The Meaning Of Life

10:48am June 6th, 2037

"It's time," John mumbled and took Lisa's hand. "Are you ready?"

Lisa nodded, but fear was the only thing in her eyes.

"How do we know that Blue guy is right?" She turned to face John. "How do we know this isn't a trick? How do we know-"

Her voice cracked and a sob escaped her. John let go of her hand and pulled her into a hug.

"We don't," he said into her hair. "We just hope it's true and trust them."

"Them!" Lisa sobbed and shut her eyes. "I don't even know who 'they' are anymore. The scientists, the government, it's anyone and everyone telling us to trust them, but what if they're wrong?"

John had no answer. He stood silently and held his wife's hand as she cried.

Out of habit, Lisa's hand drifted to her stomach. A week earlier, it had been so large she could barely hold herself up. That day it was flatter than it had been in nine months. A tear fell from her face and John gently wiped it away with his thumb.

"He'll be okay," he smiled. "It's in his blood to be tough."

The young woman nodded and took her husband's hand. The scientists claimed the Other Side was better than what humans have always called life. Now 'life' was called infernum. Infernum directly translated from Latin means Hell.

"Come on," John nudged her lightly in the arm. "Don't you want to see what it's like? All our friends are already there. So is your brother, my parents, all the adults."

"Jane isn't," Lisa countered, but any fire that was going to be behind what she said died the minute her mouth opened. "She won't be with us for another eighteen years, not to mention our son!"

"It'll be like our honeymoon," John tried carefully. "No kids, just adults."

Lisa considered this as she looked out on the city. The Empire State building had always been her favourite monument growing up; she'd always wanted to visit it. As she stood as close as she could to the top of the building, the hundreds of metres she had yet to fall seemed to be years away.

"This is messed up," John finally admitted. "'Die, all your problems will be solved, you'll be happy,' they say."

"How do they expect it to work?"

John shook his head.

"I'm ready."

"On three."

Goodbye Jane. Take care of him.

"One."

Goodbye place I call life.

"Two."

Goodbye my beautiful son. Be strong.

"Three."

Hello whatever's next.

The recently wedded couple jumped and wrapped themselves in the last hug they would share in what they grew up calling life. The only thing that split them apart was the ground when it hit them, and the muffled crack that signified the life leaving their bodies.

Moments later, John and Lisa's bodies disappeared to join their souls.