The Navigator

*This is a work in progress. I will upload more as I write it! :)

Prologue 

There was a doctor standing outside the operating room door. I could see her more and more clearly with each step I took. I mentally pulled her profile from my thoughts and scanned it quickly.  

Hattie Olsen. 26 years old. Brunette. Average height. About 130 lbs. Engaged to be married in November. Field of study: Organ transplants.  

I reached Hattie and brushed past her, pulling my passenger behind me. She didn't feel or hear anything as we passed into the operating room. The living don't often feel my presence. I've gotten used to being ignored. In fact, that's how I like it. This way, I can do my job quickly and then leave and get on with my other work. Because my work is never done.  

As I stepped up to the table where the patient lay, surrounded by doctors and nurses, my passenger inched closer to see over my shoulder. He made a small noise in his throat and said softly, "She's so young. She can't be more than twenty."  

I stayed silent for a moment, letting him soak in the sights around him, and then replied calmly, "Yes, Paul. This is what your dying accomplished. Because you died in that car crash tonight, this young college student gets another chance at life." And all at once, without realizing it consciously, I began to spout off the information I knew about the girl. I guess staring at a person's face for so long can do that to you. "Hanna Brown. She's twenty three years old and is enrolled in New York University. She is studying to become an art major. She has struggled with kidney failure for four years now and without your transplant, would have died tonight. Her fiancé and family are currently waiting anxiously in the lobby to hear the news. Would you like to see them?"  

I looked over my shoulder at Paul's lined face and saw him shake his head very faintly. "No, I think I've seen enough. I'm ready to leave now. I know my body will be well used to help others with much more life ahead of them than I had. Let's go."  

I turned from the table and doctors and nurses, who had no clue I was even there, and took Paul's arm. "Come then, I'll escort you out." 

We walked out of the OR, past Hattie Olsen again, and out the front doors of the hospital. We stood in the parking lot for awhile in the chilly air and I watched as Paul studied the millions of stars above our heads. Finally, he sighed and turned to look at me. "Well, I guess I'll be going now." He paused for a moment and then said quietly, "Is it....nice up there?"  

I allowed myself one small smile as I shook his hand for the last time. "Paul, for someone like you, it will be heaven...no pun intended."  

Paul laughed heartily and then grew sober again. "Well, I guess I'll be going then. Goodbye." He began to fade slowly away and I had turned to go, when I heard a shout. I turned back and could faintly see Paul waving his arm. "Hey! Wait! I don't even know your name to thank you!"  

"Don't worry about it! The Big Man knows who I am!" I called back, but at the last second yelled, "But, for your own personal reference, they call me The Navigator!"  

I heard Paul's echoing laugh one last time and then the sound faded away into the silent night. I smiled again and then turning, began to work my way across the parking lot to my car. I had to get going. There was still a full night of work ahead of me.

Chapter 1 

My next stop was at a local intersection where a deadly crash had just occurred. I arrived just as the firemen and police vehicles raced up, their lights flashing and sirens blaring.  

I stepped out of my car smoothly and without making a sound, I wound my way through the shouting policemen who were trying to put up caution tape and the firemen trying to unravel hoses, and straight to the six year old little girl lying prostrate on the pavement.