Page 15 of The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

“Sameer.”

Why are you here?

“I kinda have to be.”

Where am I?

“You still don’t know?”

He pointed to the window and the shifting colors of the sky.

“Heaven.”

I died?

“Boy, are you slow.”

***

Annie’s thoughts were spilling everywhere, like raindrops down a windowpane. She died? Heaven? The balloon crash? Paulo?

Where is my body? Why am I like this?

“I don’t know,” the boy said. “Was someone on earth taking you apart?”

Annie thought about the transplant.

Sort of.

“That could do it. Hey. Watch this.”

He pounded a flat button. The train whistle roared.

“I love that,” he said.

Please. I don’t belong here. I shouldn’t have...

“What?”

You know.

“Died?”

Yes.

“Why not? I did.”

But it wasn’t my time. I’m not old or sick. I’m just...

“What?”

Annie replayed her wedding night, stopping for the motorist, which led to the balloon crash, which led to the transplant, which led to this.

A person who makes mistakes.

“Wow,” the boy said, rolling his eyes. “Someone has self-esteem issues.”

***