In 1928, in a small prosperous town in the bayou, I lived with my parents, Eldridge and Connie and my baby brother EJ. My father was the local doctor, and my mother was the town socialite. I, of course, was my parent’s princess.
The night my life ended, my boyfriend Turner and I were riding in his father’s Mercedes Benz 710 SS on our way to the Christmas Promenade dance. Or as you call it now, the Prom. Turner had been courting me since year three in school and even though all moments together were chaperoned, we all knew he was going to pin me that night.
We were driving down the road, heading to the dance when something dark, and shadowy ran in front of the car. Turner panicked and swerved and into a tree we went. I don’t remember anything after that.
I opened my eyes, and I was surrounded by the most brilliant of bright lights, standing in front of a table. A beautiful lady said something to me and then these white gates opened and the next thing I knew, I was walking into the brightest light. And the rest as they say is history. Well, until right now.
See, I am not sure how it works in the underworld, but here, in Heaven, you stop aging the moment you walk through the gates. Yes. You heard me. I will be eighteen for all of Eternity even though my death in real time was ninety years ago. It is kind of cool actually. Up here, they allow us to act our age. So basically, me and my Heavenly friends, we are giggling, chattering, teenagers and they simply smile at us and walk away.
You would be shocked to see how many little kids are here, laughing, running through the place like it is their personal playground. They will forever be children and get treated as such. Especially this month. This is the month of Christmas and even though we are no longer among the living, up here, we celebrate all the holidays still. Crazy I know. But, they say it is, so we still carry compassion and humanity for those we look after. “See, look. You can’t even concentrate. And when was the last time you laughed?” Charity asks, crossing her arms.
“The last time something was funny.” I deadpan. She is right. I don’t remember the last time something lit me up from the inside. I feel like I am missing something. Turning to head to my chambers, I hear Sincere running down the halls, calling my name. Reluctantly, I turn around. “Sini, slow down.” She is the sweetest, but the clumsiest.
“Oh my. You guys are never going to guess what I overheard.” Oh boy. She has been snooping again. I don’t know why she does it. She can’t keep a secret and guilt practically makes her vomit, so she always confesses, even before being asked for anything.
“You know you shouldn’t be listening to other people's conversations, Sini.” I reprimand her.
“Whatever. Do you want to know what I heard? It is about you?”
“Me?”
“Yes. Your… situation. Seems the elders know what it is.” Well, this is news to me. For months I have been walking around here confused and not feeling like myself and no one has said anything. Why?
“Well, what is it? What is wrong with me?”
“They said you crossed paths with your soulmate.” She says it like, ta-da. Like that explains everything. I am staring at her, waiting on the lightbulb to go off. I am waiting on what she said to sink in, but nope. “Lumi. Did you hear me?” I turn and stare at her, my mind still trying to break in the words.
“Uhm, Sini, I think her brain has finally cracked.” Charity, says. I know I am blinking, but no words are coming. My soulmate? How could that be? I mean I would know. I would. Right?
The words still won’t come but laughter does. I begin laughing like a crazy person. Full on belly laugh. Laughing so hard I feel like my stomach is spasming. “Uh oh. Should we take her to the Heavenly Mother?” Sini asks, referring to the woman who has been here the longest. She is known as ‘The Heavenly Mother’. She is basically a mother to all, and she has the power to heal whatever ails us. Which as you can imagine, is hardly ever. She can’t be any older than like forty something, but she has been here the longest.
My three best friends are all looking at me like I am losing it and I actually feel like it. Managing to calm myself, I take a deep breath and look at Sini. “Why would finding my soulmate make me sick?” It makes no sense. Everyone looks at Sini waiting for her to fill in the blanks. Her cheeks turn red and that is how I know whatever she's going to say is going to be bad. She hates delivering bad news. “Sincere.” I put my hand on my hip and give her my meanest stare, knowing it isn’t mean at all. I don’t have a mean bone in my body.