It's a Wonderful Death - Sarah J. Schmitt Page 0,62
my nails into the palms of my hands. Which is about the time I remember I can’t feel physical pain. All I’m left with is the emotional pain. Maybe that’s why souls cry. Tears are a product of our emotions, aren’t they? I set my mouth in a grimace and wait for Sal to continue.
“Please, Brother, you were explaining your second connection to RJ.”
Yeats slowly turns his face away from me to look Sal in the eye. “Not long ago, one of my charges took his own life.”
Sal nods, encouragingly. “And what was the name of this charge?”
“Daniel Trevor Wick.”
While several of the audience members gasp or murmur their surprise, Sal remains emotionless. “What was his relationship with RJ?”
Yeats again looks at me and as he speaks, I am unable to look away. “According to Daniel, he believed her to be one of the tormentors whose unrelenting pranks and harassment led him to the decision to end his existence.”
“And would you agree that, as a result of RJ’s change, he did not, in fact, make this choice,” Sal says, looking around the room as if searching for something or someone. “In fact, doesn’t Daniel continue to walk in the mortal world?”
It’s about time someone pointed this little fact out.
Yeats nods solemnly. “He has had a rough go of it, but yes. He is not only alive and well, but filled with purpose.”
Sal walks behind the table and leans against the railing separating us from the spectators. “And what role in this new timeline does RJ play?”
“That is difficult to say.”
“And why is that?”
I lean forward, wanting to know the answer, too. What have I done now?
“Daniel will go on to do great things. RJ’s influence on his future is immeasurable,” Yeats continues.
“Really?” Sal says, with mock surprise, and I suppress a laugh at his bad acting. He turns toward me and gives a conspiratorial wink before continuing. “Then why is it difficult to explain her role in his life?”
“First of all,” Yeats begins, “there’s the part where she reached out to him, when genuine friendship began. Because of that friendship, he was introduced to Madeline who became his girlfriend. Her battle with cancer ultimately led to his career choice in medicine.”
“And according to the Akashic Records, what does his future now hold?” Sal asks.
Yeats smiles broadly. “Immediately following RJ’s second test, I checked the Records. According to them, he will be part of a team that will eventually discover a cure for three different forms of cancer. Their results, when shared with other researchers, will lead to a significant increase in cure rates for most cancer patients. Eventually, when Daniel’s days on Earth are done, the foundation of his research will lead to the early detection and eradication of most cancers.”
“So,” Sal surmises, “Daniel’s work will literally save millions of men, women, and children from dying.”
Yeats nods. “Not just that, but it will improve the quality of life for all those who love and care for those people.”
“Excuse me,” Azbaugh says, mocking Sal. “Are you insinuating RJ is responsible for curing cancer?”
Sal shakes his head. “I’m making no such claim. I am merely providing an answer to the question put forth by the Tribunal. By sending RJ back into her life, the world will, in fact, be better off than if she remains in the Afterlife.”
“And Daniel is the only one who can discover this miracle cure?” Azbaugh asks skeptically.
“I’m sure someone at some time in history might make the same discoveries as Daniel’s team.” Azbaugh looks pretty pleased with himself until Sal adds, “But as the world waits for this discovery, how many more people will suffer and die from diseases that the boy has the ability to end?”
Azbaugh glares at Sal. I don’t think he’s buying it. “But the changes have already been made. Sending her back would not change the future anymore. Her impact has already been felt.”
I sit back in surprise. I didn’t think they would take the changes I made and use them against me. That’s like asking someone to do a job, promising them money for the work, and then going back on the deal. If not for Azbaugh’s warning, which still lingers in the air, I would say so. As it is, Sal takes another approach.
A slow, almost gleeful smile spreads over Sal’s face. “Ah, yes. I was getting to that.” He turns back to Yeats. “My Brother, Azbaugh raises a valid question. Is Daniel’s future set in stone?”