(some graphic-ish descriptions
speak of death & what happens after)

most think that dying in your sleep is the best way to go. they seem to think it's peaceful and painless- a simple thing- you sleep and suddenly you are gone. some believe in the afterlife. some believe nothing at all. everything is so uncertain until you reach that time.

no body ever knew.

patrick never knew until his soul passed through the symbolic light of heaven.

patrick had no idea what was going on, and needless to say, he was terrified. he looked around, eyes darting around the bright room. "h-hello?" he called out, frowning when he received no answer. "what's going on?" he asked, fear lacing his voice.

suddenly a figure appeared, standing in the distance. it seemed dark, though it was only the light refusing patrick to see.

"you're dead, kid." the figure spoke so suddenly, though the voice was softer than patrick had imagined.

"i-i'm what?!" patrick whimpered, tears filling his eyes.

this had to be a nightmare! he was way too young to die!

"when you went to sleep, you remember the nightmare you had?"

patrick thought for a moment, taking a few breaths as he tried to remember. he remembered rather well.

--
patrick groaned, getting out of bed and going to the bathroom. he did what he needed, stopping to look in the mirror. his tired eyes watched his face and surroundings behind him in the mirror.

something moved in the background, causing patrick to turn. "i-is someone there?" he called out.

there was no answer, only an old, skin and bones figure of himself appeared in his face right in his face. the eyes yellow, skin grey, hair white and scraggly. it stared for a moment, breathing heavily- hyperventilating almost before it screeched. the mirror behind him shattered.

patrick closed his eyes tight and covered his ears.

suddenly he was stood at the foot of his bed, staring at the same thing that was just in his face, screeching louder than the golden egg.
--
when he woke up, he was no longer in bed, no longer in his room or even his house- just in some strange, bright room, and a dark figure telling him he was dead.

"I know it's scary, patrick."

patrick looked up, watching a rather young man, around 20- around patrick's age- sit on a white bench that was not there before.

"but it's going to be okay."

"this has to be a nightmare... I must still be dreaming, I cannot be dead! who even are you?! what are you doing in my dream?!" patrick whimpered, staring at the tanned man sitting in front of him.

"patrick, I'm going to need you to calm down."

"but this can't be real..." patrick whispered, watching the man beckon him over. "this can't be real. I have so much more life to live. I've literally done nothing in my life." the sad realization came over him as he finally joined the white clothed man on the bench. "if I'm dead, then how come I had a nightmare? why didn't my life flash before me in the dream?" he questioned, still sure this was a dream inside his dream.

"it's different for everyone. especially depending on how you go. you died in your sleep, so you had a nightmare. don't ask me why you had that particular one because I don't know, but that's what happened to you. for me it was nothing. there was darkness, and suddenly I was here. I was scared too, but mikey helped me, just like I'm going to help you. it's going to be okay, I promise."

patrick nods a little, and he seemed a bit calmer as he listened. "so everything people have told me and people were led to believe... it was all wrong?"

"it just depends on how you go." the man nodded.

"what's your name?"

"oh! oh, yeah! I'm pete." the man smiled, holding out his hand.

"hi, pete." patrick said quietly, shaking pete's hand as he wanted. "so... what, are you like an angel or something?"

"kind of." pete beamed. "this my first time, actually. since I got here I have been training for-"

" training...?"

"oh, yeah... training for helping out 'new arrivals.'" pete nodded. "once you're a little more settled, you'll get assigned something to do. I got this job, and you're my first 'new arrival'! I have to show you around, introduce you to all the other important people... it's a whole lot of fun, actually! maybe you could even be my friend!"

pete was still rather young. he had only died a year and a half ago. he was fortunate enough to have actually made it to heaven. he was excited to meet patrick and help him sort through everything.

"oh! we should be going!" pete stood, taking patrick's hand and rushing him to a door.

this was it. patrick's accent to heaven.