The People You Meet in the Afterlife

A New Purpose

A few weeks had past since Petra watched her childhood friend give birth. She had looked down on her to see how she was doing. Each time she regretted it, it only just made the hole in her heart bigger.

Oluo felt helpless. He knew he couldn't give Petra what she wanted. It killed him inside. The two would take long walks through the woods, spend afternoons but the shore, evening tea together.

It seemed like most of the children here were had come with their parents, or were with foster parents.

Oluo had spoken with some of the more senior townspeople about starting a school.

"Well..." Tom said rubbing his chin, "wouldn't be a bad idea. I know some of the parents are having a hard time teaching their kids to read"

"Some of the older kids could start to learn trades to, especially the ones that are aging" said Farlan.

"Ok but who is going to be in charge?" Tom asked.

"Well need teachers too" Isabel said setting her tea cup down.

A silence settled over the room.

Oluo cleared his throat. "Well I...um Petra has always been really good with kids, and...she was top in our class when we were cadets, she was always on top of things when we were in the scouts..."

The others looked at each other.

"She's young but..."

"I mean she has been trying I dunno find her purpose her I guess" Oluo said.

"Is it something she wants to do?" Dina asked.

Before Oluo could answer, Mrs. Hoover cut in.

"I think it's the perfect fit for Ms. Petra, especially if she gets to work with the younger children" she said giving a knowing look to Oluo.

*************************************************
Petra stood in the mirror, she smoothed her skirt.

"Petra darling...you're going to be late" Oluo  said coming up behind her.

"I just...I'm just nervous...what if the children don't like me? Or I'm a bad teacher?"

Oluo turned Petra around, looking into her eyes.

"Petra Marie you are one of the smartest and kindest people I know. The children are going to adore you, and learn so much from you. I know I did" he said with a warm smile.

She gave Oluo a kiss on the cheek, and headed out the door.

The early fall air was still warm and the breeze was light.

Petra had been hesitant at first when Oluo told her about the opening of a school. She didn't feel quite ready to be in charge of the whole thing but was very excited at the idea of teaching young children.

Had she not joined the military, she always imaged she would have become a teacher.

Before she knew it she was standing in front of a groups of children, ages 5-8, all staring at her.

Petra took a deep breath. "Welcome friends, my name is Ms. Petra.

*****************5 years later****************
"Alright class settle down" Petra said as the students came in from playing outside.

"It's time for spelling and writing" There was a groan from a few students.

"Aw come on now, spelling is fun!" She said clapping her hands together.

Petra had been a teacher for the younger children for a few years. Some of the kids either aged and moved up to higher levels, or once they had learned all they needed to as children they could either come back or not.

Petra felt like she had finally found her place here. Oluo worked with the local blacksmith and woodworkers, designing tools and such for them.

Still Petra's heart would ache a bit sometimes when she looked down on her friend. She had watched her baby take its first steps, say her first words...

There was still that envy that she and Oluo  would never have those moments. But she was relieved to see that things were improving on the island.

She was about to start the lesson when the door busted open.

"Ms. Petra!! Something terrible is happening!!"

Before she could say anything, her students were already running out of the room.

Petra followed closely behind. "Mina, what's going on?"

"I don't know, but I hear it's Eren!"

Petra tensed up. Rumor has it that Eren had gone awol from the Scouts, and was planning something.

Petra saw flashes in the surrounding forest making her heart ice over. They hadn't gotten many new arrivals in a while, but this many at once.

"Oh god Eren what have you done?"

Petra managed to catch Gunther as he was about to head out into the forest on his horse.

"Gunther what's going on?!?!"

"It's Eren and the Scouts. They attacked Libero..."

***************************************************
Petra felt sick looking at the carnage below. Eren and the Scouts had left a wake of destruction.

She knew Marley was the enemy, but there were civilians, Eldian civilians that were killed. She saw the legs of a young girl sticking out from under a boulder.

"Eren...Levi...what have you done?" She murmured.

Oluo pulled her close.

"Oluo...why would the captain be ok with this?"

"There's a lot you don't know about him" Isabel said coldly coming up behind him.

"Petra...there isn't anything we can do." Oluo whispered. "Come on let's go see how we can help"

************************************************
Town was chaotic. People were looking for their friends and families. Some didn't realize they were dead.

Petra looked spotting a girl about 12 with pale blonde hair looking around in a daze.

She made her way towards her. "Are you looking for someone sweetheart?"

The girl turned to look at her. She had tears in her eyes. "I-I can't find my parents...I have to get home.."

Petra didn't know what to say. She looked the girl up and down to see if she was ok. Her stomached turned when she looked at her shoes.

She had been the girl under the piece of debris.

"We'll come with me and we will look together ok."

The girl tearfully nodded taking Petra's hand.

To be continued later in the time line of the series