Life After Death

I’m wandering around somewhere inside. I don’t know where, maybe a kitchen, but it’s not important. What’s important is that I’m texting dad, asking him what happened. He says he can’t come back, and I don’t understand why. I’m texting him, so he has to be somewhere. He doesn’t know either, and he says he can’t explain how he’s talking to me. I don’t want to think too hard about it, but I also can’t stop wondering. I tell him I missed him, and I want him to come back, but I know he won't. I'm happy to talk to him, even though I know he is dead.

Dad is driving me to go meet up with some former coworkers in Boston. I know he’s dead so I’m really impatient to get out of the car and hug him before he goes away again, but he parks the car and then disappears as soon as I get out.

I’m standing in the kitchen, looking at a candle burning on the stove. Dad and mom are in their room, and everyone is happy because dad is back. But we all know it’s only temporary; when you bring someone back like that they only have a little bit of time. We don’t know what’s going to happen but we know he has to die again, and soon. We all try to make the most of the time we have and ignore the cloud that hangs over us, and him.

I’m in the house, and I see dad. I know he’s dead, but I’m glad to see him. I ask him if it’s okay if I take some of his beers, since no one else drinks them, and he says it’s fine.

The whole family is sitting in the living room, and dad is standing in the corner next to the couch. I can’t tell if anyone else can see him, but he is there. He’s acting like everything is normal, and so is everyone else. I start to cry and tell my mom I can see him, he’s right there. She starts to cry too.

My little brother comes to help me move out of my dorm, and dad is with him. I pull my brother aside and ask him what happened, how did he get dad back? He says “No, it’s not dad, I just said it was because I thought it might help.” I looked back at him. “But I see dad. He’s right there” Danny shakes his head. “It’s not him, it’s Carla.” I do a double take, but it’s still my dad smiling at me. I don’t understand.

This time, it’s not dad who’s in trouble. It’s my partner this time, not my mom’s. My whole family is there, and Taylor is overdosing, and I don’t know what to do. I try to call 911 but there’s no one on the other end. I look out the window because I think the ambulances are still parked on the street, but they’re gone. My brother tells me he has less than a half hour to live. Someone else calls 911, but still no one comes. I’m helpless, and I watch him die.