Night To Remember

Night to Remember

“Welcome to Post-Life Rehabilitation! My name is Kendall and I will be your case officer.”

“Wh-what?”

“Welcome to Post-Life Rehabilitation! My name is Kendall and I will be your case officer.”

“I heard you the first time – I just didn’t understand what you said.”

“Oh, I’m sorry! You’re probably still experiencing some disorientation from the transfer.”

“What transfer?”

“From your body to the rehabilitation centre, of course! It takes some people a bit of time to adjust.”

“From my body? What are you talking about? Where am I? And why can’t I feel anything?”

“I’ve already told you that you’re in the Post-Life Rehabilitation Centre, and I would have thought the answer to your last question was self-evident from the information that you’re no longer in your body…”

“Kendall, right? Can you stop just saying the same things over and over again and tell me exactly what the hell is going on? I’m starting to panic here!”

“Please calm down. You won’t gain anything by being abusive towards me. And it’s technically impossible for you to panic since you no longer have a respiratory system.”

“Okay, I’m sorry. Just please can you explain what’s happening?”

“Of course. Last evening, you stole a police car and took it for a joy ride. You lost control of the vehicle during the chase and plunged off a bridge to your death. As your demise took place while you were committing a minor criminal offence, your consciousness has been transferred here to the Post-Life Rehabilitation Centre for treatment before you move on to your final destination.”

“So, I’m dead?”

“I believe that is what I said, yes.”

“Was my brother with me? Is he okay?”

“Concern for others – that’s a good sign. I have a feeling we might be able to make significant progress with you.”

“Just answer the question, please?”

“Your brother was also in the car, yes – but he managed to throw himself clear before it went off the bridge, and he sustained only minor injuries.”

“Thank God for that.”

“That remains to be seen.”

“Huh?”

“Whether or not you will have the opportunity to thank God.”

“Wait – how do I know what you’re telling me is the truth? I don’t remember any of this – why should I trust you?”

“What other explanation do you have for your current situation?”

“Okay, fair point. But how come I don’t remember what happened?”

“We have discovered, from past experience, that humans don’t tend to deal well with the memory of their own death. So, our new procedures mandate that the last few hours of living memories are excised from the mind during the transfer. There’s a lot less screaming and catatonia since that process was introduced.”

“I can imagine. Uh, thanks, I guess. It doesn’t sound like it was a fun way to go.”

“I reviewed the footage. It wasn’t.”

“Right. So, what happens next?”

“I have been assigned as your case officer and my duties are to observe your responses during our sessions, and ultimately decide where to send you for your final rest. So, what happens next is actually down to you.”

“So, there is a chance I could avoid fiery damnation?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s good to know. I wasn’t really so bad a person, was I?”

“Not so bad, no. That’s why you’re here, rather than being sent straight on. The actions of your life suggest that you have the potential to be rehabilitated.”

“I guess we have some work to do, though, right?”

“Indeed. Shall we get started?”

“Might as well. It’s not like I have anything else to do right now, is it?”

“That’s the spirit! Now, let’s begin…”