Bows and Eros

Chapter 1: Cosmic Glitch

One minute I was asleep in a hospital bed with an IV stuck in my arm to help me survive my transplant surgery. The next moment I woke up in a garden, completely alone. It was full of roses, and I was wearing the frilly pink dress I'd worn to my first school dance, two years ago. I even had on the glittery heels that matched the powder pink color. That dance was when I was fourteen, before Leukemia and my parent's divorce. That was a lifetime ago, it seemed. And now, I was in this creepy and dark paradisiacal land, completely confused. Why didn't I look pale, and how had my hair grown back so fast? My dark locks were shoulder length, but just yesterday, I had been virtually bald from radiation treatments. It had to be a dream, but everything felt so real. Girls with cancer didn't wake up with healthy bodies and long hair one day after their transplant surgery; we sure as hell didn't wake up in garden full of flowers and sunshine. They needed to cut my morphine intake."Morphine has nothing to do with it, Ms. Castille," A male voice said.I turned, seeing a bald man in a suit, watching me. He looked about forty, had blue eyes and a semblance of a glow to him."Who are you, where am I?" I asked frantically. "How did you know what I was thinking?""My name is Zed, and I am a servant of the underworld, sort of," Zed said. "I work for the dead, helping them to cross over to the proper place in the afterlife.""But, wait, does that mean that..." I couldn't say the words. I'm dead."Yes, Macy, you are dead," Zed said with a frown."That's not possible," I screamed. 'I got my transplant. I was going to graduate, go to prom, and be normal. I drew pictures and hung them on my wall. I was going to beat cancer, I was going to survive.""I know," Zed said, a softness tracing his voice. He seemed heartbroken, somehow. "You were supposed to live into your sixties. Become a wife, grandmother, and a therapist. You were supposed to work with children with cancer, helping them win the battle you won. It was your destiny, and you were meant to change lives and leave a good mark on the world.""That sounds amazing," I said. "So I am going to wake up now and do all those things. Let's go, I have a life to finish. My parents are waiting.""Your parents are picking out your funeral outfit," Zed said. "It seems they choose that dress. I am sorry, it's an awful get-up to spend eternity in." I looked down at my tulle skirt, blushing. It was an ugly dress, but it had spunk to it at least."I can't be dead," I said. "You said so yourself, this is wrong.""A nurse, a new nurse it seems, made a mistake," Zed said. "She gave you the wrong blood transfusion after your surgery, a bag was marked improperly. We try to make sure destiny carries out according to plan, but due to the free will of humanity, there are the occasional cosmic glitches.""My death is a glitch," I said. "So my parents lost their only daughter because of a glitch! They'll be crushed.""Let's go somewhere where you can sit down," Zed said. "We have a lot to discuss.""What do you mean," I said. "Don't I go up to heaven now? You know, someplace with white fluffy clouds and naked angels?""We actually call it the great beyond, but that's what we need to discuss," Zed replied."What do you mean?" I said. "Surely, I'm not going to the underworld, to hell? I mean, I know I didn't always do my homework, but I'm only sixteen...""No, you are not meant for the underworld," Zed said. "But it's complicated."He snapped his fingers and suddenly we were in an office. It had crisp white walls with no windows, doors, or paintings. It had two chairs and a large desk in between. An older desktop computer sat atop it, and a placard on the desk caught my eye. It read "ZED TAYLOR, Head reaper.""You're a reaper," I said. 'But you're so nice. Where is your cloak or your blade thing?""You mean my scythe?" Zed asked. "That is Hollywood's version. I am a delivery man, ushering souls to where they belong after they pass away. I got to be head reaper by being compassionate. Even souls going into the great beyond struggle, and a little love goes far.""So where do I belong?" I asked. "I don't suppose I can go back to my parents on earth...""Here is the problem," Zed said. "When people die, the energy their soul releases opens the door to the great beyond or the underworld. Think of every soul like a set of scales. Every action, big or small, puts weight on the side of good or evil. Most people, by the end of their lives, have the good side weighed down, and the pass on to the great beyond. Others tip it in the other direction and go to the underworld.""So, what does that have to do with me...""Well, you were taken early," Zed said. "So cosmically speaking, no doors opened. It's as if you had a black slate, you're neutral.""But I've done good things," I said."I realize that," Zed said. "But like I said, it's a glitch. If your guardian had done his job, you'd still be alive anyways. But somehow, you're dead and we can undo that.""So where was I just now, then?" I asked, a tear falling down my face."Purgatory," He replied. "Unfortunately, you're not the only glitch our system has had over the years. Eternity is not without its cosmic quirks.""So what do I do then? Just sit alone in the creepy garden for eternity?""Herein lies the choice," Zed said. "You can stay in purgatory, which is not entirely uninhabited but is very isolated. Some people prefer that method, the solitude and peacefulness.""Pass," I said. "If I know my mother, she is down there right now crying about how I am dead. She wants to believe she'll see me again, so I need to get into heaven or whatever you call it. I need ot be there when she dies.""Then you have two choices," Zed said. "In order to open the door to the great beyond, you have to tip your scales. You can do this by becoming a servant of the universe, like myself. The two career paths available right now are reapers, and then of course, there is working for Aphrodite.""Aphrodite, the love god?" I asked. "What does that mean?""Well, you've heard of cupid, yes?" Zed asked, prompting me to nod. "Well, cupid, who was not an arrow wielding baby, decided to somewhat retire years ago. So in order to help people reach their destinies, we hire out souls such as yourself to help the process along. You'd be helping people fall in love, Macy.""That sounds much better than ushering dead people into hell," I said."My job is not for the faint of heart," He replied, seemingly unoffended."Ok, I will work for Aphrodite," I said. "How do I start?""You'll meet her for training tomorrow," Zed replied. "Today, I am giving you a gift of sorts. It will be your first job, unofficially. Since you died accidentally, I wanted to make it up to you.""What do you mean?" I asked, my heart stammering.He handed me a file, sliding it across the desk. It had seemingly materialized out of nowhere. I opened it, seeing the words from the desk of Aphrodite stamped across it. Inside was a picture of my parents."I get to see them?" I asked, tears pricking my eyes again."Well, sort of," Zed said. "You get to see your mother. Usually, you'll be invisible in the human world. But today I will give you a pendant that makes you visible to one person, your mother. She needs you more than your father. Your job is to say goodbye, but also to pose an intervention in her love life. Your parents are destined to be together, and to have another child. You need to make that happen.""How? I mean, I am all for the post mortem parent trap plan, but how does one make your parents get back together?""Well, supernaturally, of course," Zed said. "You don't need arrows. All you have to do is place your hands on your mothers shoulder, and repeat the following words: love is your path. Use that exact phrase while touching her should, and Aphrodite will do the rest.""Is that how I will do it later?""No, you actually will use arrows, sort of," Zed smirked. "But not until you're trained properly. Today is unofficial business.""So when do I get to see my mom?" I asked.Zed snapped his fingers and I was back home, in the living room, watching my mother cry hysterically. Now was the time to test my magic and my visibility, and to say goodbye to mother.***I watch her for a moment, unsure how to get her attention without startling my mother. I was a ghost, sort of. I glanced over at the mirror, noting my lack of reflection and I frowned. I really was dead. Could she really see me? I decided to test it out."Mom," I said, my voice just above a whisper. Her eyes shot up, and she stared at me in disbelief."Macy," she said. "How are you here? How is this possible?"I walked over to her, even though my feet never touched the ground. Holy crap, was I floating?"We don't have much time," I said, sitting down. Well I hovered above the couch beside her. "I'm really here. I came to say goodbye Mom, and tell you I'm alright. I'm amazing, I mean look, I have my hair back and my skin looks peachy again.""You're beautiful honey," she said, her voice shaking. "Are you...is there a heaven?"I put my hand on hers, it actually connected unlike the floor or the couch."Yes," I said. "I wanted to tell you, it's sort of exciting I guess. I'm an angel, kind of. I get to help people now, and I'll be able to see you. This is the last time you'll see me though.""Oh honey," she said. "I don't know if I can let go.""I know mom," I said. "But know that I'm here, even if you can't see me, I'm still here. And when you die, I'll be waiting for you and Dad.""You look so radiant," Mom said, crying. "I'm sorry you left us so young. You never got to do so many things, I wish it could've been me.""It doesn't work like that mom," I said, sighing. "But I love you, and you gave me a beautiful life. Even in the oncology ward, you made my birthdays and holidays special. I was lucky to have you.""I was the lucky one Macy. I love you too.""Listen," I said. "I need you to make me a promise, ok? I need you to keep living your lfie. You can be sad for a while, but don't stop living. I'm not gone forever, so there's no need to give up.""I don't know what to do now," She said. "I'm your mother. If you're gone, then who am I?""Mom, you can live your life without worrying about cancer treatments or transplant lists," I said. "Mom, you don't need to feel guilty. I want you to move on, feel happy again. You're going to fall in love again, have a baby, and have a second act in your life. And then in fifty years or so, I want you to tell me all about it. Ok, promise me you'll let yourself be happy.""Oh honey, I'll try. But I'm middle aged, and I think I had my chance at a family.""Mom," I said quietly. "I have a message for you, from heaven itself." Well, from a Greek god, but I didn't need to be that specific."What is it?" She asked. I placed my hand on her shoulder."Love is your path," I said, feeling warmth radiate my hands and flow into her body. She smiled, as if she felt the energy release. I took my hand off, smiling back at her."Macy, you were always so wise," Mom said. "I'll miss you.""I'll miss you too," I said. "But remember, I am always here. You can tell Dad about this, and tell him that I still want him to go to DC and the Grand Canyon without me. I'll be there, watching him complain about the parking situation and laughing. Ok? And tell him I love him and that I will always remember the time he took me to the amusement park when I got my diagnosis.""I will," she said."I don't know how long I'll be here," I said."I love you Macy," she said."I love you mom," I went in to hug her, and suddenly, my body became like a mist."Macy?" she said, looking around bewildered. I was invisible again, and she sighed, letting a tear fall."If you can still hear me," My mom said. "Good luck being an angel. I love you Macy."I smiled, wishing she could see me again. But she seemed happy, as if she knew I was ok. Suddenly, the doorbell rang and my mom went to get it. Swinging it open, there was my dad, standing in the rain."I know we're divorced," Dad said. "But I was worried about you. I wanted to see if you were ok, if I could help.""I'm alright," she said. "You're going to think I'm crazy, but I saw her Jared.""Saw who?" Dad replied."Macy," Mom replied. "She came here to say goodbye. She told me to give you a message, and she told me she was an angel now.""I know, I feel like she's around sometimes too, but she's dead. You just imagined it dead.""No," Mom said forcefully. "I saw her, she touched me. Jared, she told me to tell you a message. It was something about going to see the Grand Canyon without her. And she said she'd always remember the day that at the theme park, where you took after she found out she had cancer.""I never told you about that," Dad said, scratching his chin. "How is it possible...""I don't know, Jared. But she's safe and she's happy. She had her hair back..."My mom started crying, happy tears falling down.Dad grabbed her, pulling her into his arms and cradling her head. I sighed, watching the tenderness he held her with. They'd never fallen out of love. At some point my dad had started drinking, as a way to cope with a dying child I guess, but he'd gotten sober when I went into treatments. By that point, they'd split up already. But I knew what I'd suspected, that mom and dad belonged together. They even had Aphrodite's stamp of approval.My mom pulled back and swiftly kissed my dad, surprising both me and him. He kissed her back, a moan escaping his mouth. Gross, I thought. I mean it was sweet, but still gross."Let's go upstairs," Mom said. "I don't want to be alone tonight."I'd officially seen and heard enough. If I wasn't dead already, the sight of my parents making out probably would have killed me."Zed," I called out. "I'm ready to leave now."My dad's hands traveled to my mother's backside, and I almost vomited. Could I even vomit? I didn't know. I remembered Zed's method of shifting venues and snapped my fingers, praying it would work. I was back in his office, and he watched me with a grin."Nicely done," Zed said. "I think you might make a nice love specialist after all.""Let's hope so," I said. "So when do I start?"