Thorns

889

He is bored. Also, still lonely too.

His hand hangs limp over the side of the boat. Objects brush against him, parting to let his hand through. There is no measure of time so it always feels painfully long and slow. Endless. 

"Sit up, Joshua. Here's the next." Freezus lightly kicks him to make him move. Josh shuffles in his seat, fixing his messy black hair. He takes a deep breath. 

A lady, rather young, steps into the boat. She seems very frightened. Her spirit ripples as if she is shaking. 

"Don't be so scared." Josh speaks kindly. His blazing red eyes soften to a deep maroon red.

"Is this heaven or hell?" she shivers.

"Neither."

"Is it because I'm not Christian?" she asks quietly as if she doesn't want someone to hear her.

"No." Josh can't help but let out a small chuckle. The action reminds him of the ones he gave at Simon for saying dumb, random things. That feeling rose up in him again but he hushes it down.  

"Where are we going?" The boat sets sail across the river towards the other cliff.

"The real question is: Does any of this stuff look familiar to you?" He points to the objects beside them. She follows his finger and examines everything passing them. At first, nothing jumps out. Then, she spots it.

"Is that my hairbrush? From seventh grade?" She snatches it fast. The bright pink item is cradled in her hands like a baby.

"Why does it standout to you?" Josh starts his interrogation.

"Everyday before school I would brush my younger sister's hair and braid it to help my mom who was busy making our lunches. It was great bonding time for us. Those mornings really brought us close." Her spirit warms with fondness of the memories. 

"Does your sister mean the world to you?"

"Yes. Oh my god, yes." The bristles of the brush move as her ghostly hand glides over them. Her warmth dissipates. "Am I really dead?"

"You're moving on."

At that answer, she begins to weep. The other cliff approaches quickly. Josh needs to get her to forgive herself. He takes the belonging out of her hands and holds his palms under hers.

"Why are you crying? Do you miss her?" He stays patient when he talks.

"Of course! I feel like I abandoned her! She is battling cancer and I left her to fight it on her own." she sobs. "She is strong enough too but now I can't see it through she survives. I want to know she'll be okay without me. That she'll get better."

A chord is struck in Josh. He hopes Simon gets better too. Like a tsunami wave, guilt crashes over Josh and drowns him.

"I know how you feel." he croaks.

"You do?" she sniffs.

"Do you think she'd forgive you?"

"Yes. She's the sweetest person in the world. She never deserved this. She just wants everyone to be happy. She'll always forgive."

"Do you forgive yourself?"

"Well, yes. I do." 

And with that, Josh takes her soul and puts it in a white square chest under his seat. Setting her free to live the rest of her eternity peacefully.

Maybe Simon would forgive him too. One could hope. On his own, Josh is less. Alone. Being death is tough alone. He doesn't need more of it. He needs support. Someone like this lady's sister. Someone to make him better. He needs Simon. He needs Simon to tell him,