"Frankie…Frankie…can you hear me? Nothing…" Erica began to panic.
'God Bianca what did you do?'
I swallow down fear. My breathing is shallow. The brightness fades, and I can see. I see the choice before me, and laugh cynically as if it were mine to make. I walk out the door. I can feel his gun digging into my back.
My pace slows, as he pulls me back. Shouting. There is so much shouting. He's panicking. I can feel his sweaty palms. He removes the gun from my back. I have to get free. I have to see Bianca. I must tell her how sorry I am; tell her what's really going on. I push forward, pulling myself from his grasp. This is it, isn't it? This is what you want to show me. This is the way it ends?
I fell forward. Our eyes locked as his gun rise up. I heard the shot ring out, felt the sting in my chest. God. I died.
'What will happen to me at this point?'
What do you mean?
I died. What happens to me now?
Died? Oh you haven't died yet. You were judged.
Judged? You mean I'm not dead?
No. You're dead alright. But now, your souls lifeline still hangs by a thread. You're strong. You've got a dedicated soul.
Are you God?
Hardly.
So this isn't heaven?
Why do you say that?
So it is heaven then?
No.
Okay so where am I exactly?
You're in-between.
In-between what?
Life and death. I already explained that.
Okay so who are you?
Your guardian angel.
I have to get to Bianca.
You can't. I'm sorry.
So now what?
We wait.
Wait?
Yes.
For how long? Frankie began to pace back and forth. She saw a blinding white light in every direction she looked.
That depends on you.
What do you mean?
Well it depends on whether it is your time or not.
To be judged?
Exactly.
How long has it been?
Months. About 8 or nine to be exact.
Boy death is a lot more complicated then I thought.
You're telling me! You're not even scheduled to be here for another sixty years. Imagine my surprise when I got called down early.
Whoa, sixty years. I'm going to live to be 84?
It could be even older then that. Sixty years from now is when you're scheduled to be judged. Once a person passes over…they are judged. It's decided whether or not it is their time.
I see. I have a question.
That's not a surprise really.
Will I remember any of this?
No.
None of it?
Sorry. None of it.
What about…wait. Something's happening to me. I feel funny. I feel…
It's done. You've been judged. I'm sorry Frankie.
I died didn't I?
It was your time.
It's not fair! I wasn't supposed to be here…there. You said so yourself! I still have another 60 years! Why me? Why now? I just found Bianca. I can't lose her.
Life is predetermined up to a certain point. Our actions help to alter our destiny. Your actions this evening choosing Bianca over blackmail…they altered your destiny. It was your time.
My actions killed me.
Yes…but don't you see what else your actions did? Look…
Who are they? Is that Bianca?
Yes. She would have died. And your sister, Maggie too. Vanessa would have taken down everyone you ever loved. Look at them, together. See how much they've grown as people. Your death has done that. It was your death that altered their fates. It wasn't your fate to be with Bianca, Frankie. It was your sister, Maggie's. It was your death that brought forth the fall of the great Prodious. So while tragic for you, so many others were saved. This is the ripple effect of life and death.
This sucks. I thought I was meant for a life with Bianca. If not Bianca, then who? I mean I am happy for them…but…but I don't want to die…I want…I…hey…something's not right. I feel funny. I feel…
Wait a moment. This isn't right. You're not supposed to leave so soon…somebody is sending for you. It's time for your mission. I need to tell you about…Frankie? Frankie?
It was too late. She was already gone.
"Congratulations Anna, you're going to have a girl." Doctor Clatter said seeing Anna's ultrasound. The heartbeat was strong.
"A Girl? Really?" Anna said smiling. She looked back and saw Maggie and Bianca standing there. "A girl," she beamed.
"Alright Anna! I'm going to be an aunt…or something like that," Maggie laughing. She hugged Bianca. Bianca looked on and smiled.
Once outside, Bianca looked somewhat down. "What up Bink? You seem pretty down for this rather joyous occasion." Maggie asked stopping her friend.
"I was just thinking about babies and stuff. I wonder…oh it's silly," Bianca said waving off her thought.
"No, what is it? What do you wonder?" Maggie asked seriously.
"I wonder if I'll have kids one day? I wonder if I'll make a good mom?" Bianca said. She had been thinking about it a lot lately. Some of her friends were only out of high school for a year and they were already engaged or pregnant.
"Of course you'll have kids honey," Maggie smiled hugging her friend. "You'll make a phenomenal mother," she said.
"I don't know, maybe," Bianca answered.
"No maybes about it. I'll personally see to it," Maggie said touching Bianca's arm.
"You're good, but your not that good," Bianca laughed.
"No I just mean that if a baby is what you want someday…then I'll be right by your side helping out in anyway I can." The look on Maggie's face was so serious and dedicated it almost made Bianca cry.
"Maggie you're going to be married one day to a wonderful guy, with a bunch of little kids running around all of your own," Bianca smiled.
"I don't think so," Maggie said taking Bianca's hands in her own, "I know where I'm going to be. And I think you do too."
Bianca only blushed. She smiled and the two walked out of the hospital hand in hand. "Baby steps," Maggie said smiling to Bianca.
"Baby steps," Bianca answered.
The End
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