Life is a complicated thing. Everything depends on everyone, one's choices could affect thousands of people, yet, thousands of people's choice could affect one person. No one can truly see the future for what it will be. Sure, you can make predictions, but you won't know until you yourself experience it. The only thing certain about life, is that it ends with death. Death can occur at any time, it can arrive earlier than expected, which I, unfortunately, learned the hard way. Yet, it can knock on your door later than expected, which is what most hope for. Now death is complicated too, as you don't know what happens after it. Do we just simply fade away, out of existence, or do we get judged and sent off to heaven or hell? Well, I'm gonna tell you what I know about that.

But we'll get to that part later.

Something that is very relevant in life is memories. They make up who you are as a person, are you good, evil, kind, rude? It all depends on your memories. Not only that, but they can also terrorize you, sort of like your minds way of reminding you what was a good idea, and what was a bad idea. There are a few things that horrify me and I would rather not recall, and I'm about to think about the number one thing on that list.

My Death

Whenever I even bothered to wonder what death was like, I usually just brushed it off, thinking I had plenty of time until that happened.

Oh boy was I wrong.

I would have never thought it to be as terrifying and mind-numbing as it had been. The screeching of wheels, tearing of metal, blood spattering, the feeling of breaking multiple bones at once whilst simultaneously your flesh is being ripped. It was something so terrifying I can't even put what I feel into words.

This is a brief (not really)overview.

The only warning I had received was the frantic honking of a horn. I hadn't even noticed the truck, I was too focused on the conversation I was having with my best friend, Amery. We had been walking peacefully, laughing, talking about school and just life in general. Then, there was the screeching and honking, and when I turned to see what was happening, the truck was probably around two feet away from me.

I had immediately closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact. I knew that there was no time for me to try and run, only try to protect.

Evidently it didn't work, but hey, at least I tried.

When my skin finally felt the metal make contact, I knew that I was not going to be walking away from there. This person was speeding, and I mean speeding. I literally felt metal being crushed, my bones being snapped, as if they were nothing more than twigs, my flesh torn apart, as easily as paper.

I guess when people say that you're about to die that your life flashes before your eyes, they were right, because that's what I just experienced.

A million thoughts ran through my head, all the things I had done, would never do, and what I loved most. It was an overload of thoughts. However this was nothing compared to the first thing that had registered in my mind.

Pain.

You know how everyone says that adrenaline completely drowns out pain?

Well they can go screw themselves 'cause that was completely untrue.

All I could focus on was the pure, unadulterated pain that was coursing through my entire being.

The second thing that registered in my mind.

Red.

And it was not paint.

It was everywhere.

The road was covered in it, my blood. Actually, Amery's blood too.

Yup, I wasn't the only one who had been hit.

Despite my vision, once perfect, now blurring in and out of focus, I could vaguely make out that she was no longer breathing.

I think that that's when it truly hit me.

I'm dying. These are my final moments in life.

Oh. My. God.

I started crying, exhaustion finally taking over.

I was never going to see my mom or dad again, my older brother and I would never play cards again, I was never going to be able to just laugh and be weird with Amery again. I was about to lose everything I had once had, everything I would be able to do. I was only 17! I was just about to go out into the real world and live my life, and then I die. What kind of sick, twisted sense of humor does fate have?

At this point in time I was pondering how I was even still alive. I felt like a million years had gone by since I had felt the impact, but in reality it probably been a little under a minute. One thing was for sure though, I wasn't going to be in the realm of the living for much longer. My vision was already starting to fade, the rest of my senses nullifying.

You should have payed more attention to the road, Anantaa.

I didn't deserve to be sad, I had just hurt everyone I loved by not paying attention to the road. They would mourn my loss, I knew that because, well, I had a happy life. I was loved, and now all those who mattered to me were going to find out that I had died because of a car accident.

How cliche. I died from a truck crashing into me. Nobody would really pay attention to that.

I was so, insignificant. Not really my fault though, I didn't have a chance to do anything impressive in 17 years.

I really am stupid. Such a simple thing, one that I had been taught to do the entirety of my childhood. Pay attention while crossing the road. I forgot to do that once and look where it got me. Not only me though. I had basically just killed my best friend.

There was only one thing left for me to do.

It would never make up for my mistake, but using what little bit of life I had left, I glanced at Amery, the crowd surrounding us, and then looked up at the sky, and whispered…

"I'm sorry."

I then welcomed the darkness with open arms.

And that would bring me back to where I am now.

I know that I'm dead, that's pretty obvious.

Now there's the question of where I am.

My only clues are that,

1. It's dark

2. It's slippery

3. It's hot, like ridiculously hot. As in I'm sweating a lot.

Cool! That rhymed!

That is the last thing I should be thinking about right now.

I've been here for a few hours at most, and all I've been able to do is sulk and be depressed. Then again, who wouldn't, after being through what I just experienced. In fact, a few minutes ago I discovered that I'm shaking uncontrollably.

Yeah, this place is not delightful at all.

If this is Hell, then I need to have a word with whoever's in charge of this place because I could not have possibly done something so bad in the span of 17 years, that I deserve to go her-

Oh dear lord, I'm moving. I feel like I'm being pushed out of here, and if I am, it's a very tight fit. I'm practically choking.

Thank god. I thought that was Hell for second.

Wait, hold up, where the hell am I going?

Tears are gathering in my eyes. God dammit if this is what happens after death then I'm severely disappointed. I feel like I'm being choked, and I'm just surrounded by darkness.

Suddenly, bright light invades my vision, and I hear a bunch of shouts surrounding me.

What really gets to me however, is when I feel a giant pair of hands holding me.

This is about my limit.

What the hell is going on?

I've decided to do what any logical person in the same situation as me would do.

I started crying. A LOT.