A New Soul

ter

's d

a's

lore, my voice barely

than I've ever seen him, and what

Maya." His voice is firm, as if h

it hurts me so much. He is the one who

big smile on her face. I want to scream, but the blood that is collecting

and sinking as my

n my fading consciousness. "You we

ing down, and each beat

n... no

n hear and feel it: the cold air rushing in and the feeling of weightlessness,

never get the justice I need. Nothing saddens me

hake. "Please, let me try again." I want to get back at the

loud. But then... a burst of light appears. It isn't to

soothing presence

away but close, and it's quiet but strong. "You migh

r to me. I just want e

voice breaks, and m

nd me alters a little. But something is drag

You need to find a partner who will

ying. A buddy? It doesn't matter to

pull. The cold and the dark.

walls, or stars. Nothing except emptiness. I feel like I'

I don't have anything else to hear but the sound of my heart

id

quieter. I turn to look, but I can't see.

chance, but you don't kn

ut. I want to scream and ask what thi

will get someone else's body, face, and

sharper, and I see how real it all is. I c

ll mark you, or your soul will

y mind. Find a partner. A man who will write on me. I

e word rushes out be

the darkness swirls around me. "You need to

world isn't the only thing that drives me down. The weight of a life that isn't mine anymore. The new body that is wai

yes. Then not

es wide open, yet something is wrong. The sheets are too fragile, and the bed is too comfor

emember. I sit up and attempt to remember where I am. There is a room all around me that is bigger than any I've ever been

the sheets aren't mine. I can feel the softness of flesh that isn't mine

Why do I feel l

ne floor. The world tilts for a second. I grab on to the edge of

a's

st

the world tilts again. I put my palm on the mirror,

body. It doesn

me apart. What'

down my breathing, but I can't. This isn't just a

reya, th

ainful. Maya is my real name. No, Freya. I do

e lump in my th

am I

r have imagined that everything in Freya's life would be bigger, grander, and more opulent th

gure out what has happened to me, I spot a picture on the wall.

I can feel her life and legacy in the sti

e has this power. But now it's mine. I'm in he

al silks and velvets. I pick up the clothes and touch the he

door. I stop. My heart

a calm and friendly tone. "The Kin

out what the words mean.

ke

d like, but not in a way that should seem familiar. I guess he was always swee

here when the do

royal armor of Wolfsburg. His eyes are deep and his features are sha

reach for me or pull me into an embrace like I thought he

g for you," his voice is low. "

p. "I... I've been sick," I admit, and t

. "I understand." I have seen. He approaches closer and slowly reaches o

almost caring way, and then... his eye

s voice full of fear. "You've chan

rp edge between us. I want to yell, "I'm not Fre