By Katie Hauenstein
Michelle sighed as she strolled down the hall for her meeting with her boss, Enoch. Transferring had become too easy. Humanity had lost its will to fight, making her job a cakewalk.
Arriving at Enoch’s office, she was surprised to see the supervisor from the Persistence department, Paul, and one of his employees, James. Looking back to her boss, she raised a questioning brow and took a seat in the chair next to James.
“Michelle. Thank you for coming,” Paul said. “Enoch and I have been discussing how you have apparently become bored with your work.”
Michelle shifted in her seat at the blunt statement. “I wouldn’t say bored, per se. Technology has made our job too easy. People either no longer care to fight for life, or they are no longer given the opportunity.”
Enoch smiled. “That’s exactly why you’ve been selected for this assignment. James is becoming not-bored-per-se with his job, too. We thought of a task to put both of you to the test. It is simply to succeed. Hopefully by the end of your task, you will both have a better appreciation for your jobs.
“This is your assignment.” He pointed to a young lady with her arm around an elderly woman. “Samantha and her mother, Glinda. Michelle, your task is to transfer Glinda, who has been struggling with a heart condition for years. James, your task is to help Samantha to prevent the transfer. You will have three attempts at this. Best two out of three wins.”
Michelle didn’t care what the prize was, as long as she finally had a challenge.
“Deal,” James and Michelle said at the same time.
In the next moment, James and Michelle appeared in the backseat of a car with Samantha driving and Glinda sitting next to her. It would be interesting to see what James did to prevent the transfer by assisting Samantha, rather than Glinda.
“I’m not nervous,” Glinda said.
Samantha pressed her lips into a straight line and shook her head as she turned onto the main road.
“I’m ready to go if this surgery doesn’t work.”
“Well, I’m not ready for you to go!” Samantha’s hands trembled as she merged onto the freeway.
Michelle sighed. This was why her job had become simple. When the doctor said it was over, they resigned. She understood why Samantha was upset.
“Sam, I love you, but I’m ready to move on. Please don’t be angry with me for that,” Glinda said as calmly as before, despite the suffocating tension in the air.
The car jerked as it hit a patch of black ice. It whirled and flipped off of the freeway and into a ditch. James and Michelle stood up through the car as if it were immaterial. Michelle smiled at Glinda.
“Are you here for me?” Glinda asked.
“Mom?” Samantha croaked. “Who are you talking to?”
“Yes, are you ready?” Michelle asked, extending a hand.
James wasn’t doing anything. It was almost like he wanted to lose.
“Yes.” Glinda grasped her hand.
Glinda was gone before Samantha knew it.
Enoch popped up, pausing the transfer but allowing time to flow as if it had happened. “Good job, Michelle. I’d like you to stay with Samantha for a bit.”
When she turned to look at Samantha, she saw someone in the Comfort department whispering words into her ear as she sobbed, upside-down, covered in her mother’s blood.
Bright light filled the sky. James and Michelle were back to sitting with Samantha and Glinda in the car.
Michelle turned to James. “You just stood there and watched Glinda give up.”
Samantha turned onto the main road.
James replied, “She was in pain and wanted it to end. Who am I to prevent that?”
“Your job is to help people persist, to fight for themselves regardless of what life—or death, in this matter—throws at them.”
Samantha merged onto the freeway.
“And your job is to transfer people into a better realm of reality.”
“But Samantha was crushed about her mother dying!”
“But Glinda was glad to be out of pain and going to a better place.”
The car crashed again.
James sighed, and Michelle went and started her work with Glinda.
“Mom? Who are you talking to?” Samantha said.
“She’s talking with Death,” James whispered in her ear. “You must fight to keep her awake until aid gets here.”
Michelle reached out to Glinda and grabbed her hand.
“Mom! Stay with me!” Samantha yelled.
Michelle tried to pull on Glinda, but to no avail. Sweat streaked down the side of her face as she fought the human holding onto her life. When the ambulance arrived, Michelle gave up.
Paul arrived to congratulate James.
Sam hugged and kissed Glinda until the paramedics gently pulled Sam away to get Glinda onto the ambulance.
The sky lit up, and they were back at the beginning of the assignment again.
Michelle and James looked at each other.
“It seems like a lose-lose situation,” James sighed.
Samantha turned onto the main road.
“More of a win-lose. If I transfer Glinda, Samantha loses. If you prevent the transfer, Glinda loses. Besides, Samantha’s persistence doesn’t prevent the transfer. It only delays it.”
“I have a confession,” James said. “Enoch didn’t assign me to prevent the transfer. He assigned me to help you remember what your job really is. Has this assignment enlightened you?”
Samantha merged onto the freeway.
Full of guilt for the way she had felt about her job, Michelle nodded. “My job is to bring families separated by death back together. My job is to transfer those in pain to a dimension where it’s nonexistent.”
The car crashed, and Michelle gladly did her job.
On their way out, Glinda asked, “Is it wonderful?”
“It’s amazing.” Michelle responded.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Michelle, and I’m here to guide you home.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
It gave me chills. Great job. Loved it.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Wow. Powerful
Thank you so much. A lot of thought went into this story, so I’m glad it hit its mark.
That was touching. I particularly liked when Michelle verbalized her job’s purpose towards the end.
It’s easy to see how she could lose sight of things, given her job. She just needed to check herself a little to regain the vision of her position.
Spectacular! I really like the fairly relaxed way James and Michelle interacted with each other. There could have been a lot of drama between them, but there wasn’t and it was so refreshing!
Thanks! They may work for opposing departments, but their company works toward the betterment of mankind. Hard to do if you hate your coworkers. ;)
What a satisfying ending! I loved your characters and was happy that the story ended how I hoped.
I love a good ending. It’s always disappointing when you spend the time reading a story, only for it to end poorly. Glad I was able to make you happy.