After Goodbye

Chapter 10

"Dad!" I ignore Death's protests and take off running at the man, my dad. I know it's him. He turns around when I'm steps away and I see his face for the first time in two years. He's clearly confused, but opens his arms when I throw myself into them.

I bury my face in his neck, inhaling the cologne I've missed. He runs his hands up and down my back like he used to do when he was trying to comfort me. I let my hold lessen so he can hold me at arms length.

"Why are you here? I'm happy to see you, but for you to be here that means.."

"That I'm dead. Yeah." I hook a thumb behind me, thinking Death is farther back, but end up hitting him in the chest. "Sorry."

"Hello, Mr. Carter." They share an awkward handshake. I can Dad knows what a big deal Death is.

"Death, thank you for bringing me my daughter." He nods like its no big deal and rests a hand on the small of my back. These simple gestures used to bother me, but now I expect them.

"I'm actually not finished with her yet. We have some business with the Big Guy. You are welcome to come with us, of course." Death guides me to a building I could swear wasn't there when I last looked and seats me at a long table. It could easily seat twenty people if needed and seems a bit excessive for the three of us. Death sits beside me, next to the head seat, and my dad sits across from him.

"Is someone going to explain to me everything that's happened?"

"I'm surprised you don't know. I thought you were one to sit at the void and watch." Death has explained to me before that there is a spot at the void where passed loved ones can sit and watch their families. It's comforting to know my dad is one of them.

"Normally, I do, but I've been busy for the last couple months. I've checked in briefly on my wife and sometimes got a glimpse of the other children, but I just figured it coincidence that Hazel was never in the frame. I had no reason to think she had passed. Why didn't you come see me sooner?" He clearly doesn't know anything.

"I just got here today. But I've been dead for three months. Death let me stay behind to say goodbye to everyone and make sure they were going to be okay. I watched Nate graduate and that gave me the closure I needed to cross over." Surprisingly enough he doesn't ask about how I died. Maybe he's just saving that for later.

"What business does Hazel have with the Big Guy?"

"Standard introductions and such." Dad's shoulders visually relax at that. I assume everyone gets introduced to this man.

"And then I'll be able to take her?"

"It's a bit more complicated than that." Dad quirks an eyebrow, but Death doesn't elaborate. Instead the double doors to my right, slide open and a man steps through. He's dressed in a standard grey suit, but has an air of authority to him. When I look across the table to my dad I realize he and Death are both standing and quickly scramble to my feet. The man chuckles lightly.

"Sorry." I squeak the word out. Death rests both his hands on my shoulders.

"That's quite all right, Hazel. You are new around here. Please be seated." He takes the chair at the head of the table.

"How do you know who I am?"

"I know all of course. And you're seated beside Michael, whom I know I set in charge of a young lady named Hazel."

"Michael?" My father's name is David so I know he isn't speaking about him.

"Forgive me. You must refer to him as Death. Here they are called by their given names since there are more than one." I hadn't ever thought of Death having a real name. I mean, I'm sure subconsciously I knew he had a name since no one names their child Death, but I guess I thought he'd been going by it for so long his real name was forgotten.