Saylee awoke from her bed, a loud pounding on the door.

Quickly getting up, a half bag of Spicy Hot Cleetoes spilled its remaining contents onto the floor.

She stared at the door. There was silence for about 10 seconds and that was enough for her to lay back on the bed and get comfortable…

She turned, her body feeling heavy as she started to switch off-

The knocking returned. The raps on the door were getting more rampant. Saylee felt a spot on her forehead start to throb.

She got up quickly. Her socks immediately crunched several spicy cheese puffs scattered onto the floor.

The chips, stuck to her socks, only added to her frustration.

The knocking continued.

Saylee wiped the bits of cheese puffs off her socks, “Hold on, calm down. I’ll be right there in a moment”

The knocking didn’t stop.

Saylee let out an audible groan and stormed over to the door.

She swung open the door, and there stood a red-faced Benny. His eyes narrowed when they met eye to eye.

Benny held up his tablet and then shook it in the air, “Do you know what time it is?”

Saylee paused. After an awkward silence, she spoke a soft no.

Her life coach stared at her disapprovingly before placing his tablet back into his pocket, “You know that anything you do negatively will reflect poorly in front of my boss? Missing your flight not only delays things for you but makes me look bad too”

Saylee looked away, not speaking for what felt like an eternity. She took a deep breath before looking back directly at Benny, “I’m sorry…this is just…this is all just hitting me. It just feels unreal. I’m sure you didn’t skip and feel good for a while after your death right? You are…human, right? Did you, die before…?”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Her life coach took a moment to respond. She just noticed that he was wearing a purple button-up shirt and gray slacks. The outfit was wrinkled and the buttons weren’t even. He had no shoes, his feet had worn-out socks, His hair was a mess, and he had morning stubble. His eyes were bloodshot.

Benny ran a hand through his hair, letting out a heavy exhale, “Yes, I’m human. Yes, I died before. I get it. I’m sorry. Look, grab your things. You missed breakfast, you missed the departure ceremony. My superior awoke me that you weren’t at roll call. We have-“, he pulled out a small tablet, “…45 minutes until the next flight. Grab your things. No, wait, don’t bother. Leave it. Let’s go”

She was about to protest, but he gently touched her back and guided her into the hall.

He walked past her, towards the elevators.

Saylee followed, yawning, “Can I at least brush my teeth?”

Benny shook his head, “No, this is the last flight today. The next flight is tomorrow morning” He tapped on his screen quickly. The elevator door opened, “let’s hurry. You can sleep on the flight and then I can get some sleep too” He leaned his back against the wall.

She walked in after him, leaning her back against the adjacent wall, “Don’t I need a tablet? To contact you? Should I get it real quick?”

The elevator door closed. There was a soft jolt as the lift went into motion.

Benny rubbed his eyes, “I wish you said something earlier. Don’t worry about it. Let them know on the flight, they’ll get you a new one. I don’t have a paper contact card with me at the moment. Let me write down my contact information in your folder…”

She looked away, “I don’t have my folder either”

Her life support counselor just looked at her, not blinking. His left eyebrow twitched. He took a deep breath before speaking, “I’m sorry…I’m not a morning person. Don’t worry about it. I just need some coffee and I’ll be back to my ole’ self again”

The elevator door opened.

Outside the door was a massive room, with hundreds of people wearing the same outfit she wore, standing in lines. Before she could get a better look at the scene, the elevator doors closed.

She turned to see Benny tapping on his tablet.

Benny looked back at her with a saddened expression, “Let’s just get you onto tomorrow’s flight. I’ll take the heat. We’ll get you back to your room.”

Saylee, felt guilty, “I’m sorry…are you sure? I didn’t plan to get you in trouble”

Benny shrugged, his voice tired, “It’s not enough to get me fired, I’ll be fine. In all my years, this is the first time I’ve had someone under my watch be late. My boss should cut me some slack”

Saylee grimaced.

The lift door opened. Benny sighed and gestured towards the exit, “Go ahead”

Saylee stepped out, Benny stayed in the lift.

She looked back at him, giving him a weary smile, “I’m sorry”

Benny gave a weary smile back, “It’s OK, please just make sure you have an alarm set on the tablet. They have speaker alarms but obviously, you slept through that so I’m not sure alarm sound blasting through a tiny tablet speak will help either I suppose. Saylee, just…please try to get up in time.”

Saylee nodded, “I will-”

The lift door closed before she could finish. Shaking her head, she turned on her heels and headed back towards her room.