This Time, I Know What I Don't Know

Chapter One

My eyes opened. I was flat on my back, the sun shining overhead.

My face hurt, and I couldn't remember the last few minutes. I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness made me stop. I stayed where I was for a moment, waiting for the world to settle.

“We need to get home. Now.”

My sister.

I struggled to my feet and followed her, still dazed.

As I staggered along, I vaguely wondered why my left knee didn't hurt, but I dismissed the odd stray thought. My head and face hurt too much to pay much attention to anything else.

The walk was short, only about ten minutes. I looked up as Jessie opened the door.

I recognize this door. I haven't seen it in decades.

Am I dreaming? It feels so real.

Then that woman showed her face as we went inside.

What the f**k? Isn't she dead?

Jessie yelled, “Michelle got hit! She's acting weird!”

My mother called the police while I sat there, staring blankly at everything.

My mind was sluggish, struggling to catch up with what was going on.

This isn't right. Something is wrong.

The police arrived, breaking my introspection.

“Ma'am, what's going on?”

“My daughters were attacked on the way home from school.”

“What school?”

“Topeka High.”

Wait, what? We don't even live in Kansas anymore, let alone Topeka.

I stared at my mom in confusion.

Then it hit me.

I had been remembering my past as I lay in hospice. I'd wondered if reincarnation was real and whether I would instinctively recognize people from my previous lives.

So, am I dreaming? Looking back at my life before I go?

I reached up and touched my aching face.

But damn, do dreams have to hurt so much?

The conversation carried on around me as I tried to figure out what was happening. Now that I really looked, my sister was way too young and slim.

And my mom was alive.

She died twenty years ago.

This is a nice dream.

The police interrupted my thoughts.

“Michelle, can you tell us what happened? Do you know the individuals?”

I explained all that I could remember. “I walked out of school and down the block. About halfway home, I saw a bunch of guys hassling my sister, and I yelled at them to leave her alone. That's it. The next thing I remember is opening my eyes and seeing the sky.”

The police advised my mom to take me to the hospital because I might have a concussion.

“There's not much we can do if you don't know who they are. Call us if you find out.”

With that, they left.