Reincarnated As This World's Healer

“And the winner of Best Baker of the Year is… Samantha Hart!”

The hall burst into clapping and happy cheers. I walked up to the stage with a big smile on my face and took the golden trophy from the spokesperson’s hands. It felt solid and real. I held it up a little so everyone could see.

“Thank you,” I said. “This means so much to me.”

I looked out at the crowd and felt proud deep in my chest. All those early mornings and late nights in the kitchen had led to this. I had worked hard, and it felt good to know people saw that. Some of the other bakers smiled at me. I smiled back, still holding the trophy close.

After the photos and a few short words from the association, I left the hall and walked to my car. The night air felt cool and nice. I put the trophy carefully on the passenger seat, started the engine, and drove off. My phone rang almost right away. It was my best friend, Clover.

“Sam!” she nearly yelled. “You did it! Best baker of the year! I’m so proud of you. You’ve worked so hard for this.”

I laughed, feeling warm all over. “I know, right? It’s like a dream come true. I never thought I would even qualify for the award.”

“Come on now,” Clover said, her voice full of that usual happy energy. “Don’t lie to yourself. You know you deserved it. Plus you’re really good at pharmaceutical chemistry too. You spent years perfecting your craft, and you’ve built a successful career. Girl, I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m happy for me too,” I said, and I meant it. “Thank you. I have to head to the reception hall now. Don’t want to be late. I’ll call you when I get there.”

“Sure, I’m waiting. Bye!”

I hung up and kept driving, still smiling to myself. The trophy sat beside me like a quiet reminder that I had done something good.

The reception was in a big room with soft lights and tables full of food and drinks. People talked and laughed. Some came over right away to congratulate me. I thanked them and felt that proud feeling again. It was nice to hear people say kind things about my baking.

Then I saw May walking toward me. May was one of the other bakers who had also contested for the same award. We had never really talked before. I was surprised when she stopped right in front of me with a bright smile and two glasses of wine in her hands.

“Samantha! Congratulations,” she said. “We should toast to your big win.”

She held one glass out to me. I took it, still a little surprised she was being so friendly.

“Thank you, May,” I said. “That’s kind of you.”

She raised her own glass. “To the best baker of the year.”

I took a sip. The wine tasted sweet at first, then a bit odd underneath, but I didn’t think much of it. May kept watching me with that same smile.

“Drink it all,” she said with a soft laugh. “It’s a special toast just for you.”

I finished the glass because it felt polite. A few minutes later she took my arm gently and led me toward a quieter corner of the room, away from the main group of people.

Her smile stayed, but her voice dropped lower.

“You didn’t deserve that award,” she said. “I’m sure you cheated somehow. People like you always find a way.”

I looked at her, confused. “What are you talking about, May? I worked hard for this.”

She didn’t answer right away. She just kept looking at me. Then a strange feeling started. My head felt light. My throat felt tight. I tried to take a normal breath, but it was hard. A cough rose up and I couldn’t stop it.

May’s smile grew wider. She leaned in closer.

“I can’t let you ruin my perfect life,” she whispered. “You have to go.”

I put a hand to my throat and kept coughing. My legs felt weak. I sank down to the floor. The room around me started to look blurry. There was no one around, and I couldn't seem to scream for help.

May stood over me and laughed softly. The last thing I saw was the cold look on her face. Then everything went dark.

I thought that would be the end. But when I opened my eyes again, I was standing in a place filled with soft white light. It felt quiet and strange. I looked at my hands. They looked the same. I still wore the same dress from the reception.

“Where am I?” I said out loud.

A voice answered right away. It sounded a little annoyed but not mean.

“Girl, keep quiet, will you? Sheesh.”

I looked around. “Who’s there? What do you want from me? Where am I?”

A soft laugh came through the light. Then a woman appeared in front of me. She had shiny golden hair that fell past her shoulders. She was pretty and looked strong, with a full figure, but she didn’t look scary at all. She wore a simple dress and smiled like we already knew each other.

She waved one hand. “Calm down. You’re overreacting. Welcome to my humble abode.”

I stared at her. “Who are you? And what is this place?”

She kept smiling, easy and warm. “My name is Aliandra. And as for where you are… well, you’re dead.”

I shook my head. “Dead?” I stared at her. “No. No, that's not possible.”

“It is.”

Aliandra tilted her head a little. “You drank a poisonous drink and you’re here. Or don’t you remember? It happened like three seconds ago.”

The memory came back. The odd taste in the wine. May’s smile. The way I couldn’t breathe right.

“May… she poisoned me,” I said slowly.

My hand went to my throat. I could still remember the burning feeling, the struggle to breathe, the way my body had collapsed. I was dead. May had actually killed me.

Aliandra nodded. “Yeah. Thank goodness you caught up real quick.”

I had spent years building my life with my own hands, and it had taken May less than five minutes to destroy everything. I felt like crying but then would crying change anything? Would it bring me back?. “So is this the end?”

“Not exactly,” Aliandra said. She sat down like there was a chair made of light and patted the space next to her. “Sit. Let’s talk.”

I sat reluctantly. The light felt soft under me.

Aliandra leaned forward a bit, her voice still friendly. “I’m the goddess of a world far from yours. It’s filled with humans, witches, wolves, dragons, goblins, ogres, foxfolk, and lots of other creatures. All living together.”

I blinked. “Wait, wait, wait. You lost me at witches. What do you mean witches?”

She laughed, a light happy sound. “I’m sure you’ll get used to it. But something is wrong in my world. A strange disease has started affecting different races. It spreads fast and I can’t seem to find the cure. Goddesses aren’t meant to physically help their world, so I need someone else. Someone who understands medicine and ingredients… and also understands the art of creating food.”

She pointed at me with a small grin. “Turns out you’re the perfect choice. You’re an expert in pharmaceutical chemistry and you just won Best Baker of the Year. You’re literally the best person I could find.”

I looked at her. “You want me to help?”

“I want to give you a choice,” she said. Her voice stayed warm and easy. “You can go to heaven—the afterlife—and rest. Or you can take another life. A new chance in my world. But it comes with a quest. You’ll have to help stop that disease.”

I thought about my old life. My family. My boyfriend. My friends. The bakery I had built with my own hands. All of it gone because of one glass of wine.

But the thought of just ending everything felt wrong. I still had so many dreams. I still wanted to create things, to help people, to live. I had been proud of what I built, and I wasn’t ready to let that feeling go forever.

I took a slow breath. “I’ll go to the new world.”

Aliandra’s face lit up with a bright smile. “Great. I was beginning to worry I’d have to spend another eternity looking for another baker.”

A small laugh came out of me even though my heart still felt heavy.

She stood up and stretched. “Well then. Bye, girl. And also… your new name is Hazel Fairweather.”

The white light around us grew brighter and brighter until I couldn’t see her anymore. Everything went pure white. Then I opened my eyes, and screamed.