![](/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBL3duQVE9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--ee5eb0b260b40a2381a75a258142102ac2e2b8e8/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lKYW5CbFp3WTZCa1ZVT2hSeVpYTnBlbVZmZEc5ZmJHbHRhWFJiQjJsVmFWVT0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6InZhcmlhdGlvbiJ9fQ==--94c25e5dafb55f310148e5d06b21fd33792efb3e/B8BEFA92-8096-4C3C-8232-11535D48B115.jpeg)
@Tired-but-passionate
(Imma be the fifth cuz that’s just the logical conclusion I came to based on what has been said so far haha)
The others had told her this would happen, but Victoria still gasped in shock when she awoke, air filling her lungs once more. She lay in the bed where she died, her body younger and somewhat healthier than when she last remembered it being. Her death was slow and sickly. One day she did not feel like eating or drinking, and thus began a long period of starving herself. As the months passed, she was soon unable to get herself out of bed. It was a half-life of sleeping and nothingness, and she was actually glad when that fever came upon her and gave her sweet release.
Now, lifting up her hand and arm and breathing heavily, her release was gone. Her lifted limb was still thin and bony as it had always been, but the signs of age were nowhere to be found. Tears pricked at her eyes. Victoria lowered her arm, lifting her head instead to look out the window.
Her poor garden… it had been neglected for so long, it was almost like a wasteland. Well, she decided, if she was going to be alive again, might as well make the most of it and make her garden alive again too. She slipped out of bed, stumbling a bit as a wave of dizziness came over her. She put her hand on the wall to balance herself. From here Cato and Yukime’s voices were faint and dream-like.
Once she stepped outside the smell of burning and smoke hit her nose, and a voice she didn’t recognize crying out a panicked stream of strange words hit her ears. Seeing that nothing was on fire except for the fire pit and… an animal hide? She turned toward the voice- voices now, and saw Rafael with a strange looking boy.
“Lord, you’ve given me life, for which I am thankful,” she prayed, though her words were a little empty, “now I ask that you give me strength.” Her voice was small and breathy from being out of use.
She moved over to them, curious about the newcomer. She gave Rafael a warm smile, or at least as warm as she could make it, then turned to the boy. “My, you poor lad. Are you alright? We can make you something to eat, if you like. What’s your name?”