Krol had not realized he had died for some time after his initial death.
He had long since closed his eyes, his weeping never letting up for a moment, drowning out anything else.
It was only when he realized he no longer felt Coco in his hands that he shot open his eyes, looking around frantically for his lost companion.
What lay before him was not the desolate alleyway he had been in before but a sprawling expanse made up entirely of white.
He also noticed immediately that the pain in his chest had also disappeared.
"Hello, my dear Krol." a voice rang out. It sounded almost like a whisper but had enough power in it to rupture an eardrum.
Krol moved his head around, trying but unable to locate the origin of this strange voice that seemed to come at him from all sides.
"Are you God?" Krol said. He was not a religious man before his death, but now he was certain that he had been wrong his entire life.
Not only was the experience intensely supernatural, but the voice also gave him peace like he had never known before.
Still internally in turmoil over his companion, he couldn't help feeling like everything would be okay now.
It was a feeling so pure that it made Krol a little uneasy.
"In a sense," the being spoke again, suddenly materializing before Krol.
It was a man who looked no more than twenty, with tan skin.
He was in a light robe that showed off his unnatural physique, which also allowed Krol to see the various tattoos and jewelry adorning his body.
He had long hair that was tied back into a bun, but curiously, Krol could not see his face. It was his face was unfocused compared to everything else; Krol kept trying to focus but he couldn't make out any specific details.
"Curious about my face?" the being spoke again. "Please listen to my request before we talk about that."
Krol couldn't understand anything about what was going on, but he was very comfortable for the time being, more comfortable than he might have ever been.
"I've one question for you before you ask your request. Is that okay?" Krol spoke. He didn't feel comfortable bargaining with whatever this being was, but he also didn't feel any fear about it either.
He couldn't imagine what he could do for such a being anyway. He didn't believe he had anything he could offer.
"The dog, yes, he is well," the being said, slowly getting closer to Krol. "I found it quite commendable what he did, dying trying to protect you, so I've given him his very own slice of paradise."
Krol felt immense happiness in this being's anwser, even if he did find it strange the being knew what was on his mind in the first place.
'I've got to watch my thoughts,' Krol began to think, which led to a chuckle from the being.
He was reading his mind.
"So, getting straight to it, your life was quite bad, was it not?" the being spoke once more.
"Yes." Krol responded.
Honestly, Krol couldn't help but feel upset by the fact that there was a God or at least a god-like entity. He and many others lived in absolute despair constantly. Why did he have to suffer so severely his entire life?
"You have every right to be angry. However, let me show you something." The being walked in front of him, reaching out a hand before gently putting it on his shoulder.
What Krol saw was everything.
He saw what seemed like millions of paths for his life. Some were much better than what he experienced, but many were nothing short of hell; multitudes worse than the pitiful life he had led.
Then he saw his own lifetime and all the times this being had helped him without his knowledge.
Every time he was about to starve, every time he was in so much pain he couldn't stand it, all the times he had been unknowingly saved from people and things that would have done him wrong; it was always this being that stood by him and protected him, an invisible hand tugging on all things on his behalf.
Even when he was about to commit suicide, it was that hand that brought him and Coco together on that day.
Krol lowered his head and began to weep.
"I would have liked to help more, but the people of your world have rejected me, which has limited my abilities to an extent." the being spoke in a voice that carried a tinge of sadness in it.
After Krol stopped crying he spoke, "What is your request? I'll do whatever I can to help you."
He meant it. There was nothing he wouldn't do to help the being that had helped him so much within his own life; he hadn't realized that he had someone who cared for him, other than Coco, the entire time.
"I will give you two options," the being spoke clearly and concisely now. "I require you on another planet of mine. You would be reborn into that world, a world much different than the one you have known. You'd also remember everything about the present and your past as well."
Krol was really confused by the offer. This immense being needed him?
"I know you do not think you have much value, but to me, you'd be a wonderful addition to that world. I won't go too much into detail as I also want you to live your own life there, but I have faith you'd achieve what I needed you to." the being continued before pausing a moment.
'Still reading my mind.' Krol thought again.
"And option number two?" Krol spoke.
"Stay here with me. If I were to show you my face, it would also unveil my paradise. You'd be welcome to stay with Coco forever, never hurting again, never wanting for anything." The being answered.
That sounded like a perfect proposal for Krol, something that was so tempting he had a really hard time not wanting to going back on his previous declaration.
"How would my life be if I was reborn?" Krol asked, not wanting to completely shut off the idea of being reborn, it also wasn't a terrible prospect.
"You would have better circumstances overall, but life would be the same as before in many regards. There is always a possibility of anguish in any life based on your own decisions," the being said, continuing. "You also would not be able to see Coco for a while. However, I suspect he'd wait patiently for your return."
Krol didn't understand why he'd not be able to bring Coco, but he also didn't wish for that. Coco was in this paradise, and while he hadn't seen it, it sounded like the place his dear friend should stay.
He began wracking his head on what decision to make. He had the opportunity to stay in this perfect place and never hurt again; yet because he now knew this being existed, he desperately wished to please him, he sasw him as a dear friend.
'What even is his name?' A thought randomly came to his mind.
"You may call me Ash. My real name is much too difficult for the human tongue," the being said immediately.
Krol had a hard time with the idea that his mind was being read, but he persisted with his thinking on the decision before him.
"I will say one more thing," Ash added. "The dream you've had, about having a family, food, shelter, happiness; these things will be given to you if you wish to be reborn."
"But I can be happy here as well, can't I?" Krol asked.
"You've no choice but to be happy here. There is a difference; the happiness you feel when there's also the possibility for sadness is quite a unique kind of happiness," Ash said.
Krol found himself in deep thought for multiple minutes before Ash spoke up once more.
"I will leave for a while. I will give you at least this until I've returned." Ash snapped his fingers and disappeared, leaving a bloom of smoke in his place.
When the smoke settled, he saw a figure who he'd recognized immediately.
"Coco!" Krol shouted. Before he could even get up, Coco had already closed the distance and was now wiggling around in his arms.
While Krol had just been devastated, knowing of this place and that Coco was in it had diminished those feelings completely.
Along with the fact that this place had a strange effect on him, he felt almost totally at peace as he lay there and played with his best friend.
Of course, it was almost, and he suspected he would feel totally at peace if he decided to stay.
He didn't even know why he was still thinking about it, but he thought it may have something to do with the fact Ash hadn't lied to him about being reborn.
He told him that it wasn't going to be all sunshine and rainbows, that there was 'always a possibility for anguish,' and he also felt honored to be in such a position in the first place; the feeling of being needed.
He eventually got onto his feet and realized for the first time that his body was different than it was before. His frame was filled out and he felt like he had an abundance of energy.
When he realized this, he looked at Coco and smiled.
Then he started to run, something he'd always wished he could do with Coco. The white around him seemed to consume all and it felt like he could run however far he wished in any direction.
So that's what he did, with Coco at his side. He didn't know how much time had passed, but it had been a while; running until they both grew bored, playing, then repeating.
Never growing tired or hungry, never worrying about anything.
Krol couldn't imagine what actual paradise was like after having such an amazing time with Coco in this white void.
However, Ash did eventually return.
"I see you've had quite a bit of fun in my absence," Ash said. While Krol couldn't see his face, he suspected a smile dawned on it. "Have you chosen? Make no mistake, I will accept either outcome."
Krol looked at Coco and smiled gently. "I'll be born again. I've had a lot of time to think about it and I wanna try again." he spoke.
Krol had thought about it, and he wanted to be whatever it was Ash thought he could be in this new place.
He would miss his best friend, but he knew that Coco was in good hands. Plus, when he came back, he could eventually show all of his new friends to Coco.
They could have a big family.
"I see," Ash spoke. "what is it that you wish for in this new life?"
"I wanna be able to make friends like Coco and have people around me that love me." Krol said. That was all he could ever want; that's all he ever wanted in his life before.
"It will be done. I'll give you the ability to have as many friends like Coco as you want and I'll also put you in a loving home," Ash said. "Now say your goodbyes, it'll only take a moment when I start."
Krol bent down and gave Coco a pat on the head. His tail started wagging fervently.
It made Krol feel bad, but he knew that Coco would wait for him, and in the end, he now knew they'd have forever together.
With a sigh, he got up, still in the rags he wore in his past life.
"Krol, I wish you all the best. Know that I'll be with you," Ash said. "The world I'm sending you to will be much different than your old one but I will give you ample power to handle it, enjoy it as much as you can."
The sentiment gave him a lot of happiness. He looked down at Coco one last time and then heard a snap; suddenly everything went dark.