Luna's early years passed in a blur of lucky breaks and intuitive understanding that she knew came from those carefully spent points. Soccer balls that should have hit her face somehow curved away at the last second. Pop quizzes always seemed to cover the exact topics she'd reviewed the night before. "Just lucky, I guess," she'd say when people commented, remembering the points she'd spent on that Luck modifier.

"She's just naturally gifted," her teachers would say, not knowing how many lifetimes of learning had gone into making things look "natural." Luna found herself grasping concepts instantly that had taken her hours to understand in her previous life - the +2 Intelligence making complex ideas click into place like puzzle pieces finding their home.

Middle school, which she vaguely remembered being a nightmare in her previous life, felt more like a gentle challenge this time around. When other kids struggled with social dynamics, Luna somehow always knew exactly what to say. She could read a room instantly, picking up on subtle tensions and unspoken feelings - her enhanced Emotional Intelligence and Charisma working in perfect harmony. Those moments of reaching out to the lonely or standing up for the bullied always came with their own rewards.

+75 points: Creating safety for others

Sometimes, late at night, she'd find herself thinking about her previous life. Most memories were hazy, like trying to recall a dream, but some names remained crystal clear. Sarah. Sarah Chen. The sister she'd failed to love properly the first time around.

Her own siblings were a joy this time. The memory of Sarah - of how terribly she'd failed her sister in her previous life - drove Luna to be the kind of big sister she should have been before. She had a second chance now, and she wasn't going to waste it. When her brother Alex was born, then Maya two years later, Luna threw herself into the role with all the enthusiasm of someone making up for lost time.

"You're amazing with them," her mother would say, watching Luna patiently teach Maya to tie her shoes or help Alex with his reading. "Most kids would be jealous of new siblings."

Luna just smiled, remembering how she'd let jealousy and fear poison her relationship with Sarah. Never again. This time, she'd be the kind of sister who made her siblings feel safe to be exactly who they were.

+150 points: Choosing joy in family bonds

The points came easily now, almost an afterthought to the genuine pleasure she took in being kind. Each year brought new opportunities to do better than she had in her previous life. When Alex came home crying because some kids had made fun of his "girl" backpack, Luna didn't hesitate.

"You know what's cool about being yourself?" she asked him. "It shows other people they can be themselves too."

+200 points: Supporting authentic expression

By junior high, her point total had long since surpassed what she'd earned in her previous life. Not that she kept close track anymore - the numbers were just confirmation of what she already knew: that being genuinely kind was its own reward.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

It was a regular Tuesday afternoon at Target when she saw her.

Luna was helping Maya pick out new shoes for soccer when she heard a child's laugh, bright and uninhibited. She looked up to see a woman trying to wrangle two small children while simultaneously looking at cleats. The woman was stunning in that effortless way some people had, her dark hair falling in soft waves, her casual athleisure somehow looking elegant.

Something tugged at Luna's memory. A cream-colored wedding invitation. A photo of a radiant bride.

"Mama!" one of the children called out. "Can I get the light-up ones?"

"Sarah," the other child added, "please?"

"Don't call me that," Sarah almost snapped, then caught herself with the weary patience of a mother who'd had this conversation a thousand times. "Please, sweetie - Mom or Mommy or Mama. Not Sarah."

Sarah.

A display of soccer balls nearly toppled as one of Sarah Chen's children bumped into it, but Luna was already there, steadying it before anything could fall.

"Thank you," Sarah smiled, and oh, that smile hadn't changed. Not in all the years, all the lifetimes between them. "These two are a handful today."

"They're beautiful," Luna said softly, meaning it. The two children were a beautiful study in contrasts - the older one had Sarah's fair skin and wide eyes, while the younger had inherited David's Asian features and gentle smile. Adopted or surrogate-born, they were clearly cherished.

The younger child, previously shy, peeked out from behind Sarah. "I like your shoes," she told Luna, pointing at Luna's rainbow sneakers.

"Thanks! Want to see how they light up?" Luna demonstrated with a little hop, making both children giggle. Emma joined in, showing off her own light-up shoes, and soon all four kids were jumping around, creating a light show in the shoe aisle.

"You're wonderful with kids," Sarah said, watching the interaction with clear delight.

Luna's Papa, who'd been looking at soccer gear nearby, came over with her Dad. "She really is," Papa said proudly. "Just got certified in babysitting and CPR six months ago. Even had business cards made up for her."

"Wait – Michael?" Sarah's eyes widened with recognition. "Michael Barnes from Marketing?"

"Sarah! I didn't recognize you outside the office," Luna's Dad said warmly. "How's David?"

Luna tried not to look too eager as she pulled one of her cards from her backpack. The cards, printed on recycled paper with little rainbow hearts in the corners (her Papa's design touch), suddenly felt like the most important thing she'd ever held.

"I'd love to help out sometime," she offered, her heart pounding. "If you ever need a sitter."

Sarah took the card, studying Luna with an expression that made her breath catch. There was something in her eyes, something that seemed to recognize Luna's genuine care for her children.

"I would be honored for someone with a heart like yours to watch my kids sometime," Sarah said softly.

Luna's point total flashed briefly in her mind - far higher than she'd ever dreamed possible in her previous life. But the numbers didn't matter anymore. Her sister was happy. Her sister was loved. Her sister was herself. And now, maybe, Luna could be part of her life again, even if Sarah would never know the whole truth.

+1,000 points: Choosing love over recognition

"Come on, girls," her Papa called. "Time to check out those cleats and head home for dinner."

As they walked toward the shoe section, Luna could have sworn she heard a cat purring somewhere in the store - though she hadn't seen any cats in Target before.