[ WP ] It turns out that when you die , your soul is launched back in time , effectively becoming your own guardian angel .

I came to with bright lights blinding me. I groaned. My head hurt like a bitch! And why was it so bright in here? 
 
 `` Fuck...'' I muttered, my mouth dry and tasting of blood. I went to sit up, only to have my body feel like it was tearing apart at the movement. My movement swiftly ceased, as I let out a surprised scream from the sudden pain. 
 
 Next to me, a man jolted awake. `` You're...!'' He looks at me, a torrent of emotions in his eyes. His hands grasp mine, the one on my injured side. His expression softens, tears welling up in tired eyes. `` I thought I'd lost you, too...'' 
 
 It broke my heart to see him like this. His normal vibrant, colorful eyes were dull and faded. His eyes were swollen and red, with heavy bags to boot. His hair was a mess, a stark difference from its usual refined nature. Even in such a state, he was still the same gorgeous man I loved. And yet, my heart ached to have caused him such sleep deprivation and worry. He always suffered when he did n't sleep well, more than most. 
 
 `` Hey...'' I muttered gently, agonizingly bringing my free hand to touch his face while he buried it in my shoulder. `` Hey, I promised you I'd see you one year for every one you lived, did n't I?'' I smiled, grateful to still be there, and that my loved one was safe. Most of all, though, I was grateful that I was n't yet another person in this wonderful man's life that had left him too early. 
 
 Of course, that thought did n't have time to occur to me when I'd flung myself in front of a bullet meant for him. *He probably did n't want me to do that, now that I have time to think about it... * I reflect quietly. Always so reckless, he'd chide me. It's not surprising, though. Of course I'd take a bullet for him. But I also knew I had a guardian angel looking out for me. Kind of like a weird luck stat - it would never help me win games of chance, but when the stakes were high enough... I knew I would be alright. 
 
 I wanted to reassure him, make him laugh, bring back that wonderful smile of his. So I said `` Hey, you know, this might sound crazy, but I think I have a guardian angel or something! So I doubt I was ever in danger at all!'' Of course, my dumb attempt at humor did n't cheer him up at all. 
 
 He squeezed my hand very tightly in his. I could scarcely hear him when he said, voice tight, `` The doctors said the bullet missed your heart by mere centimeters. You must be...'' His sentence faded into a choked laugh that may've been a sob. I gasped softly. I ca n't believe I came that close to dying! I squeezed his hand back, as tightly as I could, a newfound respect for my tenuous life rushing through me. 
 
 `` I'm so sorry I almost left you...'' 
 
 *Thanks, guardian angel! * I think to myself. It's probably just superstition... but maybe... 
 
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 Somewhere, a spirit lets out a silent wail, crying out in guilt, rage, grief, and sorrow.
