(So I've been ogling over Symbiote's "The Iconography Of Angels" since I read it, and it undoubtedly inspired this RECord for Tori's 10min challenge. Seriously Symbiote, you write such a great stories! I haven't reviewed this thoroughly, but hopefully it makes sense...)

When I closed my eyes, felt the wrinkles crease and the bags under my eyes sag, I thought it was over. I was never religious. I had no expectations of a glittering paradise or fiery pit or anything. And I was almost right. Everything went dark. 

When my eyes opened, I was crying. The wrinkles were gone. The world was a blur, and for a moment I thought that I’d been reincarnated. I was wrapped in a blanket, and I could feel myself being held. My vision came to me slowly, but soon the colorful blobs took form. I saw my parents. They were younger than I ever remembered, and I was amazed to see them at all, having attended their funerals decades earlier. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. I wanted to tell them, “It’s me! It’s me! I’ve lived an entire life! I have so many questions to ask you!”

But soon I discovered things were not as I had known them. The world was not as I had thought, but it was nonetheless the same world as before. I started seeing and hearing things on the news that had happened when I was very young. It started to dawn on me that my limited movement was not a product of my young muscles developing, but something different altogether. Slowly I started walking and talking, but I could not walk where I wanted to go, or say the things I wanted to express. I was bound to every minuscule action from my first life.

Since then, I've always wondered if it's the same for other people. Does everyone end up like this? Do they relive every lie, every kindness, every kiss, every blush, every fight?

In my first life I was the choreographer. I chose to dance how I pleased, where I pleased. I did anything my heart desired. The endless lives that have followed are rehearsals. I don’t know what for. My choreography was timid and boring, and my dance is dull. It's mostly sitting at a desk, driving, and sleeping. I wish I’d at least enjoyed sitting at the desk. I wish I’d danced more adventurously.