The morning arrived in perfect stillness.
The sun had only just risen above the eastern horizon when Sophia opened her eyes slowly.
Golden light streamed through the gaps in the bedroom curtains, casting a warm, comfortable glow across the room.
For several seconds she simply lay still, gazing up at the ceiling.
Then she remembered the date.
Today.
Sophia let out a soft breath.
Years ago, this very date had been the day of her death.
The day her life had ended in betrayal, poison, and regret.
The day every dream she had ever held was destroyed by the people she had trusted the most.
But now.
The same date carried a completely different meaning.
It was no longer a day of death.
No longer a day of loss.
Instead, it was a day to celebrate the life she had managed to build after being granted a second chance.
She smiled faintly before sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"I knew you would be awake earlier than anyone else."
