Mom hugged me tightly."Don't say that.I'll always protect you.No more gloomy talk,silly."
Tears welled in my eyes.A lifetime ago,I was beaten to death.
I thought after the SATs,I'd never see the Turners again,avoiding further trouble.Yet I died.How heartbroken my parents must've been—my life barely started.

Recalling that,tears streamed.I sniffled.Mom pinched my cheek."Parents protect their kids,but must teach they what’s right and what’s wrong.People err—accept your child's mistakes,your own parenting flaws,instead of blaming others."
"Emily,we're your shield.I want you to be brave,and take responsibilities when something is truly your own mistake.With us,you're always our child.I want you to know good from evil and fear nothing in the future."
That sentence about fear tugged at my heart.Since rebirth,I had lived in dread,fearing I couldn't change my fate,that a sudden accident would had me killed again.
Now,I felt safe.Tears surged,and I dove into Mom's arms.I was their treasure too!
Linda wouldn't quit.A lifetime ago,she ambushed me while I took out trash,had me kidnapped,and beaten to death.
Carrying a trash bag,I stepped out,heart pounding as bushes rustled.

Each step was heavy.
In the dark,Linda's face appeared,grinning like a demon.
As the mob raised their bats,sirens blared.They tried to flee,but all were caught.
This life,I'd alerted police early.None would escape.

Mom,hearing the chaos,rushed downstairs.
Relief hit;the weight of stone on my chest was gone.I collapsed,past life flashing in my mind.
My mind went blank.Mom,terrified,held me as I blacked out.
Waking up in the hospital,Mom scolded me.
I thought rebirth made me invincible,ready for revenge.But facing those bats,I was still powerless.
Without the police arrving on time,I'd be hurt again.
Since they didn't succeed,Linda couldn't be charged heavily.My parents investigated her,uncovering texts from her her bribing workers.
She'd promised to pay their owed wages if they"handled"me.
Fearing jail,they confessed everything.
Old cases resurfaced—years ago,Linda,suspecting Greg's affair with a cook at a construction site,had her killed.Without surveillance footage,she'd escaped.
Her success escape back then made her bold.
But she met her match with me.
The teacher was fired for ignoring my pleas.Greg,a foreman,owed wages and ran illegal contracts.Their family was ruined for good.