Leaving Darkness(Title is still in work)

Ch. 1
The room was completely black. White figures moved in the hallway outside. The only sounds were of my breathing and my foot tapping. My heart beat endlessly. A white figure stopped at the entrance of the room I was in.
“Speak your name please,” the figure said before flipping the light and coming in. His voice was one I heard before.
“My name is … eh I mean Susan Lewis. Who are you?” My words were jumbled and I was nervous. What had I done to be in this place?
“Susan you should already know who I am. Has it really been that long since you saw me? It’s Eddie.”
“Eddie died five years ago. You aren’t Eddie.” I was still confused. Where the hell was I?
“What all do you remember before waking up here?” His voice was calm. As he smiled I saw the dimples I loved. It was Eddie alright, but how?
“I was walking to the park because it was our anniversary. You loved that park. There was a bum and he … OH MY GOD!” I screamed in terror. Was I really dealing with my own death?
“BINGO! He killed you. Sorry if I don’t seem hurt. I do deal with death every damn day. You stepped on a piece of bread so he strangled you and slit your throat. You went quickly if it means anything to you.” Eddie’s voice was calm as his lips parted into a small smile.
“You are telling me I am dead and you smile? Fuck you Eddie! Am I going to Heaven or Hell?” I was on the verge of tears, but I did not want to show him. Could you cry when you were dead?
“Neither.” One simple word and I lost it.
“What the hell do you mean NEITHER?” I was aware of very little as two others came in the room. I was placed back in my chair with two guards on either side of me.
“You would be wise not to cause one of your famous scenes, Susan. You have a choice. Be sent back to Earth as an infant or file paper work. You haven’t done good nor bad. Do something great or sit at a desk. It is your choice. Roland will be here to assist you in either choice you make. Let me call him in real quick.” He spoke quickly. At the thought of being sent back I broke down. My body shook with such force that the chair almost tipped.
Shakily I began to speak again. “What do you mean go back? I can’t start over as a baby. I’m twenty years old. Everyone I know wouldn’t be able to find me. My life is over. How is this going to work?” I had so many questions flooding my mind. I had the feeling time was short.
“Tomorrow you will wake up with a body you do not know. You will learn things as you go. You do have another option. It is actually pretty fun. Be a Guardian Angel.” This voice came from behind me. It belonged to a dark haired man. He was muscular with blue eyes that shown like the sea.
“Susan meet Roland Khuns.” Eddie spoke quick.
“Hi. So Guardian Angels are real? Where was mine when I got killed?” My voice became low as I stared into his eyes.
“Knowing how fragile you are right now I shouldn’t say. I fell asleep. I am so sorry Susan.” His face was painful to look at.
“You fell asleep? Because of you I stepped on a piece of bread and was murdered?” I couldn’t hide my anger any longer. I lashed out hitting him.
“Once again I am so sorry. This is why you get this chance. I will train you. Would you like to take it?” His face said more than his words. Roland was hoping that I would stay.
As I thought about it I grieved. My life was over. I could protect others, do paperwork for eternity, or live life as someone else. “I will do it. Better to protect than live as someone else.” I let out a huge sigh.
“Roland, please let Susan have a few days before starting on the training. She needs to grieve. She will send for you when she is ready to begin. You may both leave.” Eddie sounded pleased.
A guard led me to my room. As I opened the door I was knocked backwards. A dog was licking at my face. As soon as I got up I saw that it was KC. He was my pit that was put to sleep last month. As I was petting him I noticed he had all his fur and no sign of sickness. We both walked to my bed where I saw a letter.
Susan,
I am so sorry I messed up. I had KC bathed and ready for you.
Please accept my apologies. Enjoy your stay.

Roland
After reading the letter I started to cry. I buried my face in my pillow and felt KC’s nose of my cheek. I wrapped my arms around him and felt a calmness rush over me. I looked around the room. My bed was a full size with black sheets and a white comforter. The wall were multi-colored consisting of orange, white, blue, pink, and a black base. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Before I had time to get up he came in. Roland had a plate of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, cream gravy, and a glass of Vanilla Coke.
“Sorry that I barged in. My hands were full and I was afraid of dropping these. I thought you might be hungry.” His eyes never met mine.
“Thank you. I am kind of hungry, but I can’t eat all of that. Care to join me?” A small smile escaped before I could hide it.
“I will be right back with an extra plate. Thank you for inviting me. Would you like to come with me?” His blue eyes were beautiful and his smile filled the room.
“I would prefer not to. See you when you get back.” I couldn’t help, but laugh. Here I was thinking about what life I have lived when he came in. Even in death I don’t have time for myself. I was glad the for the interruption.
Five minutes later Roland was back. We started talking about our lives before out death. Roland has had a wife. On the way to work one day his car flipped over. The police couldn’t get to him in time. He was given the role of Guardian Angel to help others. He told me it was the greatest job he has ever had. I told him of my desire to be a photographer. Unlike Eddie, he didn’t laugh.
“What year did you die, Roland?” His name rolled smoothly off my tongue.
“Let’s see. I believe it was early ‘80s. In a few years you won’t remember what year you died in. That was the past after all. Now that you are here and so is Eddie what’s going to happen?” At this question hi voice became so low I could hardly hear it.
“I have no clue. I always hoped we would someday get back together, but he is different. He smiled when he told me I died. No tears, no hug. Nothing. How can I even try to be with someone like that? I guess love really is just a myth.“ I had to choke back my tears. The last thing I wanted to do was cry in from of him.
“Love does exist. Maybe he just wasn’t the one for you. If you ever need to talk I will be glad to listen.”
“Well it doesn’t matter now. I am dead after all. I’ve spent years crying over him. Fuck him and any other guy for that matter.” At this I started crying. KC looked at Roland with hatred. Roland left the room silently. The only sounds were my sobs and KC whining at my side.
KC and I laid down on my bed. I wrapped my arms around him and he instantly went to sleep. I closed my eyes and fell asleep to the snores that I had so long missed.
The next morning I awoke with a thud. KC decided he wanted the entire bed. My stomach growled and I realized I didn’t know where to get food. Just then there was a knock on the door.
“Princess, can I some in?” I knew the voice at once.
“Grandpa Lewis?” Hope filled my voice.
“Yes sweetheart. Are you going to let me in or keep me out here?”
As I ran to the door I smiled. “Grandpa! I missed you!” Tears of joy fell from ym eyes.
“I missed you too. You are so beautiful. I was told about you this morning. Are you hungry? I can make you some pancakes. I still think I can flip them the way you liked.” He wrapped his arms around me. I could smell oil and knew he was up early fixing cars.
“That would be great. What car are you working on? Are there cars up here?”
“Yeah. The whole getting around on wings thing is bull unless you are way up there. I’m starting to work on your mustang. You wanted a ‘66, right? Let’s go to my place so I can make you some food. Come on ‘Ol boy.”
As KC and I followed my Grandpa I took in my surroundings. It was more colorful than what I was used to. The trees were a beautiful dark green with a light brown bark. Flowers with every color imaginable filled the yards. Kids played peacefully and adults were not drunk or smoking.
“Do you still have sickness here?” The question rolled off my tongue. I really didn’t want to ask. My Grandpa just shook his head.
We walked in silence for a little further before we arrived at his house. It was as if he never left his other life. His house was big, with a separate garage for his “projects.” All of them were classic cars. One cherry red Mustang stood in the middle of the garage.
Grandpa Lewis opened the front door and went to the cabinet. He took out the skillet and ingredients for pancakes.
“Can you get the plates ready? They should still be in the same place you remember. I didn’t want to change anything around because I knew one day we would be having this talk. I just thought you would be much older.”
“Is it on the right next to the fridge?” I smiled as I looked around. The table was in the middle of the kitchen and in the living room was a wooden rocking horse.
“Yes. Are you remembering this house now?” He asked as he started mixing the ingredients.
“I never forgot.”
I was overwhelmed by the smell of food. My Grandpa spoke slowly as he flipped the pancakes in the air. KC’s eyes followed the pancakes as they flipped.
“So are you thinking about going back? You do know your options, right?”
“I think I’m going to be a Gaurdian Angel. Roland seems nice and I’d rather not start over.” I almost dropped the two plates as I replied. “Not ot mention, I get to see you again and I get my dog back.”
“You always knew how to make me smile. Roland is a nice guy. He came and gave me updates on you guys. When Eddie gave you that shiner I was so pissed. When he died I gave him one for you.” His eyes were dark and his left hand was in a fist.
“Did Roland tell you that I fought back? Eddie probably won’t admit this, but I made him cry. Next time you see him you should ask why his nose is lopsided.” At this point I couldn’t help, but laugh. The memory of beating up the star of the football team was golden. “Why did I hold on for so long?”
Grandpa Lewis’s laughter filled the kitchen. “That’s my girl! You always were a tough little thing. When you have no chance to say good-bye you hold on longer. Some people never let go. Are you moving on now?”
“I think so. I won’t date anyone because I can’t get married and have children. What would be the point in dating now?”
“Talk to Roland. He knows more about that than I do. You’ll find this place isn’t much different. Now sit down and eat. You are way too skinny.”
We ate in silence. I couldn’t help, but to wonder about Roland. He was my first and only friend here. How could I get a hold of him?
“Grandpa why haven’t you dated anyone?”
“I’m not allowed to. Your Grandma still hasn’t let go. She is still alive and won’t get over me. Why do you think Eddie is still since?” He laughed at this last statement before lighting a cigarette.
“Well he can fate whoever he wants now. I am so over him. Can I get one of those from you?”
Grandpa Lewis passed me his pack and lighter. I grabbed one and it turned into a menthol. As I lit it I drew in a deep breath. I was amazed at how easily it was to breathe.
“Roland has his eye on you. He is going to be watching over you. Do you like him?” His eyes were on me trying to call my bluff.
“No way! I’m not dating anyone.” My lie possibly could have worked if the smoke would have stayed the same color. Instead it flashed red before returning to the gray-blue color.
Laughter broke out as I stared at the smoke. My face must have been one of shock because my Grandpa grabbed my free hand.
“You can’t lie here. There are ways of knowing. If you aren’t near any smoke, your eyes will turn a different color.” He continued to laugh his hearty laugh.
“Does he like me?”