Did another one!
Help
My head felt like it was splitting in half as I stood in an unfamiliar place. I had a gut feeling about one thing even if I was confused about others: I am dead. Something about myself could feel it, I was…Lighter. It seemed much too cool and foggy to be that hot summer’s night. I stumbled forward a bit before regaining composure. Then, I began to walk.
I was lost. I had no idea where I was, but it wasn’t where I had died. I had a yearning to get back to my body and could feel a slight tug in a certain direction of which I was heading. My thoughts began to wander as I walked. I was on my way to the hospital. My baby girl was being born without me. I shouldn’t have been on my phone. I should have just focused on driving.
Cursing to myself I kept going, not sure of what I was really doing. What would happen when I got back to my body? Would I return to it and wake up? Would I only be able to watch myself, see myself mangled in the wreckage? Who knows. it was a gamble and I was a betting man.
There was something eerie about this time. It had been around midnight on the way to the hospital, but how late was it now? There were no cars around, not a single person or light on in any buildings. Not that I was too close to buildings anyways, I stuck more to the edge of a grassy area instead. I kept asking myself questions, why this, why that, what if, until I met a figure parted the fog in front of me.
The figure was tall and cloaked in white. They raised up an arm and a bony finger extended. “You.” They said in an ethereal voice. I felt it was looking right at me, but I couldn’t see a discernable face or any features.
“M-Me?” I stopped in my tracks as the figure got closer.
“Yes. You are lost. Correct?”
“Yes, I am. Can you…Do you know where my body is? I think I’m dead.” It took a moment for the figure to respond.
“Your soul has disconnected from your body. You are not dead nor are you alive. You are in the middle.” I frowned slightly, not entirely understanding. “Now. You may ask three questions. Then, I can grant you one request.”
“Okay. How do I get to my body?” I asked first.
“You may follow the song you, your soul, sings to it. You can feel a tugging in yourself of where your body is.”
“Okay…How far away is it?”
“Far. You are may ways away from the location of which your soul parted from your body.”
“Will I be able to be alive again if I make it there?” I could feel a bit of nervousness in my stomach as I awaited an answer.
“It depends on the state of your body and your capabilities. But, with your free request, I may grant you life again.” I took in a sharp breath, trying to not get too excited. I wanted to see my wife again, to meet my baby girl and live a long life with the two of them. “I can grant you life now, and you will be safe until your new intended time. However, one person in your life will take your place here. If not, you will have to stay here forever without the chance of ever leaving. With your level of Sins and Saintitudes, you cannot be placed into the Above or Below. You would have to stay here alone in the Middle.”
I stood there, feeling like it would have been a better idea to walk right past the figure, to make it to my body on my own. Maybe then I’d be able to be alive with no consequences. I then thought of a question. “Is the person who takes my place potentially someone who I’ve only briefly met? How large is the pool of chances?”
“Fool. You have asked your three questions already. Pick soon, or you will lose the chance to go back to the ones you love.” I hesitated for a while, thinking it over. Then, I looked up to the being.
“I want to be alive. Let me go back to my body.” A grin appeared on the newly appeared face of the figure. It was mangled and old, crooked and sharp teeth lined its gums.
“So be it.” They said before my vision got blurry, and I felt myself falling. My focus was regained as I found myself in the car, looking down at my phone. I quickly looked up and honked my horn as I stepped on the brakes. I felt relief at having prevented my death. I continued driving and focused on the road before hearing my phone ring. I picked it up and said a quick “hello.”
“Hello. Is this Maxwell Garrett?” A woman’s voice was on the other line, one unfamiliar to me.
“Yes, this is he.” My heart sank as once I heard what the woman said.
“I’m sorry to say but your wife has passed away.”