A Life Inherited

Everyone knew her but she did not know herself

Europa filled the jumpship's viewport.

Nia kept her hands steady on the controls. Three months had passed since she woke in the infirmary with no memory of the life everyone else insisted belonged to her. The Vanguard had no explanation. Only records. Guardian. A hero of the Last City. Veteran of battles she could not remember. Everyone seemed to know her. Friends greeted her with relief. Guardians spoke of missions they had survived together. The archives listed victories she had apparently earned.

Nia listened. Then she looked in the mirror and saw a stranger. Even Amor had been one at first. Her Ghost. Her closest companion. The one person who supposedly knew her better than anyone. But he never asked her to remember. Never corrected her when she changed.

He simply stayed.

The Vanguard had offered her a choice. She could walk away.

Nia stayed.

Whatever she had forgotten, helping people still felt right. That had to mean something.

"Nia?"

She looked up. Amor hovered beside her.

"You alright?"

"Yeah. Just thinking."

"Want to talk?"

"Soon. Mission first."

"We're almost at Europa."

Nia nodded.

"Thanks, Amor."

"For what?"

She smiled faintly.

"For not expecting me to be her."

Amor was quiet for a moment.

"I never stopped expecting you to be you."

Europa drew closer.

Nia still didn't know the woman everyone else remembered. Maybe she never would. That was alright. She could decide who came next.

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