Harper spun around on her heel (or what she supposed to be), and stopped short of a guy’s shoulder.

“Who’re you?” she asked, ‘Rude Harper’ taking over. She folded her hands over her chest, and stared at him indignantly.

“Someone who can help.”

Suddenly, Harper gasped in realization. “You can hear me?”

“Yeah…pretty loudly, too,” he said, covering an ear gingerly.

“What happened? What’s going on? Why won’t they hear me?” Harper reeled, pointing to where her family had exited.

“Whoa there – don’t get too hasty. After all, this is your first afterlife experience,” he said, smirking.

“Afterlife? Dude, you’ve got to be kidding me. I have not been slaving away twenty four seven for the last eighteen years of my life just to get whisked away to the afterlife!” Harper hissed, her eyes sparking.

“Well, whether you like it or not, you’re dead, and there’s no changing that,” he shrugged, looking completely indifferent.

“Rewind,” Harper gaped, her mouth hanging open. “Did you just say I was dead?“