My name is James. James Aaron.

I'm a pretty nice guy, but I can also be rude sometimes. I am very optimistic about everything most of the time, and today is no different. Today is the day I decided to ask my girlfriend Jeane to marry me.

After long planning of almost two months, I had finally made it. I'll make the most different and most original marriage proposal in the world. I searched the internet a few times to see if it was something original, and it is.

And what is it?

Descending on a crane platform in the middle of the city's main avenue, and propose to her in the middle of all the people present. It took a long time only because of the crane. It was not easy to get one.

I work in a construction company, which made it a little easier. I didn't have to pay anything to rent one. But the hard part was convincing my boss to let me do such a crazy thing.

Fortunately, after a long time of begging and working overtime, I succeeded.

"And the last step was completed today, which is to schedule the special dinner at the best restaurant downtown, where I would go down the middle of the street in front of the restaurant and surprise her."

I was anxious. The time was coming.

I spent my whole day thinking about it. By the time evening came, I was on the verge of madness and close to giving up. I felt that it would not be a good idea to do all this for some reason.

I want to make an original and unforgettable marriage proposal, but is this okay?

But even with conflicting thoughts in my mind, I decided to go. I put on my suit and went straight to the restaurant with dinner booked. Jeane's sister was in charge of driving her there.

When I arrived in front of the restaurant, the crane was already across the street, on a lot where a building was being constructed, and the construction company I worked for was taking care of everything there.

After arriving there, they had already made all the preparations. The wedding ring was in my pocket, and the crane was ready to lift me to the heights.

So at 20:30, I climbed onto the platform and was lifted over 100 meters high. It was scary, but I could see the entire city in compensation.

I stayed 30 minutes up there. The cold wind hit my body, giving me goosebumps. I had to bend down a little so that the wind wouldn't hit me directly. And while I was suffering from the cold, I received a message.

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I quickly unlocked my cell phone and saw the message I had received.

[21:02 - Everything is ready. Jeane is already sitting at a table outside, waiting for you. I'm here together with my boyfriend. ]

It was Jeane's sister.

"Everything is ready." I sent a message to my co-worker who was in charge of the crane with a smile.

He viewed the message, and soon after, I felt the platform move.

Crack~~~

But after going down just a little, I heard a loud crack coming from all over the platform. Then everything started shaking. I held on to the edges of the platform and planted my feet on the ground.

I started to panic as the platform began to make some strange noises on the way down.

I quickly grabbed my cell phone and sent a message to my co-worker. But after the message was viewed and the platform stopped, I suddenly heard a loud noise and felt the support on my feet disappear.

The platform collapsed. Being heavier, it fell faster, and I came right over it.

As I was screaming desperately, I saw the platform crash into a car below, and then I approached the platform at high speed. I heard the sound of crunching flesh before I lost consciousness.

####

"HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" I screamed, regaining consciousness. I struggled and felt something fluffy on my back and butt. Beyond that, up ahead, I could see a large movie screen.

In the rows ahead, I could hear someone giving tiny giggles.

I looked down at my own hands and noticed that everything was fine. I was not hurt. Even though I had fallen off the crane, I was fine. I couldn't be better!

I got up and then walked to the first row of seats where the man was sitting. He was an old man with long white hair and an equally long white beard.

His eyes were light green, and he exuded an air of divinity. He looked like a sage from some work of fiction.

"Welcome." As soon as I approached, he met me with a greeting.

"Thank you. Well, may I know where I am and who are you? Shouldn't I be in a hospital or something?"

"Hospital? Look at that." The man pointed to the giant movie screen. He then started to eat some of the popcorn in a package on his lap.

I looked at the screen, and after watching the movie that was being broadcast, I felt all the strength in my body disappear. Then I fell to my knees.

"W-W-What is that?!" I exclaimed in surprise as I stuttered. The words didn't want to come out very well.

"That's you, can't you see? That's your girlfriend over there. Look at that. They're going to bury you now. Your body was in such a deplorable state that they had to hold a wake with the coffin closed."

"Is this some joke?

"Of course not. Just look at them. Everyone is suffering."

"..."

"But that doesn't matter now. I want to ask you a favour."

"..."

"Hey, are you listening to me?"

"A favour? Do you want to ask me a favour? I just died, you know."

"That doesn't matter so much now." The man shrugged and ate some popcorn. On the screen, the movie of my funeral continued to play. "No need to be so shocked. They won't miss you that much."

"..."

"I'm just kidding. How about this? If you do what I ask, I can revive you."

"I'm in!

"So fast?"

"I can't abandon Jeane and my family. Please!"

"You're pretty fearless, kid. Well, see you later."

"What? Aren't you going to explain what's going on?

"I don't need to explain. Just look at your left thigh when you wake up again."

"My left thigh? I don't get it."

"See you later." The man got up from his armchair and waved at me. At the same time, the movie screen glowed and swallowed all my consciousness.

What a bizarre experience.