Gwen: Stories of the Dead

The new World

That's how I died. But I guess that's not what you wanted to hear. You want to hear my stories from the afterlife. That's all fine and dandy, but first I will give you an impression of my world, the world of the afterlife.

I didn't fall asleep as I died. I floated out of my body and now was more... ghost that human. I saw the doctors and nurses try to revive me. They - obviously - failed and I tried to move around. I... did it, apparently. Flying around is much more complicated than walking.

I flew around the hospital, when a boy, who seemed to be also a ghost, came to me.
"Um... hello", he said.
"Hi"
"Do you know why you can fly around? And walk through walls?"
"I guess I died"
"You're one of the few people that don't deny being dead"
"My life wasn't that great anyway"
"I'm glad you feel that way. It will be a lot easier to re-integrate you."
"Re-integrate?"
"I will show you. By the way, my name is Stanley." He shook my hand.
"My name's Gwen"
"Nice to meet you, Gwen", Stanley said. He took my hand and flew across the building to a secret door. He took a key and  opened the door. Looking back, I wonder how he could open a thing in the physical plane, even though he was in his ethereal form. He stepped through the door, which was shining in a bright light.

"Welcome to Dimension I!", Stanley proudly announced.
"What... how?", I said. I looked around. Dimension I was certainly the perfect paradise. There were green pains, cherry blossoms, blue sky, a city, parks, forests... I couldn't believe it.
"This is what most people call heaven", Stanley said.
"How did we get here?"
"Some things you can't explain."

"Do you like it?"
"It's wonderful", I said.
"Come on, we need to get your passport", Stanley said as we ran down the hill. We came to a small wooden booth. "Howdy Stan! 'nother newbie?", said the western girl in the booth. 
"Yeah, can you get her an ID?"
"Of course." she turned towards me. "Name?"
"Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn Llewellyn."
"Irish, huh?"
"Yes"
"Age?"
"Fifteen"
"Cause of death?"
"Um... beaten to death?"
"Then smile for the camera", she said while aiming a reflex camera at me. She took a photo and handed me an ID card. It said 'Dimension I ID Card'
"What do I do now?"
"You might wanna go downtown and report to the ministry of residents. They will assign you to a house"
"A house? Is this Hogwarts?"
"No, they will literally give you a home to stay in"
"And what shall I do then?"
"You might wanna get a job"
"Why would I? I'm in heaven!"
"That's what I thought, too. But you will find that you will make new friends at work, and even get paid. But you don't have to. It's not mandatory. The allowance for unemployed people is really generous"
I thanked Stanley. I didn't know it would be that easy to begin a new life. Well, except I am not alive anymore, but you get the point.

"Hello?"
I entered the big halls of the ministry of residents. It was a giant building in the middle of the city. Someone sat at a desk. To my surprise, it was a teenage boy must've been... I estimated around 17 Years old.
"Hi"
"Um, I was sent here by Stanley, he said I could get a residence here"
"Well, he was right. May I have your ID Card?"
"Sure, here you go", I said and handed over my ID.
"New, huh?"
"Yes"
"Then let's get your house. How do you want your home?"
"Over-easy", I joked.
"See, you can build your home yourself. Just tell me how you want it and I'll make preparations."
"Where can my house be?"
"Dunno. We got a perfect location in town, the owner just moved out. If you want, you can move there."
"Okay, can I see it?"
"It's actually just around the corner"
"Let's go!"
We left the ministry. My new flat was really just around the corner. My new flat was going to be a penthouse. Real nice.
"How do you wanna decorate it?"
"Dunno. Maybe my bed over there, my kitchen over there- I have to think about it."
"What's your name?"
"I'm Gwen"
"Nice to meet you, Gwen! I'm Jones."
"What do you think, Jones? How should I decorate?"
"I have a catalogue with furniture and design recommendations. I'll have to leave now. Do you like it?"
"Yes, it's pretty neat"
"Then, here's the key."
"Thanks! You think we can meet sometime?"
"Sure! Just stop by the ministry"
My flat was really big. Panorama windows, wooden flooring, nice lighting...  I thought about my furniture. Over there, I was going to put my bed. And in that corner my tube TV so I could play Atari, but first I had to get a job, so reported to the ministry of employment.
A very uninterested girl sat at the counter.
"Name?"
"Gwen. Gwendolyn Llewellyn."
"Desired profession?"
"Never thought about it"
"We have a job opening at the ministry of accreditation."