It started just like any other day. I woke up, brushed my teeth, got dressed, started my office commute... It all went by in a blur. Sometimes, I feel like I'm not truly conscious while performing my routine.

But today, while I was on the sidewalk, waiting for the lights to turn green... I noticed a young girl texting on her phone, her attention completely focused on the device and not where she was going - and just past the border of the pavement was a large truck barreling down the road. She was going to jaywalk to her death!

My adrenaline spiked. 

Was I going to see someone die right in front of me? The world slowed. I felt like I was in one of those trolley problems. Do I stand and do nothing, or try my best? 

Before I knew it, my hand went forward and grabbed the girl's backpack, yanking it back just as the large truck passed by, barely missing her. She screamed, caught completely by surprise, and fell on her butt. She looked at me in complete shock. "A pervert!!!" -- I looked back at her in surprise at her exclamation, my mind failing to comprehend. And before I knew it, she quickly takes out a pepper spray and sprays my face. 

It hurts! I squint hard and take a step back, my foot slipping down the border and its my turn to fall. Right in the path of the second truck.

All I can hear is the noise of a blaring horn... A flash of white.

And then black.

Absolute darkness. I try to open my eyes, and then close them, but there is no difference. Am I even using my eyelids? I can't feel anything in this darkness.

I turn around and around, but without any point of reference, I'm not even sure whether I am truly turning around.

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I try to sigh, but no sound comes out. Is this really it? Am I... dead?

I'm not sure how much time has passed, but suddenly I feel a grabbing sensation from the back of my neck. It's hard to describe - it feels like I was being picked up like a kitten. 

I try to look up towards what is doing this, and all I see a point of light, quickly growing bigger and bigger.

Suddenly I feel like I'm being squeezed through a narrow hole, and then all I see is bright light everywhere, blinding me.

I can't see yet, but before I can adjust to the whiteness, I hear a gentle female voice:

"Can you hear me?" 

"H-huh?!" My voice feels strange, almost as if coming through a tube. Squeaky, almost. My eyes finally manage to adjust and I can see I'm being held by a gigantic woman. She is wearing a pretty white robe and she is smiling gently. I freak out quite a bit, but I can't manage to voice it.

"Ah, good. Poor thing. You have done a good deed and received naught but the ultimate punishment for it." - Is she referring to the girl I saved? So... I am truly dead, am I? 

Somehow, she reads my thoughts. 

"That's right, you have passed on. The truck killed you instantly."

I feel sad. There are so many things I wish I would have done instead, my regrets biting back at me. 

The woman smiles bitterly. "Usually, we are not allowed to do this, but I have a very particular case I'm allowed a fair bit of flexibility on. Would you like another chance?"

I would be a fool to refuse.

"Do I have any other options?" I ask timidly.

"You do. You could go back to the void until you lose your sense of self, and then get reincarnated like all the others."

That doesn't sound very appealing.

"What is the other option then?"

"Because of this highly unusual situation, and because I admire your sacrifice, I will allow you to keep your memories and throw in something to help you. But it will not be an easy life."

I think about it. My memories and my sense of self are the only things I have left - how can I just throw them away?

"I accept."

"Very well." She snaps the fingers of her other hand and the darkness returns. 

I am again alone.

But it feels different this time. This time I was.

I was cozy, even.