Page 9 of The Time of My Afterlife

‘We haven’t wasted our lives,’ snaps Florence.

Hilda raises her eyebrows. ‘You’ve missed chances, and people close to you have been trying to reach out for help for a long time, but you’ve been too preoccupied with silly quarrels.’

Iris checks her clipboard. ‘Your families will hold a joint funeral. When Clark’s mother gives her speech, she will say, “Clark and Florence went out arguing, naturally.” The congregation will nod and murmur in agreement.’

I let out a groan, and Florence shakes her head. ‘You can’t do this. Please help me,’ she pleads, clasping her hands together. ‘This place is a health hazard, and I can’t live with Clark.’

Iris is frantically flicking through several pages on her clipboard. ‘This will help you, Florence,’ she says, in an upbeat tone. ‘The celestial booking system has flagged you both as compatible occupants.’

‘What?’ Florence growls.

Hilda is smiling. ‘It could have been a lot worse, Florence.’ She chuckles. ‘Can you imagine how things would have been if it had flagged you as incompatible?’

‘We hate each other,’ Florence screeches, making Iris drop her clipboard. She bends down to pick it up and glances at Hilda.

‘Look on the bright side,’ says Hilda. ‘Some poor souls wait a lifetime for this opportunity to spend some quality time with a loved one.’

‘He’s not a loved one,’ Florence mutters. ‘He’s an idiot.’

‘A compatible idiot,’ Iris points out, with a nod like she’s reminded her of something important.

‘Can we all stop referring to me as an idiot?’ I groan.

Hilda points to the lift. ‘There are other floors above and… below. Be grateful you are here because some of our transitional accommodation units on the lower floors get very hot.’

Iris surveys our bedsit. ‘This is heavenly compared to what some poor souls find themselves in.’

‘Clark and I have been enemies for years,’ snaps Florence. ‘He’s the most annoying person I have ever met. I can’t live with someone who thinks he’s always right.’

‘I’m not always right,’ I snap. ‘Just more often than you.’

Florence points to me while looking at Hilda and Iris. ‘Do you see how irritating he is?’

‘Her bossiness will not bring me inner peace,’ I say.

She glares at me. ‘I’m assertive.’

‘Florence, you’re about as assertive as a hurricane.’

Hilda and Iris have stopped listening to us bicker and are having a private discussion. They turn and cast us dazzling smiles. ‘There is another way we can help you find inner peace,’ says Iris.

‘What is that?’ Florence asks.

Hilda clasps her hands together. ‘It will mean you won’t have to stay here.’

Iris nods. ‘You will return to your lives, and we will help you find inner peace.’

To my surprise, Florence throws herself at a startled Hilda and embraces her. ‘Oh, Hilda, thank you,’ she sobs. ‘I will do anything to be alive again. I can’t spend eternity in this grotty bedsit with Clark.’

Iris casts me a sympathetic look.

Florence is still hugging Hilda. This hug is going on longer than it needs to. Iris sends Hilda a worried glance. Why won’t Florence let go? I feel a prickle of irritation. Florence is so dramatic.

Hilda pats Florence’s shoulder. ‘You can release me now, my dear.’

Hilda wriggles herself free, and Florence returns, while wiping her eyes, to stand beside me.

Iris clears her throat. ‘We have a proposition for you both.’