It's amazing how time can go so slow and so fast. When Elissa died, it had been slow. When Manda, Lance, and Becky had died, it had been fast. When I had died, it had gone fast but it felt slow.
I remember waking up in the brightness. I remember walking toward the double doors that led to my future. I remember walking through those doors and smelling the glorious smell that I couldn't quite place. I remember seeing my dad, smiling and waving at me. I remember running to him and pulling him into a hug, tears of happiness running down my cheeks. I remember seeing Becky, Lance, and Mada, all charging toward me and hugging me all at once. I remember Elissa running over and picking me up in a large hug. I remember my mom smiling at me and hugging me tight. I remember Alexander clearing his throat and me turning around and facing him. I remember running to him and kissing him over and over, then just hanging on to him for a long time.
Memories are what keep us going. Without memories, we'd all be dead. Without memories, we'd all be empty.
Darius arrived later, and he looked genuinely happy to be here. Now I sit here in the clouds, writing my story to you, and smile as my family runs past, giggling and laughing. The world I had been to before I came here was a world of nothing but horrible games and blood-smelling men. I'm glad I left that world.
Elissa doesn't have a torn up body; it looks completely new without a blemish in sight. Manda doesn't have any bruises, Lance doesn't have a scar where the sword had pierced him, and Becky doesn't have a hole in her head. Alexander doesn't have a scar on his neck from where the spear had gone, and Darius has his tongue back... as do I.
You'd think that the place where the dead go would be black and dreary, but this place is the complete opposite of that. It is bright and full of laughter and hope.
Now I remember the word hope. How it got me in trouble in the world before and how up here it was used frequently.
My story doesn't end here in Paradise. It will never end, for where I am now has no end. I will live in this beautiful, happy place forever. I smile as I watch my family laughing together. Now I write my last words to you. In a few minutes I will go to be with my family and laugh with them and tell them I love them.
"Hey, Melany," Elissa says, running over to me and taking my hand. "What's that?"
"My story," I say, smiling as I scribble down everything that she is saying and I am saying.
"You mean, like your life story?" she asks me.
"Yeah," I say, smiling. "You want to read it?"
"Sure," Elissa says, grinning. "Is the ending happy?"
"Very," I say.
So now I write my last words that you will read from me. Though my life is not yet over, I have to end this book at some point. So I will end it now (besides, Elissa wants to read it). I only have one thing to tell you. You may choose to accept what I say or decline it, but that is your decision. What I have to say to you is this: No matter what situation you are in, no matter what you are going through, always remind yourself that everything will be okay.