“Emilia,” I began, “I do get to choose how you die. But I can’t decide what you become or…where you go after death. Only He decides that.”

Emilia looked up at the clouds for a minute.

“But…but you do have a choice. You can make amends. You know…follow the path of righteousness.”

She looked at me for another minute, then grinned and leaned against my chest. “You are such an angel.”

Sigh. “I know.”

“So, what do you mean by making amends?”

“Well, I know your life is full of sin. You can change that. You know, I could even take you to the places you need to be to do just that.”

She was silent for a long time. ”...Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I could almost hear the gears inside her mind grinding against one another.

“San Fran,” she said unexpectedly.

“California?”

“California.”

“Now?”

“Now.”