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I heard the piercing screech of my scream and those of my friends around me.
I felt weightless as gravity shifted aside to give Death some elbow room. Only the press of my seatbelt kept me in place.
I thought about the future that would now not happen. I thought about the present, and the impending doom fast approaching. And I thought about the past and all the things I wished I’d done, all my regrets coming to the fore in a single explosive round.
It was happening again now, in the same order, in the same predictable sequence, as I sailed toward the hard metal floor, my body turning away from the impact as if it didn’t want to witness its own demise.
At least the death would be a quick one.
Then I felt the impact. In the slow speed at which I traveled, it came in one location after another.
In the crook of my legs, where my knee met my thigh, across my shoulder blades, and the back of my neck. Any moment now, it would be my head and then it would be lights out for good.
My biggest regret was how things ended between me and Dyrel. I wished I could have seen him one last time.
My memories flickered into life and there he was, right there, lying beside me after making love, a smile on his lips and sweat dimpling his brow.
Not a bad image to die with, I thought.
Okay. I’m ready. Take me, Death.
I only hoped he knew where I came from. I didn’t want to be a ghost surrounded by alien creatures.
My head finally struck something solid and I knew it was over.
Then I blinked.
My eyes were open.
I was still alive.
But maybe that was how it felt when you passed into the next world. It didn’t have to be a hard and violent transition.
I wiggled my arms and legs and found the thing I’d struck wasn’t the ground at all.
It was something solid and strong but much softer and more forgiving than metal.
I began to rise, not far—just a few inches—and not fast.
I felt the warmth and strength of the powerful arms wrapped underneath me.
I peered over at Dyrel, who clutched me close.
He’d caught me from that great distance I’d fallen.
Or was I really dead and this was what heaven looked like?
I smiled up at him and ran my fingers through his hair.
He wore a big beaming grin on his face.
“I told you I would catch you if you fell,” he said.
“Am I dead?” I said.
“You’re about a yard from it.”
His expression morphed into a grimace. It was full of pain.
