Meet Me Halfway

[2] - A Girl Named Bee

Subways seem to be something special here in the afterlife. 

It reminds me of the Stockholm Tunnelbana - one of the most beautiful subways in the world.  There is no such thing as a dark, undressed wall here - all the tunnels are decorated somehow.  One tunnel was bathed in red lights, reminding me of the savage-like cave settings in movies like "The Time Machine" and "Journey to the Centre of the Earth", complete with imitation prehistoric cave drawings.  Another station had tunnel walls decorated in kids drawings, like the ones you find in a Kindergarten classroom.  And yet another tunnel had dancing laser lights.  Heart, stars, clovers, and horseshoes twirled before my eyes as the train zoomed by.

Apparently, that section of the subway was influenced by a box of Lucky Charms.

I'm still in a state of disbelief.  This is not how I imagined the afterlife to be.  It's a little unsettling, being a deceased soul in an underground subway.  It makes me question my existence while I was alive.  Now, I'm not saying I was a bad person, but my experiences molded me into a bit of a hard ass.  I was not a nice person to be around sometimes.  And now that I'm dead and in an underground subway, I'm a little worried about my ultimate fate.

I know its pointless to cry over spilt milk now - it's too late for that - but I'm not going to lie.  I'm a little nervous.

 "Isn't this exciting?" I glance at the wide-eyed brunette sitting across the aisle from.  She exudes much more bubbliness than the agent at Sunshine Coast Station ever could.  And that freaks me out a little.  "I always expected a dark tunnel and a white light with this sort of thing, but this is much better."

"Uh-huh."  Maybe if I stay still and refrain from looking her in the eye, she'll go away...

I wonder where we're going?  If it's anything like these tunnels, I bet it'll be really nice!"   I watch in horror as she plops down beside me, obviously very eager to have a chat.  She smiles so hard I can't help but wonder if her jaw is in pain.  "Nobody knows anything, but I guess we wouldn't, since we're newly departed and all!"

"I was told that we were going to a place called the 'Hub', and that we would learn more once we get there," I tell her reluctantly.  I can't ignore her now that she's in my vicinity, can I?  "So, I guess we'll know more then."

"Oh, mysterious!  I love a good mystery!  I loved reading Agatha Christie books - I had all of them.  My favorite books were the one's that had Miss Marple, but Poirot was good too.  I always figured out the mystery halfway through the book but I read it to the end anyway because I love, love her books!"  I am disturbed by her ability to say all of that in one breath.  She remains as energetic as ever as she extends her hand to me.  "I'm Beatrice - Beatrice Greenfield.    But don't call me that - my mother call's me that.  Call me Bee instead.  I like the name 'Bee' because I'm zoom-zoom-zooming all over the place!"

Did this woman die from complications due to a caffeinated coma?  Geez, she just doesn't quit!  "Uh, Audrey - Audrey Morris."

"Audrey!"  Her green eyes practically sparkle at the sound of my name.  Uh-oh.  "I love that name!  It reminds me of Audrey Hepburn, so graceful, so full of style!  She always wore the best clothes, didn't she?  Uh, I loved her in 'Funny Face' and 'Roman Holiday'.  She's so fabulous."

"I...I've never seen the movies, unfortunately."  How on earth can anyone be so positive?  Then again, we aren't exactly on Earth anymore, are we?  Still, it's a tad unsettling.  How can she be so happy?  "I guess it doesn't matter now."

"Oh, don't say that!  Just because we're dead doesn't mean we can't stop living!"  I stare at her in disbelief.  Did she really just say that?  ""Besides, we don't know what will happen once we get there!  For all we know, we could be treated to something exciting!"

"Maybe."  Somehow, I think she's the easily excitable type.

The train begins to slow down as the pleasant voice of the conductor pipes into the Intercom system.  "We are now pulling into the Hub, which is as far as this train goes.  All passengers are asked to file out of the train in an orderly fashion.  You will all be guided to your appropriate Residential Assistant, who will inform you of your next steps and who will be happy to answer any and all questions you may have.  Thank you for riding the Sunshine Coast Train Line!"

"Ooh, we're here!  We're here!"  Bee jumps up from her seat, waving her hands around wildly.  Is it wrong to say that I could hear the piece "Flight of the Bumblebee" playing in my head?  "I'm so excited!  I have a feeling this is going to be awesome!"

Bee makes a beeline for the door (yes, I'm aware of how awful that sounds), pushing her way through the crowds as the doors open.  I am hesitant to get up.  So far, everything I've seen goes against everything I've ever believed.  What if this is another mind-blowing experience?

The beauty of the station jumps out at me before I walk through the doors.  The station is a glow with bluemarine lights, and blue-painted sea plants wavying against clean stone walls.  The tunnel walls are painted blue as well.  Everything is clean and shiny in this mystical underground.  I feel like I'm under the sea, swimming in all of these beautiful blue glowing lights.  This may not be what I expected, but somehow I don't mind.

Four rising tones echo throughout the station, and another pleasant voice bounces against painted walls.  "Welcome to the Hub - the central station for all departed souls!"

Is this where my afterline is supposed to begin?