Nathan's eyes squinted as he walked home one dark, rainy night. He slipped and fell on the curb, dropping his groceries onto the road. He got on his knees, struggling to see all of his dropped items.
He fumbled with his jeans pocket, trying to get out his phone. He had just managed to turn on his phone flashlight when he heard a noise behind him.
He turned and looked just to be blinded by a glaring light. He saw a truck hurtling toward him and froze in shock. He quickly scrambled out of the way and onto the sidewalk.
Just as he thought he was safe, he slipped again on that dreaded curb. He fell back onto the road and all he saw was the metal bumper of the truck before everything went black.
Nathan woke up in a dark space. The space was wet and cramped. He started to reflect on his life, how he was one of 4 children, and how his family would feel. He thought of how he would never be able to finish high school and experience life.
After thinking back for what felt like years, he came to terms with his death. As he wondered about his future and if he even had one, he felt an intense squeezing from below him.
His head started hurting and before he could process what had happened, he saw the light for the first time since his untimely death.
The pain of being squeezed through a small hole was enough to cause him to cry out in pain. He was swaddled in a soft blanket before being given to a warm pair of hands.
He looked up and saw a loving gaze staring back at him. Nathan was instantly filled with warmth and snuggled in closer to her. He felt a safety only possible with a mother.
Before being struck with an intense feeling of tiredness, he vaguely heard one word "Nathaniel". He didn't know what was going on but whatever happened, he knew he would be ready for it.