Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed so far. It means a lot. Um…not much to say about this chapter, just getting the stage set, so to speak. This update came quick, I know, and I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up quite the same pace later on, but I am very inspired to write this, so we'll see. Oh, by the way, I wrote this quick, so there might be errors. Sorry. Enjoy!

Pam's eyelids fluttered open and she squinted in the bright light, her vision completely washing out. After a few seconds of furious blinking, her eyes adjusted to her surroundings.

She had regained consciousness up on a terrace overlooking a river valley. Miles and miles of unspoiled wilderness stretched before her, all the way to the horizon where an orange sun was just starting to sink into the sky, casting the clouds overhead in hues of flaming orange, red, and streaks of brilliant blue. In the distance, a flock of cranes flew gracefully and silently over the surface of the gently rippling water. She turned around to look behind her.

The house was a big stucco construction, windows and doorways all arches cut from the walls. Inside, she could see a bedroom and stairs that led downward. Hesitantly stepping into the room, she looked down at herself, noticing that she was barefoot and wearing a white dress. She made her way down the marble staircase, through a living room filled with couches and overstuffed chairs and out the huge arch that made up the doorway of the house. She walked down steps that terminated in large columns wrapped in ivy, and stepped onto the cool, damp grass, looking back at the house and seeing that, like the columns, much of it had ivy growing all over it. Awestruck and confused, she turned back to look out over the valley, taking in the fields of flowers growing in the distance. To her left on the lawn, stood an easel with a fresh, blank canvas on it, and a small table and stool next to it, an array of paints laid out and waiting. Pam tried to wrap her mind around it and stood silently, brow furrowed in concentration so deep that the voice from behind her startled her.

"Hi, Pam," came a soft, shy voice. Pam whirled around and stood face to face with Phyllis. Pam's jaw dropped.

"Phyllis?! How did you get here? Where the hell am I?" Pam's voice was tinged with shock and confusion.

"Well, I have to admit I'm not Phyllis," she replied quietly.

"Um…what? If you're not Phyllis, then who are you?" Pam was intensely confused now.

"Well…what do you remember? You know, before waking up here?" Phyllis asked her. Pam thought for a moment.

"I remember…driving…and I heard a loud crash, and my car tipped over and then I blacked out and…" her voice trailed off, eyes locking with Phyllis'. Phyllis smiled gently.

"Pam, you were in an accident…you were on your way downtown and a man named Jeffrey was driving a dump truck. He was talking on his phone to his wife and he dropped the phone. When he bent to pick it up, he didn't see the light and when he finally noticed what was happening, it was too late, honey. You've passed on, Pam."

"I…" Pam began, but looked around her surroundings and felt nothing but calm and acceptance wash over her, "…um, that makes sense, now that I look around. So…where am I exactly?"

"You already know that…"

"I just want to hear you say it," Pam trembled, anticipating the answer she knew was coming.

"Heaven, Paradise, the Afterlife…lots of different people call it lots of different things," Phyllis said smiling shyly, taking Pam's hand and leading her over to sit on a stone bench back by the steps leading into the house. They sat in silence, Pam's more a dazed silence than anything else, for a few moments before Pam cleared her throat.

"Did the man…Jeffrey…did he…" Pam couldn't find the words.

"He's ok, dear. He'll be fine. And I guess you're wondering who I am, right? I'm just a Guide. Think of me as…oh, I expect you remember college orientation. Think of me like that: someone here to orient you. Feel free to ask questions."

Pam was, surprisingly, filled with very few questions. She looked once more at the magnificent surroundings and noticed that the sun, which should have set by now, still hung in the same position in the sky. She tapped the leg of the Guide next to her.

"Phyllis, shouldn't the sun have set already?" she asked, confused. Phyllis captured her hand with her own warm one and squeezed.

"It will when you want it to, Pam," she whispered. Pam said nothing, thought a moment, and looked up at the sky. Before her eyes, the sun slipped lower and lower on the horizon, and the sky grew darker and darker, until it disappeared. The sky completely dark now, millions of stars came out to bathe her in cold starlight. Pam watched in wonder as a moon climbed slowly into the sky before coming to a stop. She looked up at the millions of stars now hung over her head, a canopy of tiny lights, and she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes before finally coursing down her cheeks. She turned back to face Phyllis, her bottom lip trembling as she fought to find the words.

"This…this is all so beautiful," she whispered, before closing her eyes and wiping her tears away. Phyllis smiled gently and let her regain her composure.

"Is all of it like this?" she asked finally.

"No, Pam, this place is your own. It's all yours to do with it what you want. You are in complete control. If you want to be able to run faster than anyone has ever run before until you reach the edge of the river, you can. If you want to eat food, you'll feel hungry and food will appear. If you never want to eat again, then you'll never have to. You have limitless options. You are free to spend eternity doing everything you loved on Earth. This is your own. Everyone has their own personal ideas of what this place would be like."

Pam thought about this, taking in the whole extraordinary situation, feeling warmth fill her up, starting at her stomach and spreading outward. Suddenly, she remembered something and smiled happily.

"Jim! Jim…he…he, uh, passed away months ago. Can I see him? When can I see Jim?" Pam was excited, out of her seat, her eyes wide and a smile playing on her lips. Her smile died when she saw Phyllis look down sadly. The warmth in Pam's stomach iced over with dread.

"Pam…that's not…he's not here. He took his own life, honey. He committed an affront to his own life. He's someplace else," Phyllis said quietly, evenly meeting Pam's wide eyes.

"Where…where?" Pam asked softly, desperately fearing what the answer could be. Phyllis said nothing, but simply pointed downward into the ground. Pam's eyes were unfocused and distant as she dropped heavily back onto the bench. Above them, the sky was obscured with churning gray clouds. Suddenly and without warning, the wind picked up and the skies opened up, fat iridescent raindrops bursting forth from the fat clouds overhead. Numbly, Pam stood up and walked inside. Phyllis followed her as she sat down on one of the couches and stared at her hands, twisting in her lap.

"I'm so sorry, dear. This is the order of things, though. This is how it has to be," Phyllis said softly, patting her shoulder comfortingly. After a few long minutes of silence, Pam looked up at Phyllis.

"No, it isn't."

"What?"

"This isn't the way things have to be. It doesn't have to end like this, Phyllis," Pam said through gritted teeth.

"Pam…he's already there. You can't very well go down there and get him!"

"Why not? Why can't I go get him?" Pam asked, furious.

"It's dangerous and–" Phyllis began, but Pam cut her off, standing.

"I don't care. He wouldn't have given up on me, and I'm not about to give up on him. I'm going to get him, Phyllis. I don't care how dangerous it is or what I have to do. I'm going," Pam said, clearly closing the issue. Phyllis thought for a moment before nodding slowly, conceding Pam's point.

"You're going to need help. I need to speak to someone," she said, walking briskly outside. Pam sat down and hung her head, waiting for Phyllis to return.