After They Die At The End

🕙 Part 1 - Chapter 1

(Photo credit to Pinterest https://pin.it/2dxeTK1)

Mateo
I open my eyes timidly, and I'm not sure where I am, or who am I? What is this place? Why am I in what seems to be....a movie theater? The screen turns on with some writing:

MATEO TORREZ
JULY 17, 1999- SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2017

He seems to have died quite early, does not seem like the best experience. The name does seem a bit familiar to me, the screen continues as it shows what seems to be this person's life. For some reason, I feel something towards it, like it relates to me. This guy's thoughts and all seem to be something I think of would too.
There's a girl on the screen, Lidia, she seems like a good friend, so nice and always there for this Mateo guy. And he's there for her too. Oh her daughter, Penny, she's so cute!!

I think we're nearing the end when this guy appears, and if I'm being honest, I would really like to be this Mateo guy when they kiss. He seems so genuine! The screen then shows a message saying "the next few scenes may be rough" and continues. I'm afraid of what it might mean, until I realize the flames behind him in the kitchen, and I feel the blaze on my skin, infiltrating my flesh, a tightness in my chest. I look to the sides, trying to escape from the imagery on the screen. I see a mirror.

I'm Mateo. I'm the guy on the screen. I'm the one who's father is in a coma. I'm the one who was there for Lidia. I'm the one who got the Death-Cast call on the 5th of September. I'm the one who wasted his life in his apartment. I'm the one who reached out to Rufus. I'm the one who wanted to live for everyone. I'm the one who burned to death on my end day.

I look back at the screen as some tears start coming down my eyes. I'm not exactly ashamed of my life, though I think there are a couple things I'd do differently. Or not, maybe all that is exactly what led me to meet Rufus, staying all those years inside until my last day to live. I guess afterlife really is a theater....
There is a new announcement on the screen as a remote control appears beside me:

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE LAST WORDS OF PEOPLE TO YOU?
▫️YES ▫️NO

I think about this for a second, this would give me a chance to see Rufus for another second.... I select the "YES" option, getting a glimpse of my burned body being held by Rufus one last time. He denies the fact that I have died until the last view I have of him.

A couple minute of it pass and it's just this blank screen. Suddenly, I can see again what's going on. Around me there are flowers, people wearing black, crying, and someone speaking. Is...is this my funeral??
Lidia is there, though I don't see Penny. She probably left her home with Abuelita to come, I don't think funerals are the best place for kids, let alone babies. At least I got to say some kind of goodbye to her and spent a part of the day with Lidia (and Rufus). Some of the neighbors came, that nurse Elizabeth, I don't really know that many people, but it seems Dad still hasn't woken up yet. I hope Lidia goes to check on him for me, she was the second emergency contact I left for him. As this "life movie" ends, a message pops up again on screen.

"We are sorry for your loss, Mateo. The showing of someone's life is something that aids those to remember who they were in order to let their souls move on. Here at Afterlife you have the option to remain here and live out until you are ready to start a new life down at earth, or go directly to a new one. You can make that choice at any time. We are here to help your soul in any way we can. We cannot provide you with the option of going back to the same life you had or contact those still living. Visits to the living world are permitted whenever you would like. Other souls can accompany you on this trip if you so wish. Here is a list with those who seemed to be close to you, living and dead:

⬜️ LIVING:
Lidia
Penny
Your father
Elizabeth
Elliot
Sean

🪦 DEAD
Your mother
Rufus Emeterio
Christian Vargas
Your grandmother from your mother's side
Your grandmother from your father's side
Your grandfather from your mother's side
Your grandfather  from your father's side

Would you like to contact any of those who are dead?
▫️YES ▫️NO"

I finish reading the message they put up. Given the opportunity, my instinct is to go directly to Rufus, but I'm tempted to go to my mom. I never even met her, but now I have the chance. So I take it.

"Your mother will be in the movie theater room to your side, she has been alerted with your contact.
We are here to support you through afterlife, Mateo.
May you be able to enjoy this eternity"

The message vanishes and the theater lights turn on. I'm finally meeting mom for the first time.

I stand up from my seat, taking a deep breath. How am I even breathing? Is this even air? I don't know yet exactly how this afterlife thing works, but I don't feel that much different... I'm glad I didn't come to the afterlife with those fiery bruises on my face. This way, it'll be easier for Rufus to recognize me when we find each other again.
Walking out, I realize this seems to be exactly how I pictured it would be, maybe a person's afterlife is how they see it so they can live in that world for however long they would like. Even though life on earth has ended for me, I plan on continuing to be the Mateo I wanted to be, the Mateo I became at the end.

At the hallway, there are some photos of what I think are probably my past relatives that I didn't get the chance to meet. Including my mom. By the looks of it, I think I'll probably end up with a picture here as well at some point. I look to the side, seeing the entrance to another movie theater. That's where my mom is, I know it.
I walk closer and closer to the door, though I wish Rufus or my Dad or Lidia were here to give me some support, but I can do this.

I open the movie theater door, walking in.

"Mom..?" I call, walking further inside. This is something I've been waiting for ever since I was little, this is the moment.

(1167 words! And it's only my first chapter, I hope you're enjoying it so far, there is still much to develop ;))