It's a Wonderful Death - Sarah J. Schmitt Page 0,94
who quickly departed, older souls have spent an entire lifetime preparing for this moment. It’s not a surprise. In fact, in most cases it’s a relief. Maybe since you’ve already been through this your soul isn’t as, oh, what’s the word?”
“Freaked out? Hysterical? Going full-out mental?”
“Something like that.”
His answer gets me thinking. “What about those who have been sick, like with cancer?”
“Depends on whether they were prepared when their time came or not. But I will tell you, no matter how much someone is prepared on Earth, the younger the body, the harder it is on the soul. When death interrupts the perceived circle of life, preparation is meaningless.”
“So we’re really just born to die?” I ask.
Gideon shakes his head.
“What’s the reason, then?”
“Everyone has something to learn and something to teach. Once you have done those two things, you have accomplished your life mission and it’s time to come home.”
“Then why the big deal about Heaven and Hell? If you are on Earth to do a mission, why have all the hoopla about whether you go up or down?”
“Because not everyone learns or teaches. And if they cannot come to terms with what they were sent to do and their failure, eternal peace is out of their reach.”
“So they get sent to the place of fire and brimstone?”
He shakes his head. “Hell isn’t like that. Think of it as rehab. Most people who enter the Gates of Hell do so with the intent of being reborn. Of being given a second chance to get it right.”
“You’re kidding? Hell is a revolving door back to Earth?”
He nods. “Sorta.”
I’m about to ask another question when one of the Reapers pushes past me. “Hey watch—”
Gideon grabs my arms and starts to pull me in the other direction. “Come on, RJ. Let’s get in the other car.”
“Why? What’s going on?” I look over my shoulder, and that’s when I see James. I spin back to face my Reaper. “You knew,” I hiss. “You knew he was going to be on the train and you were trying to hide him from me.”
“You can’t talk to him, RJ. You can’t break through to him. We have no idea what he will do.”
I yank my arm away and run through the almost full station toward the next car. Scanning each window only to find nothing, I’m about to give up when I see James sitting slumped in one of the chairs.
The ding of a bell warns that the doors are closing and I leap in between them, trying to push them open. To my horror, the train begins to move while I’m still stuck. Suddenly, two hands reach in over my head to create just enough space for me to slide through and sprawl on the floor. I look up to see Gideon grinning down at me.
“Just don’t tell anyone I pushed you on the train. You’ve caused enough trouble for me lately.”
“Funny,” I say, as I stand to dust myself off. I look around to the spot where I saw James, but he’s gone.
“Leave him alone,” Gideon pleads.
“Why? He should know Sandy is waiting for him.”
“It’s against protocol.”
“Right,” I laugh. “Since when have I followed protocol? No one will blame you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
He steps back in surprise. “I’m not worried about me, or you, for that matter, but James has been in a vegetative state for almost a year. His soul has been trapped inside his body. He needs time to process.”
“He needs to know she’s waiting.”
Gideon doesn’t say anything as I start to move through the train car, looking for James. In the far back corner, a Reaper stands with his cloak-clad back to me. I try to peek around him, but he shifts his weight.
“It’s alright, Elijah,” Gideon says from behind me. “We all know you can’t stop her once she’s made up her mind.”
That doesn’t sound like a compliment. The Reaper turns to face us. “She’ll get us all in trouble with her meddling,” he says, glaring down at me.
“I’ll take the blame if it ends badly,” Gideon assures him.
Elijah steps back, muttering something about childish whims and in his day, but I ignore him and focus on the crumple of a man sitting in front of me.
I kneel down, careful not to touch him. “James,” I say softly. “James, can you hear me?”
He gives a slight nod, and whether it was him or the train, it’s enough encouragement for me to keep going. “James, my name is RJ.