I open my eyes to a misty walkway in a grassy field covered in fog.

“I hope the passing was peaceful.” A gruff voice whispers next to me and I jump to look at them. It’s a young man, no older than 24, in a light grey tshirt and black jeans; but there is something about his eyes that gives me a moment of pause.

“Who are you and where am I exactly?” I ask as I take in the rest of my surroundings. We are sitting on a bench that seems like it was made out of one huge piece of stone, and the immediate area in the field didn’t have fog as thick as further out.

“I got by many names. The grim reaper, thantos, Micheal, Gabriel, and even azrael; but none of those matter, all that matters is that I’m a friend. Someone so no one ever has to walk their final path alone.” His voice is devoid of emotion, and his face is as still as stone. He’s given this speech before, which means I really am dead.

“Do you choose where I go?” I raise an eyebrow.

“No, the final destination is up to you. I do want to make you aware of the fact that you have been granted pardon.” He replies as he stands.

“Pardon? What do you mean?” I ask following his lead of standing.

“What I mean, is you lived a good life. Helped when you could, always kind, and went out of your way to do things that weren’t yours to do. In the last few centuries we have seen the number of people like you dwindle down to almost nothingness. So all parties voted that these certain cases would be given options. Most souls have an afterlife ready and waiting for them before they reach my fields; but for those few who arent like everyone else, you get more lenience. Whether you rest eternally or if you’d like to be thrown back into the fray that is life as well as the decision of how you go back. Now come, first we walk your memories and then you’ll decide.” He answered before turning and starting down the sidewalk in the middle of the field.

“And keeping up would be recommended, my companions in the fog aren’t as kind to unwanted guests, no matter the rest they are here