Chapter 1
Life beyond death, it’s real, I didn’t even expect to die, let alone there be more to do after I did. Here I am waking up in what seems to be an afterlife hospital, it is still as bright and white as the real ones. They don’t have the chemical smell that I hate, but maybe if this is heaven, they removed it. Looking to my right there is no heart monitor that is usually hooked up to me, its just empty space, although on my left there is a clear table on wheels that only has a glass of water in the centre. Making me realize just how dry my throat does feel, I sit up from the very comfy bed I awoke in and grabbed the glass as quickly as I could. As I gulp down what I imagine to be cold refreshing water, instead I taste nothing, I hold the glass back out in front of me and none of the water has left the glass, it’s still full.
“Your digestive system isn’t active now that you’re in the afterlife,” A doctor says standing in the doorway, “we just have that for show, there are places that can simulate you eating and drinking whatever you like, but they are very popular and hard to get a place in.”
*That’s just cruel, why even have that there to then not even be able to drink it* I think
“Now that you’re awake, we can get you started, and show you around, first off, I need to ask, would you like to meet your soulmate? It states here you died before you got to meet” She asks
“Soulmate? I have a… soulmate?” I question
“Of course, everyone has one, makes it easier to cross over when you have a loved one by your side.” She states, as if it was the simplest thing ever.
After all this time I’ve been alone, fighting to stay alive, living on rooftops with the Sky Reapers, who were my crew, we stuck together and looked after each other when no one else would. I thought I was alone all this time, and out there was someone I could have spent the rest of my life with.
“Yes, I want to meet my soulmate.” I reply, I have never been so sure of anything.
“Let’s go then.” She states already turning around and walking away
Jumping up, I realize that I’m in new clothes, its just a plain white shirt, trousers and even the shoes, how boring, hopefully I can get my own clothes here, maybe even my prized jacket back. Running to catch up with the doctor, we walk in pace with each other, I turn to face her, and notice her name badge swinging back and forth, stating ‘Marisa Livingston’.
“I will have to enter your details into the system when we get there to see if they are amongst the living or with us.” She says reading through notes on her clipboard.
“What happens if she is still alive?” I ask
“Well, you can still see them, you are allowed to watch them through life until they meet their new soulmate, because of your unplanned death a new one is assigned.” She says in a soft tone to keep me calm
“She gets a new soulmate? But what about me? Can’t She wait until death, what about when she does die is she still this other person’s soulmate and not mine, do I never get another one?” I ramble
“I don’t mean to be harsh here, but they still have their life to live, it will be their decision when they cross over, whether they want to meet you or not, if they decide no, there’s nothing more that can be done, I’m sorry”. She replies softly.
Walking the rest of the way, we are left in silence, I’m still trying to process this, she could decide that the other guy is good enough for her and think because I died, I’ll be a waste of time. We turn a corner, and the long hallway looks like a copy of the hallway we just came from, plain white walls with doors lining up each side, all closed. On our left there is an open space with a reception desk in the centre, a man is sat waiting smiling already as we turn the corner towards him.
“Name and date of death?” The receptionist says still smiling up at Marisa and me.
“Drew Snyder, 14th of October 20:08” Marisa replies changing into a cheerful tone.
Looking at Marisa confused as just a second ago she was using a soft tone with me, its like a switch just flipped in her head.
“Ah well it looks like your soulmate is still alive, if you would still like the room to your right is where you can see them.” The receptionist responds as he points to the only dark room that appears to be in this place.
This is it; I can see the woman is meant to spend the rest of my life with, just through that door. Walking towards the door, I pause in the doorway, a moment of hesitation, and take a deep breath and walk straight into the room. Though I am no longer in the hospital lookalike, I’m in an apartment, my soulmates place, a very open room with the bed in the far corner that only has weirdly shaped pillar frames to block the view.
Suddenly, a man walks out of the bathroom, hopefully not my soulmates current boyfriend, he’s dressed in a plain white shirt and black skinny jeans. He walks over to sit on the bed and puts on his black converse.
“When is she going to appear?” I ask myself as I wonder around trying to look for another room she could be in, not in the kitchen which appears to be stocked with a variety of fancy foods, “Maybe she’s a chef?”
Looking back at the guy, he has now walked over to his answering machine and presses a few buttons, suddenly a female voice plays through the small machine.
“Austin, hey, are you still coming to the party tonight? I promised to help you find a suitable bachelor for you, call me back if you can, if not we are all meeting at that new club called ‘Phases’, don’t be late. Bye.” The machine cuts the female voice off, and the guy Austin just scoffs, he picks up his keys from the small table shaking his head.
“Weird, me and some of the guys were going to check out the place tomorrow when it opened, well I guess today now.” I say to myself
“Straight to the point with her, classic Naomi.” Austin says with a smile on his face, he walks over to the front door and grabs his leather jacket from the hook. Sliding it on halfway he opens his front door and steps through, letting close behind him as he shoves on the second arm.
Looking around the rest of the apartment for any sign of my soulmate, I see that this is just a one-person apartment. I do a double take,
“Is Austin my soulmate?”
