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L's last thought on this world was that he had won. His last sight was the sneering face of his best friend and worst enemy. His heart stopped, his eyes closed, it was black. Then, suddenly, it wasn't.
L opened his eyes. He was in a child s playroom. 'Where?'
*giggle*
He spun around, where was he? He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Just as he was about to start panicking the giggle came again. Turning he came face to face with the source. She was around four years old if he was any judge of age. Black hair falling in two braded pigtails to her waist. A wool winter dress adorned her. Once more he attempted to speak to no avail.
The little girl shook her head.
"No talk yet." She pointed at him. "You hear now, talk come later." She nodded her head emphatically to give strength to her statement. L felt uncomfortable. He'd never been good around children.
"Don't worry Mister L, I'm here to help you, not tother way 'round."
Help him?
"You died."
So he had.
Y'see, once you die, you go to heaven, but it's not like the story books. You meet five people, who teach you stuff about your life."
He cocked his head at her, question obvious.
"What lesson will I teach? She asked. He nodded.
"Look." She said pointing at the window. She walked over and rubbed a small hole into the condensation on the window. Deciding to humor her, he bent down, further than normal and looked through. He nearly fell back in shock. He saw a young girl, fifteen or so, crying and holding onto the arm of a tall pale skinned boy. He looked irritated and pushed her away, out of the house. The girl fell to the floor.
The image blurred and he quickly rubbed in hand over the pane. Again, he saw the girl, this time sitting on a stoop, her stomach protruded outwards. She was pregnant. The scene from before now made sense as his mind put two and two together, though he still didn't understand what this had to do with him.
Once again everything blurred. Now he was in a hotel room. The girl was reading, a baby monitor lay beside her. She looked up suddenly. Fear filled her eyes. She tossed the book aside, running into the other room. She came out holding a wiggling bundle.
Her baby, he realized. She opened the door to the hall, smoke poured in. She shielded the bundle as best she could and ran out of the room.
When the smoke cleared, they were outside, the girl was lying in the snow, coated in smoke stains and burns. The bundle was being held by a nurse. The paramedic looked up from the girl. He shook his head.
When no images appeared, L turned to look at the girl. What did this have to do with him?
When he turned however, it was not the little child he saw, but the black haired girl from the window, burns still marking her skin.
She smiled sadly. "You got so big."
Realization set in.
She smiled again. "I suppose you want to know the lesson?"
He nodded.
"You were loved. You had a beginning. I never hated you Lawliet, even when it felt like my life was falling apart around me. I always loved you. That's what my heaven is you know. The house I would have gotten for you. For us.
"Will I stay here?"
She sighed. If at the end of your journey you want to you can come back for a visit. You make your own heaven. Your dreams from the living world help to shape your heaven. This journey only refines it. For now, it's time for you to go. So saying she stepped back, then she was fading. "I love you Lawliet. My baby. My son."
"Goodbye, mother." He said. Her face split into a broad smile.
Everything went black.
