Leaving Behind the Old

Jessica couldn’t wait to meet her newest client. She perused the dossier to ensure she had all the facts about the woman she would soon meet.

Heather was late, again. She had already been warned by her supervisor, this was her last chance. Her consistent tardiness had worn down her boss. Heather, as always, had promised to never be late again. But here she was…late. Her mother had often joked Heather would be late for her own funeral.

Jessica stood in front of the buildings main entrance, excitedly waiting for her client. She studied the picture carefully, observing her client’s pale green eyes, honey blonde hair, and slightly awkward smile. Jessica read the name aloud, “Heather Johanson.” Jessica glanced at her watch.

“She is late,” tsked Jessica. “Glad they put that note in her file.”

Heather ran down the stairs bursting from her apartment building, almost colliding with her nosy neighbor, Mrs. Johnson.

“I see you’re late again Ms. Johanson. Tardiness is not a good look.”

“Have a nice day, Mrs. Johnson,” Heather yelled over her shoulder as she raced down the sidewalk.

Great, no traffic in sight, thought Heather as she continued to pick up her speed through the crosswalk, she heard a loud screeching sound. The truck had come out of nowhere. Surprisingly, even though she felt the impact, she was in no pain. Maybe her body was in shock.

“Oh, there you are,” said Jessica, smiling at Heather.

“I think my body is in shock. I need to get to the hospital to get checked out.”

“Let me introduce myself. I am Jessica, your Afterlife Consultant.”

“Uh…I don’t know what you are selling, but I need to get to a hospital. If I don’t go, I won’t have a valid excuse for being late to work,” said Heather.

“You won’t be needing any more excuses for being late because you, my friend, are dead,” said Jessica.

“No. I am very much alive. If I was dead, I wouldn’t be talking to you. I would be walking into a bright ball of light right now,” said Heather. She thought everyone knew how death and the afterlife worked.

“I need you to look over there. Brace yourself. It’s not pretty.”

Heather turned to the intersection to see people swarming to the truck. A man in scrubs was trying to resuscitate her limp, bloodied body. But it was a futile effort. It was evident her leg was broken, her black high heel shoes and a few items from her purse were strewn in the street. She had been killed on impact.

The moment’s chaos unfolded before her eyes in slow motion. The ambulance arrived. The onlookers covered their mouths, and a few bowed their heads to offer a last prayer for her soul.

Heather couldn’t believe it. She was dead.

“I know this is a lot to take in right now, but I must get on with your consultation before you head off to your Afterlife orientation class,” said Jessica as she flipped through her notes. “Our local office is not too far from here. We can walk and talk. Would you like that?”

“I can’t be dead. I am only 28 years old. I had my whole life ahead of me. I had plans. Well maybe not solid plans, but I had plans. I was going to buy a house and a car. I was going to go back to school to complete my bachelor’s degree. I was going to do so much…” rambled Heather.

“I know dear. Everyone always has plans,” Jessica laughed nervously. As if she hadn’t heard that one before. And it seemed as if everyone’s plans were always the same – house, car, marriage, kids, college degrees. Well, it meant no never mind to her. She had a job to do.

“Here we are. Are you ready for the next phase of your existence?” asked Jessica wearing a cheesy grin.

They had arrived at an empty lot. It appeared to be a former construction site the city had abandoned a few years earlier. Heather knew the location well. The city transit drove past it on her route home.

“Where are we?”

“Oh, my apologies. I forgot. You can’t see the building. At least not yet.” Jessica handed Heather a pair of rose-colored glasses. “Put these on.”

Rose-colored glasses. “Ha!,” laughed Heather. Her life, rather death was not a positive. She reluctantly took them and put the glasses on. Suddenly, before her stood a skyscraper. The sun’s reflection shimmered against the glass windows. The building height continued into the heavens. Heather felt a chill rush down her spine as the hairs on her arms stood at attention.

“Let’s go in shall we. I have a lot to cover in a limited amount of time,” said Jessica grabbing Heather’s clammy hands.

“I don’t think I’m ready for this.”

“Honey, no one ever truly is. Just go with the flow. You will be just fine.” Jessica was becoming increasingly impatient. She had a schedule to keep which included eight more clients she had to usher into the afterlife before 5 pm. I am not going to be late, thought Jessica. She began pulling Heather into the building.

Jessica loved her job as an Afterlife Consultant. She found it rewarding and a challenge. She had been recruited by her current supervisor, Jan, during her own consultation.

Jessica died when she was 25 years old from leukemia. Jessica was diagnosed at the age of 18. Everyone thought her health was improving. One night she went to sleep and woke up sitting at a desk with Jan informing her of her death. Although unexpected, Jessica was at peace with it. She, like Heather, really hadn’t accomplished much in her own brief life. Jan saw something in Jessica. Now here she was finding fulfillment in the afterlife. Jessica just hoped she would be able to share that same feeling with Heather.

Heather stood in the lobby watching as other consultants usher their clients behind closed doors. One woman was sobbing uncontrollably. She even saw a smiling family walk hand in hand into a conference room. How tragic, she thought.

“What’s so tragic about a family all being together whether its in this life or the next?” asked Jessica.

“You can hear my thoughts?”

“Honey, this is the afterlife. Nothing to hide around here. This place is about revealing your true nature.”

“But how come I can’t hear your thoughts? It seems a little unfair,” whined Heather.

“That’s because I am on the clock. Now let’s get to it. I have a few more people to see today.”

Jessica opened the door to her office. It was filled with plants and nature pictures. Heather was surprised. She was expecting the room to be all white, no decorations.

“I love plants and nature. We still have our personality. Our likes don’t just disappear. Have a seat.”

Heather sat in the coral blue leather chair; her body seemed to melt into it. Calm and peacefulness flowed over her body.

“Heather,” said Jessica handing her a brochure, “you are now in the afterlife. This brochure explains the basics of what to expect. It’s quite simple really. You will take the elevator to the 50^th floor, check in with Gabriel, then proceed to your eternity. There is no need to fear. You will be well taken care of. There are a few people you know who will be there to greet you to show you around. Like I said, it’s all quite simple.”

“But what if I don’t want to go. Miracles happen every day. What if I go back as the miracle woman who survived being hit by truck? I am not ready for this. I have my whole life ahead of me. I can’t die now.”

Jessica pushed a button and tv monitor descended slowly behind her desk. She changed the channel to a station with Heather’s face on it. “I am now going to show you what your life would be if you were to return to it. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to show this to you.”

Heather watched her possible life play out. After the accident, she was told by doctors she would never walk or use her left arm again. She had to move back in with her mother who would die three years later of a massive heart attack. Heather lived an isolated life. The end showed her dying at 53 years old.

“Are you sure that would be my life if I returned? I mean, that was quite depressing.”

“Honey, you got hit by a truck going 65mph in a 35mph zone. What did you expect? The miracle would be your surviving. The consequences of the accident would not be changed. Now let me show you what the afterlife is like,” said Jessica.

The video, reminiscent of an infomercial, showed a bustling city filled with happy people. Everyone just hanging out and enjoying their day. There were families playing at the park with their children as an outdoor concert was beginning. Then a man and woman stepped into the camera frame. They were both in white suits. Each took turns explaining how great it was in the afterlife, to not fear change but to welcome it. Then the video faded to black abruptly.

“Honey, your time is winding down. You must make a decision quickly.”

“I will proceed on to the afterlife,” said Heather, she knew her only option was to move on from her death. The afterlife gave her a renewed since of hope, especially knowing her mother would be joining her soon.

“Honey, that’s great to hear. Now, when you leave my office take a left then a right. You will see the elevators. Go to the 50^th floor and Gabriel will give you further directions. It was nice meeting you, Heather. I know you will be pleased with your decision.”

Jessica had completed her assignment. She reached in her filing cabinet and grabbed the next client’s dossier.