly.

My bedroom was upstairs.

Math competition certificates hung on one wall.

My shelves held journals, collectibles, and study guides.

On the corner of the desk sat an old bell, polished until it shone.

My chest tightened.

Lisa’s voice turned hoarse.

“You cried for a long time after Marmalade disappeared. Later, we adopted another cat.”

When she opened the window, I spotted an orange tabby racing across the yard. A moment later, he bounded

into the room and rubbed against my leg.

I crouched and gathered him into my arms.

Warm fur pressed against my palms, and my shoulders began to shake.

Liam turned his face away, his eyes red-rimmed.

“Anna, all that matters is that you’re home.”

That evening, Lisa brought my medication upstairs.

I straightened instinctively.

She stopped at the doorway instead of coming closer.

“You can take it later if you don’t want it right now. The doctor said anxiety may make your stomach hurt.”

I looked at the cup in her hand, my nose stinging.

In my old home, whenever I felt sick, my mom told me to stop getting so worked up every night.

Here, they remembered that stress hurt my stomach.

They also remembered that I was afraid when people came too close without warning.

My phone suddenly lit up.

The Exchange app displayed an interdimensional check-in request.

[Connection to the original universe is unstable. View connection?]

I tapped YES.

Claire was curled into the corner of the couch with both hands over her ears.

Laura paced in front of her, clutching a white dress.

“Claire, this was your favorite when you were little.”

Claire shook her head, her voice trembling.

“Scratchy. It hurts.”

Laura stared at her.

Richard spoke under his breath. “Was she always like this?”

Claire looked up at them.

“I was always like this. You just don’t remember.”

Then she pointed at the candles on the coffee table.

“No fire. They crackle. I’m scared.”

Laura’s lips moved, but no words came out.

Mason stood in the doorway, his face drained of color.

When Claire saw him, she shrank farther into the couch.

“Don’t come closer. You smell like Anna.”

The words struck him. He stepped back as if he had been physically shoved.

Lisa sat beside me and draped a blanket around my shoulders.

“Do you want me to turn it off?”

I stared at the screen and shook my head.

Claire suddenly lifted her face, almost as though she could see me through the connection.

“Anna. If you can hear me… Don’t come back.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“The people here call pain bad behavior.”