What are the odds of a reaper and a cupid can become friends in the afterlife? I never would have thought that I could someday land on a job like this. Don't get me wrong, it's fucking awesome too. But I get jealous over Jude because of his crisp dark suit that really brings out his blue eyes. I only get to wear this white suit with pink tie - kind of similar to the suit I wore to Matt's wedding.

But enough of apparel talks, I'm here to guide you through my world now, the Afterlife.

It wasn't what I always thought it would be. There wasn't any cloudy pathway, harp playing angels everywhere with halos on their heads - actually angels are way cooler than that but we'll get to that later.

My first day after I've been brought here by Jude, I was being checked from head to toe in front of a gigantic gate - carved in gold and black but they were moving, like snakes, only they gave off the feeling of you're about to enter a luxurious garden.

The gate was being guarded by a white-hooded man. He's not too big and not too small either. He was just about my size...and weirdly, Jude's size too. I soon realized that he will match the height and width of whomever he was dealing with. Like a shapeshifter, only he equalized the physical shape between two persons. Yeah, like a mirror.

He checked me all over and looked satisfied when he saw that all my tattoos were gone. I asked him, what did my tattoos have to do with anything? He replied in a low, mumbled and throaty voice;

"Like a plain canvas, you were born that way and you will enter the Afterlife that way."

It seemed that tattoos and scars were forbidden in the Afterlife. Jude explained; his battle wounds were perfectly healed the moment he stepped here, in front of this gate. I passed the first stage, and went through the gate which didn't opened in two pieces like all the usual gates. The carvings moved and slithered itself opened until the gate was completely gone from our sight and cleared a crystal blue pathway leading nowhere.

"Here, is the challenging part." Jude said, putting a halt to my steps. I noticed that under the pathway, there was a burning red and boiling fire underneath. Screamings of people suffering were vague but it shot through my ears like a war cry. So the pathway is really a bridge!?

"Woah, what's under there?" I peeked and I saw nothing but red flames that sparked off fireworks sometimes.

"That's Hell."

I bulged my eyes to Jude's explanation. I was standing so close..to Hell?

"Dude, am I going there?"

Jude laughed. "No. Don't worry. You've done your deeds. But.."

"But what?"

"The bridge. You have to cross it, and when you do, you gotta answer the questions honestly and not lying to yourself or to anyone."

"Questions? Who's asking?"

"Your own heart and mind."

I frowned at him. What the hell is he talking about now?

"Something you really wanted to confess but you're too afraid to speak."

What, like an unholy confession? Come on, I'm an open book! "Or else?"

"The more you lie to yourself, the thinner the bridge will get. Until it falls apart and you'll go straight down..."

"..to Hell.."

"Yep."

I swallowed hard and tried not to think of a lie. What should I confess? I have nothing to confess!

The bridge went an inch thinner the moment I said that out loud in my head. Shit! I just lied to myself?

Okay, I have something.

Jude smiled at me as I stepped further, my feet trembled on crossing the crystal bridge.

I confessed, I saw Brian shower naked once.

The bridge went thinner for a few centimeters.

Fine! Twice! Jeez. Not like I enjoyed it.

Yeah I really didn't enjoy that view because I'm straight and I don't appreciate some guy came in while I was doing my business in the bathroom and suddenly started to take a shower in front of me. Brian's excuse was; we're late for soundcheck and the bathroom's full. He did that twice. I swear sometimes he did it on purpose.

Jude smiled when the bridge didn't reduce its size. So was I. I walked a little faster, trying not to think of anything. But the bridge seemed longer and farther away if I didn't come up with anything inside my head. Shit, this is really a fucking challenge for me.

I confessed, I love Johnny more than anyone.

Yeah, I've always loved that midget. Eventhough I bullied him a lot and they were recorded on videos for public display but only God knows how much I loved him and I missed him the most when we were apart. Only Johnny saw the weak side of me that I didn't dare to show anyone. Not even Brian, my childhood friend.

The bridge stayed and reduced its length for a few meters. I sighed in relief and thought of another confession.

"You're doing a good job, James! Just one more confession and then you're done!"

Right. Another confession. What else?

I confessed, I'd rather Blake die and spend her afterlife with me.

I had to close my eyes for this one. Really, I don't want to let her go. If I could, I'd possess her forever and bring her here with me.

Suddenly the bridge got thinner a lot, and I had to run forward. It fell apart bit by bit behind me. WHAT THE FUCK?? I told the truth didn't I? I really don't want to let her go!

"What did you lie James??"

I saw Jude was already standing on the other side, shouting at me. Shit, how come he didn't get to cross this god forsaken bridge and I had to endure it alone??

"I said I'd rather Blake die than living without me!"

"You obviously lied!"

"No!! Did I?"

"You want her to be happy didn't you?!"

"Yes of course I do!!"

"And the only way she can reach that is how??"

I ran faster but the bridge seemed to collapse rather quicker than my speed. My mind boggled through for an answer. I couldn't think straight. I could only lie to myself and be selfish until it all became clear to me.

"Is for me to let her go..." I whispered to myself.

The bridge then repaired itself all of a sudden. everything combined together, emerging a wide pathway for me to cross. So I crossed it and arrived to the other side, meeting Jude.

"Congratulations. You've passed the second test." he patted my back as I panted out of breath.

"Wait, there's more?"

---

"James, a new task for you."

I turned around. Jude was standing behind me with both hands on his hips as I was talking to another Jimi I met here in the Haven Residence. Oh did I mention about the Haven Residence? Those who 'lived' here were the ones that had so many tributes paid for them by the living persons on earth. The more you pray for them, the wealthier they get here.

Yeah you guessed right. I was talking to the one and only Jimi Hendrix when Jude suddenly came barging, popping out of nowhere.

"What is it? I just nailed my last task."

"That was easy. This is a multiple task. Three in one day."

"What? Come on, Judy. People don't fall in love in a day. You know that."

"Aha, but these three aren't just a one day journey. They've been through 9 months, 4 years and a lifetime of not having someone to love."

"Wow. That was..poetic Jude."

"Shut up. It says so on the file." Jude chuckled at my mocking. After I said goodbye to Hendrix, I scanned the file given by Jude. Usually I get cupid tasks given by the Angels - who wore badass hooded armory, with big luminous wings on their backs and giant blades as their weapon. Believe it or not, Angels were like police officers here. They protect and serve. Only they were more efficient and a lot less doughnut involved. Bunch of quiet guys, they are.

Back to the task. I opened the file to a face that I recognize so much.

In fact a few faces.

Valerie.

Michelle.

and Zacky.

I looked up quickly to Jude but he's gone. I wonder if this is a speacial favor he got for me since we've been best buddies here.

Thank you Jude. Thank you for this chance. You're the best reaper ever.



I arrived at Alberta General Hospital and saw they were rushing Val towards the ER. I was told to give her son a pair of blue eyes. Not really my area of expertise, but I can do that apparently. A trick shown once by a senior cupid I met in the Afterlife. Yeah, his jobs were mostly to help people deliver births of newborns and giving the babies traits and such. Such an advance job, I gotta say. I only get to match make people, make them going on dates and soon. I know, booring.

I let Val sleep in her labor room after she saw me. Yeah, she was speechless alright. But I don't have much time. As soon as the baby was born, I torched a blue light upon his eyes and his irises immediately turned to crystal blue. I did it in a lightning speed and borrowed the lighter from my senior cupid.

That was done. Next, Michelle.

Right. I know they've been trying to have children of their own for so long. Michelle was suspecting that she can't really carry a child inside her and that she's infertile. I'm here to tell her that it's the other way around.

I'm here to make the seed that Brian planted in her last week grow healthily. When she froze herself from seeing me, I moved in an utmost speed and touched her belly. I can feel that the baby already growing inside her, without me really doing anything. I was so close to tears when I saw her cried.

Don't worry Michelle. I'll make sure your child doesn't get scared by the night terror. Oh yeah, they do exist.

I'm so happy for them. I know Brian will make a great dad.

And now next, Zacky.

Jude was right. I was lying to myself when I said I want Blake to die and be with me. Actually I don't. I want her to live her life. There's more to life that she has got to see and Zacky is the right person to show her that. Not me.

Because I didn't even live my life to the fullest. I was too suffering. I kept it a secret and sometimes I just gave up.

Zacky on the other hand, he fought for a life. Despite so many people that used to bully him, took him down, he didn't do anything to get back at them. He buried a revenge deep within him but I never saw him fight a man, fist with fist before. Except with Johnny and that was for pure entertainment only. Because he didn't pay his revenge that way.

"The best revenge in life is bettering yourself."

I was speechless when he said that through so many interviews. I think he's truly the right person for Blake. He can show Blake how the world really is, not just cruel, but it can be beautiful too.

---

"Excuse me."

Blake flinched and glanced up to me. She didn't recognize me in this form. I disguised myself as a woman, wearing a green beaded necklace - a gypsy fortune teller.

"I'm sorry, yes?"

"Are you still looking for your friend?"

She scrunched her brows together, and looked at me intently.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You once came to my crystal ball, and said you were looking for your friend. I'm sorry I can't help you back then. My ball was stolen from me."

Yeah I got that idea from that old fraud in Vegas. She did steal that ball after all.

"How..how did you know?"

"Honey, we both have this gift. Or curse as some people might say it. But I'd rather see it as a gift."

"I see it as a curse."

"Oh but why? There's a miracle coming your way, dear."

She frowned at me but then I showed her the window, letting the snow fell in Alberta. I used up my power too much for one fucking day but I didn't mind. I wish I could tell her how much I missed her but I can't. She won't ever let me go if I did.

As she went closer to the window, I slowly stepped back only to find a little girl was staring straight at me and stood right beside my legs.

"Zoey?" I gasped at her.

"Daddy?" she whispered. I pursed my lips and tried not to cry. Slowly I put one finger on my lips.

"Shhh.."

She smiled and nodded.

"This is our little secret."

Notes

So!! this is the epilogue for this story! haha took me 3 months to write this down...it was an idea i had for closure to this story..i had to do this in Jimmy's POV..so here goes XD

sorry for so many typos.
i didnt proof read it haha :P