Common Side Effects Of Death

One day, a girl walked down the street.   To her right, there was a row of shops, to her left a busy road. Before she could know it a huge truck appeared before her eyes. Everything went dark, and when she first woke up machines beeped, people cried and bags of liquid bubbled at her bedside.

But she wasn't in the hospital bed, she was floating over the white bed. She was confused. Looking around, looking for her family, the girl saw something strange. She saw herself. Her family held her hand as her mother choked on tears.

There was a man she didn't recognise in the corner of the pale room, with swollen eyes and a big open scar on his white face. He was saying something, whispering. She couldn't hear him. And neither wanted to. He was the one who hit her, HE killed her...

She felt a sudden clear ache in her chest, a weird tingling sensation as if someone cut her chest right then and there. She looked around once more. Her family, crying, but no one was talking to her or looking her in the eyes. She knew what was happening.

Suddenly a white light flashed before her and a young boy in jeans hovered before her. It was the boy from her school that passed away when his car hit a train..

She wanted to ask him a lot of things, but no voice would come out of her mouth.                                      "Shh," he said, "there is no need to speak, you're voice will come back soon, it's a common side-effect of death."                                                                                                                                                                                       She leaned into his muscular arms and started sobbing, he started to rub soothing circles on her back. They sent shivers down her spine. Suddenly, a light appeared and the boy was gone. She sat all alone in a field, that was white with delicate flowers. She looked around, the white flowers spread for miles, in the distance she could see a shadow of what seemed like a girl. She started running toward her.

The girl looked scared, but a bit curious. When she approached the girl, she said, "Who are you? Why am I here? Help me... " She couldn't make sense of anything so she bombarded this mysterious girl with questions. The girl just stood their ignoring her completely, this girl's eyes turned black and she flew into the clouds looking over her, she couldn't believe what has happened next. The light that had appeared before, that took the boy away. It was there again, shimmering even brighter. The girl closed her eyes and made a wish.  "Don't be afraid," came the angelic voice, completely misreading her hope for fear.

Once again she felt his arms around her, holding her tighter this time. He slowly moved his hands down her waist, leaned back and planted a gentle kiss on her nose.

Then once more, disappeared in the bright light of his...

The girl felt sick. She was so confused, the things that were happening didn't sense. She started to cry, saying that she wanted her life back. "Seriously darling, make up your mind already," came a jolly, booming voice," Your wishes and fears are driving me crazy. Calm down. You've got years to do all you want. You're scaring my Angels." 

For a second she could see her mother but then she disappeared just like every other person she saw in this weird world. Then a man walked out from behind her, it was a God-like human, with power rushing through him and lightning coming out of his hand, thunder out of his head. He whispered softly in her ear "Don't be afraid, you belong in here now. You're one of us." She felt the uncontrollable urge to laugh. "Don't be afraid. I just died. I'm alone and confused and hurting. I'm terrified." She felt the same comforting hands on her shoulders as she shook. " We're all scared," the voice was like the sea, the wind and the sun, all in one, " that's what makes us strong. Facing our fears and finding peace."

Then everything stopped, and it was just her and the boy. He faced,her looked into her eyes  and said "It'll be okay, Skye." She looked at him in shock. "How... How do you know my name?" The boy looked around as if there was people watching them "Everyone knows you around here." he answered calmly. "I don't know either your name or you..." Silence. He leaned over and kissed Skye's nose and whispered "Kylo".Disappeared once more.

Skye found herself alone again, still trying to understand everything. "Okay, I'm dead." she thought. "But what does Kylo have to do with all this mess?" And then, she remembers, his face, in her dreams. She has sketched him before. The mystery man who she thought she had imagined because he was so perfect. So beautiful. So loving. A human mind cannot create a face...

She started walking, in any direction possible, to get away from her thoughts. Walking turned into running. She ran until the day sky turned into the dark night. In front of her stood a wollow tree, a very old and beautiful willow. It's branches touching the pond under it.  

She started to climb the willow, she reached the point where the two large branches met. She sat there and leaned her head against the trunk, at least she thought it was the trunk. But when she moved her head she wasn't leaning on the trunk but on Kylo. "Stop it." she said "Stop following me, scaring me" she had tears in her eyes, Kylo looked at her and looked panic stricken. " I never meant to scare you, Skye. I just want to protect you. I know it's a shock. Of course it is. Your life is over and a new one has begun. Shock is also a common side effect of death. Just remember it's not the end, it's just the beginning of something beautiful. Whenever you are ready, I'll show you. For now, just rest. I'll leave you alone to think but if you need anything, I'll be right beside you." 

"Thank you," she whispered and sank into his arms. Skye was happy she had at least one person that cared for her in this world. "He's not so bad after all" was her last thought before her mind going blank and her delicate body going numb.