242: I Died? How Could I Die? How Did I Die?

Life after death. It was true. And it seemed pleasant.

Walking along a beautifully landscaped trail, I didn't see a light, but that didn't matter. This whole place was lit up. As I walked, I began passing loved ones who had died before me. I saw my brother who died at 19 in a terrible traffic accident.

"Justin!" I called. We embraced fiercely.

"What happened, Freddy?" he asked. "You were too young to die."

"I don't know," I replied, confused. "Last thing I remember was walking the baby in the stroller. Now I'm here."

"A traffic accident like mine?" he guessed.

"I don't think so," I answered. I thought if that were the case, the baby'd be here, too. No baby. Thank God!

"You smoked since you were 15," he said. "You're what now—37?"

"Yea, I was. But I wasn't sick. No lung cancer. Nothing like that."

"Puzzling," Justin said. "Don't worry. I felt the same way. I had no idea I'd been smashed up in a car until they told me."

"They tell you? Who's they?"

"Yeah, Freddy. Just keep walking along this road. You'll get to the Reconciliation Center soon. Once there, they'll check you in and tell you how you got here. Unless, of course, you don't want to know. Some don't."

"Trust me, I want to know. Why would anyone not?"

"Don't know, brother. Everyone's idea of Heaven is different."

"So this is Heaven?"

"For me it is, Freddy. You'll find out at the Reconciliation Center."

"You mean I might be checking in...elsewhere?"

"Not likely, Freddy, ol' boy. I can usually tell those poor bastards when I see 'em on the road."

"That's a relief!"

"Just keep walking. Do you want me to come with you?"

"Sure. If you want."

When we got to the Reconciliation Center, Justin opened the door for me. Waiting there was a beautiful winged creature, smiling ebulliently.

"You've got nothing to worry about, it seems," Justin reassured me.

I addressed my welcomer. "Well, how'd it happen?" I asked.

"Justin," it said in a warm tone, "this may come as a shock to you." Before it spoke further, I heard someone else shouting.

"We've got normal sinus rhythm!"

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AUTHOR'S NOTES:

For Thursday, August 29, Day 242 of the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge

366 WORDS (without A/N)

Accompaniment photos were AI-generated but the flatline was not. Code BLUE!

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THIS CHALLENGE BEATS ON, 366 STROKES AT A TIME.

There are currently three surviving arrhythmic, systolic, Vocal beat-nicks still beating in the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge:

• L.C. Schäfer, (P-wave)

• Rachel Deeming (QRS complex)

• Gerard DiLeo (T-wave)

Read them. Support them. Defibrillate them.