After

2:39 PM, 10.23.15

Prologue

The pain in my body was yelling for attention. My head was throbbing and every bone in my body felt broken. I didn't have to see to know that it was my blood that was trickling down my forehead, arms, legs and everything in between. The blue sky was all I could see but I didn't see much, just the blurry sight of clouds and birds passing by. I heard noises, so many noises; the frantic cries from nearby witnesses, the loud siren from the ambulance down the block, a bunch of impatient cars honking their horn.

My body wanted to shut down but I tried to refuse. I'm stubborn that way. I wanted to keep fighting. I wanted to keep going. I wanted to live. My sight got hazier but it was a sight nonetheless. The noise started to get more muffled but I managed to catch two distinct words from someone from I didn't know who - "I'm sorry."

Then I blinked and I was gone. Everything was and felt different.

"Hello and welcome!" a chirpy voice cheered. I immediately looked up and was startled to see a middle aged woman with short blonde hair, smiling welcomingly but sadly at me. Her eyelids were dabbed with cheap, blue eyeshadow and her lips were smothered with sparkly, pink lip gloss. Her light pink blazer and dazzling golden necklace shouted, "I came from Beverly Hills!"

"Hello?" I managed to muster but then I made the mistake of trying to stand up because all of the sudden, pain took every aspect of my body. The pain was unbearable but I didn't found myself wanting to cry or scream for help. I just wanted to lay down and just go through it as much as I can. I knew it was something that I have no control of.

"Oh dear! Another flaw? That wasn't suppose to happen! Don't worry Ms. Reed, it will only be temporary. We're terribly sorry about this. I mean we intended to be prepared but we also intended to be quick for your arrival. Our part to blame," she said but she said it so quickly, I almost didn't understand. The pain started to subside but I still felt it; the small broken glass buried in my limbs, my dislocated ribs pressing against my skin, the achin-

"I got hit by a car?" I found myself saying out loud. "I think I just now got hit by a car." I've always known myself to be a logical person but hearing myself say these things is making me doubt myself. If I did get hit by a car, I'd be in the hospital right now. I wouldn't be sitting down here in front of this woman. My little blue motorized scooter wouldn't be able to save me from any car.

"Yes unfortunately. It was a red 1998 Subaru Impreza. It's part of our strict policy to ask you this, so pardon if I come abrupt...but do you want to know the details that lead you up to being here? Usually, this is something people who suddenly departed would like to know," she said and nothing in her face hinted humor. She was dead serious.

I laughed. Who was they? It was inappropriate but I didn't care. "Oh yes, please do. I'm so curious."

She grabbed the brown folder from the desk in front of her and started flipping through papers. Finally, she took one out and placed the folder back on the desk. She looked up at me, her eyes looking sympathetic and her lips pursed.

"This paper basically contains the short synopsis of the accident. It includes some details about the driver and what cause the accident to happen. Do you feel comfortable reading it yourself or do you want me to read it? I mean...whatever makes you feel comfortable," she finally said, biting her lip. I looked at her, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Is this really happening? Is this woman being serious?

"Uh, fine. Read it. I don't really care," I sputtered out, my hands gesturing her to go on. I was so confuse. This whole situation is insane and just really stupid but why do I not feel like how it is? What's holding me back from running away and calling the damn police?