Reset at 16, Time to Destroy Their Lives

My baby suffocated during childbirth.

The doctor had recommended a C-section. I begged my husband, Kevin, to sign the consent forms—but his mother stopped him. "A little squeeze will make the baby smarter," she sneered. "Besides, it's just a girl. Like her mama—a high school dropout. Better off dead anyway."

I didn't make it out of the delivery room. My baby died a month later. Suffocated.

Then I woke up.

I was sixteen again.

My phone buzzed. Two unread texts glowed on the screen:

"People are biased. Love isn't something you can ask for; it has to be given freely."

"Your parents are just ordinary people."

After I died, my spirit lingered. I followed Kevin everywhere.

I saw his stunned face when the doctor said, "I'm sorry, we lost the mother. The baby survived, but he suffered from prolonged oxygen deprivation. He may face developmental delays or epilepsy."

I heard his mother's cold remark: "So what? She was just some trashy girl. Why all the drama?"

She only lost it when Kevin clarified—it was a boy. A boy who might be disabled.

"Impossible!" she shrieked. "Her belly was so round—it had to be a girl!"

But the truth was undeniable.

Kevin's mother went after the doctor, wailing that he'd killed her precious grandson.

My mom showed up late. She didn't ask what happened. She just demanded $80,000 from the hospital—or she'd sue.

Unbelievably, the hospital paid.

I thought they'd use the money to care for the baby. But he only lived a month. His own father smothered him with a pillow.

I floated there behind Kevin, burning with the need for revenge—but I was powerless. A ghost. I faded into nothing, eaten up by hatred.

Then I woke up. Sixteen again.

I'd just had a huge fight with my parents about dropping out of school. I was ranting to Kevin—an older guy I'd met online who seemed so wise. He always replied right away, showering me with vague compliments that made me feel… special. Seen.

"People are biased. Love isn't something you can ask for; it has to be given freely."

"Your parents are just ordinary people."

His next words echoed in my mind:

"Lots of girls without degrees do just fine. Education isn't everything. Especially for women. A pretty face can take you far—even without a diploma. You're still in high school—it's different. Men, even with PhDs, still struggle to provide."

"Dropping out is no big deal. Let me show you the world."