When I was a child, I always wondered what it would be like when I died.

Well, I wouldn't say always…I actually became aware of death when my dear sister and mother had died.

I could almost remember the day of the funeral as a vivid picture in my mind. I remember looking over that casket, not quite realizing the sadness I was feeling. I don't remember crying until a few days later.

I remember driving home from the funeral. I sat in the back, in my uncomfortable shirt, pants, and shoes. I scratched my sleeves.

"Daddy?" I said.

"Yes, Ryo?" My father replied. He was sitting in front, driving us.

"Where did Mommy and Amane go?"

I heard my father swallow. "…What do you mean?"

"When they got hurt really bad and didn't wake up. Where did their awake-ness go?"

"Well, it…depends."

"What do you mean?" I questioned. (I now know he was most likely talking about Heaven and Hell at the time, though I couldn't imagine why Amane and Mum would ever end up in Hell…)

"Well…are you learning about the Egyptians in school, son?" he hesitantly asked.

"Yeah," I responded excitedly. "When they die, people give them stuff so that they have it in the afterlife," I proudly stated, wanting to show off my knowledge to my father.

"Exactly that," my father said. "Afterlife…," he mumbled a bit. It was still enough for me to hear, though.

At that moment, I finally realized what really happened to Amane and Mum. "…Ah," I simply said.

I believe I was such an innocent little child, back then.