Meridian was late. Not that this was the first time. However, she needed just a moment to collect herself before she was subjected to the annual judgment of the grade of her soul, which, much to her chagrin, had remained medium-grade for the last five hundred years of her time in the afterlife.

It was very inconsiderate of the council to hold these meetings on the eve of a person's death day. Meridian could be out doing almost anything else, like celebrating, sleeping, or eating at the nice cafe that sold the little donut holes with strawberry frosting, no sprinkles. Yet, here she was, adjusting the twisted skirt of her yellow cotton dress before she walked into the waiting room of the council's office, housed conveniently in the Limbo Building where Meridian worked as a tour guide for newly dead souls.

Commissioner Dotan stood waiting just outside his door with his arms crossed and a frown on his heavily lined face. She'd seen him look this way countless times over the years and she still had not learned her lesson about punctuality. "Ms. King, even in the afterlife we have things to do. Would it kill you to be on time?"

Meridian gave a sheepish grin. "Already dead, Commissioner."

With a scowl, he pointed her into his office and motioned for Meridian to take a seat in front of his massive desk. Once seated, Commissioner Dotan began typing on his computer, eying Meridian every so often as he worked, likely pulling up her massive file. The silence was better than what Meridian knew was coming. She'd much rather sit here for a bit and listen to the clacking of the keys than to hear the commissioner tell her about her subpar soul.

So, Meridian waited patiently, taking in the office that did not change much in the many years she'd been coming here. Atop the commissioner's desk to the left of his computer was a shiny, gold basketball trophy, which still puzzled Meridian, even after all this time. Had he been a basketball player? She didn't think so, and there never seemed to be an appropriate time to ask him either. The only time they ever really interacted was during meetings like this.

She eyed his nameplate that read, "Michael Dotan, Commissioner" in shiny gold letters before her eyes were captured by a domed glass case, to the computer's right, in which floated the Soul Scrolls. The most important artifact in the entire afterlife and the commissioner had it just sitting there on his desk. The Soul Scrolls kept a record of the grade of every soul in the universe, alive or dead. Meridian reached out her fingers, hoping just to graze the glass. She'd seen it many times before, but there was just an aura about it that she could not ignore. Something about it kept calling out to her to touch it.

"Don't touch that," the commissioner admonished without looking away from the computer. He had stopped typing a while ago, and he was now looking intently at his computer screen, the skin between his brow creasing more and more with each scroll of his mouse.

"I just —"

"I know. You were tempted, but impulse control, Ms. King! Do you even know why you're in here?"

Meridian recoiled her fingers and placed both hands flat on her lap, feeling scolded like a child. She didn't see the harm in touching the glass. "I do."

"So, I see no point in holding it off any longer. Let's get on with it, shall we?"

She nodded and looked at the commissioner who continued to scroll through what must be five hundred years worth of information on Meridian. Sometimes it was hard to fathom five hundred years of life (or not life?).

Commissioner Dotan looked up at Meridian, cleared his throat, and steepled his fingers. "As you know Ms. King, you are in our transitional program here in the afterlife and you have been for quite some time. Usually, our transitional program is only for a hundred years, give or take a few, but you've been here five times that. Now I know you have an unusual set of circumstances that prevent you from moving beyond this point —"

"Yes, yes. When I was alive, I fell in love with an immortal man named Omar Rhodes and he said he'd never forget me, so I still exist in his living memory."

"I'm well aware of your situation, Ms. King. Had you let me finish, you would have known that. As I was saying, here in the afterlife, permanent residence can only be granted to high-grade souls and soul improvement happens through reincarnation. As it stands, you can only be reincarnated as long as you no longer exist in living memory. And this is where you have your dilemma. It will be virtually impossible for you to improve your soul to the grade we require here for permanent residence without reincarnation. Each time a soul is reincarnated, new lessons are learned and new experiences are gained. This knowledge, this experience increases the grade of the soul. It is only through this method that a soul improves and becomes the standard we've come to expect here in the afterlife. With your beau being immortal, your memory will live on forever."

"What are you saying, Commissioner?"

"You're reaching the end of the time we can allow for you to stay here in the transitional program. Eventually, and by eventually I mean soon, you will be officially judged."

"And what do you mean by that? What happens then?"

Commissioner Dotan sighed and raised his eyes to the ceiling before continuing. "Should you not have the required soul grade, you can no longer remain here."

Meridian tugged at a curl as she contemplated the commissioner's words. I can no longer live here? Where else could I possibly go? "But what does that even mean?"

"It means, Ms. King, that should things play out the way they have been since you arrived here, you will be sent to the Netherworld to live out the rest of eternity."

"But that's not fair! I can't help that I can't be reincarnated!"

"Fair? You've been given five hundred years to improve your soul, Ms. King. I think that's more than fair."

"You said it yourself, Commissioner Dotan. It's virtually impossible to improve a soul without reincarnation. And you have to admit, I'm not that bad. I'm medium-grade, right?"

The commissioner gave Meridian a severe look. It was a look that told her what she was about to hear was significantly worse than anything he'd said previously. "Ms. King, you are correct. You are a medium-grade soul."

"Why do I feel like you're about to burst my bubble?"

"Ms. King, unlike the other souls here in the afterlife, your grade is declining. You're not the first soul to come here after falling in love with an immortal. I swear, they cause such trouble for us."

"So there are others?" Meridian smiled, feeling a tiny ounce of hope tugging at her heart.

"There are others, Ms. King, but they're all in the Netherworld now."

"You could have led with that, you know? So, basically, there's no hope for me."

"Well, of course, there's hope, Ms. King. This is the afterlife, after all. Where would any of us be without faith?"

"Can I cash in some faith for improvement on my soul?"

"I'm afraid it doesn't quite work that way."

"I still don't get it," Meridian cried, exasperated. "I am a good soul! I do what I'm supposed to do. I'm great at my job. I converted three limbo souls just last week. That must count for something. You can't possibly think judging me on things outside of my control is really fair."

By this point, Meridian had vacated her seated position and was pacing back and forth in front of the commissioner's desk. Every year the meeting with Commissioner Dotan was stressful, but this year turned out to be the absolute worst.

"We're only judging your soul, Ms. King. You've had five hundred years to improve it. That's a lot more than many other souls get."

"According to what you've said, it doesn't matter if I had a thousand years or even a million years because any soul like me — you know the ones, with lovers still alive on earth — gets a one-way ticket to hell. What a crappy way to reward eternal love — damnation!"

"Are you insinuating that you love for reward, Ms. King?" Commissioner Dotan began typing on his computer again, and Meridian began to panic.

"No! I am not. I still love him immensely. I just — I didn't think loving him would cause such a mess when I died. Had I known..."

"Yes?" He leaned forward, still typing.

"Nothing," Meridian sighed and ran her hand down her face. "Had I known, I would have still been with him and loved him because he meant — he means everything to me."

"Love has a way of costing us when we least expect it. We just have to decide if it is worth the price."

"He's worth it." Meridian sat back down and placed her head in hands. "How much time do I have?"

The commissioner typed a few things and then began scrolling before looking grave. "Thirty days."

Meridian gasped. "That's it? How could I possibly — is there any way I could possibly have more time?"

"I'm afraid I cannot give you any more time."

"But you're the commissioner. You hold the Soul Scrolls. You can do anything."

"Ms. King, just because I have the power to do anything doesn't mean that I should. There are rules set in place. Laws that we've established and we abide by. It keeps order."

"Well, if you made them, then you can certainly change them."

Commissioner Dotan shook his head, his lips forming a straight line.

"Well, what do I do then?"

"I suggest getting your affairs in order. In the meantime, business as usual. I believe you have a shift starting in a few minutes."

Meridian was incredulous. "You want me to work after this?"

"Well, you're a good soul, aren't you? You always do what you're supposed to."

"Low blow, Commissioner."

"I assure you it wasn't intended to be," the commissioner stood up and walked around his desk. He placed a hand on Meridian's shoulder and squeezed. "It's just that even in our times of anguish, we should do the right thing. What you give of yourself can multiply into a collective positive consequence."

"Easy for the guy with the permanent spot in the afterlife to say."

He chuckled and let go of her shoulder. "The newly dead souls await, Ms. King."

"Yeah, I know. Alright." Meridian rose from her seat, legs feeling like two masses of lead. She headed for the door and just as she touched the doorknob, she turned back around. "Commissioner, tell me please, has anyone ever come back from the Netherworld. I mean, is it possible?"

There was a twinkle in his eye as he seemed to mull over her question. He stroked his gray beard, eyes boring into Meridian's before he answered. "Yes. Once. A long, long time ago."

"Really?" Meridian just knew if she could just find this person and ask them what to do, she could possibly figure out how to solve her dilemma. There was no way Meridian could go to the Netherworld. And, if she did happen to go, there was no way she could stay there. She wasn't the greatest soul in the universe, but she wasn't the worst either. "Who?"

The commissioner's lips twitched. He eyed Meridian for a few seconds longer, making this a game of patience. It was as if he could read her anxiety and took pleasure in making her wait for his answer. Meridian, although not a punctual person, was not a patient person. Had he been anyone else, she would have cursed or begged for him to say something. In her current circumstance, she thought better of it.

Just when Meridian was certain he wasn't going to tell her and they were just going to continue this awkward staring contest, the commissioner uttered the one word she never thought would answer her question.

"Me."

Throughout her work day, Meridian could not help but feel as if everyone could tell the quality of her soul just by looking at her. It was as if she had a big sign strung around her neck saying, “Medium-grade and declining,” and everyone was staring at it.

The two newly dead souls she met today did not get the best tour experience from her and she could tell by the way, Dan Anderson, a former waiter in his late twenties with rough features and sapphire blue eyes, kept saying, “Is this all?” to everything she showed him about what the afterlife had to offer that it’d be a miracle if she convinced him to stay at all. Jose Martin, an older gentleman in his early sixties, who died on his couch being yelled at by his wife, just smiled and nodded while tugging at his unkempt reddish-brown beard the entire tour.

Even when they returned back to the Limbo Building, where she turned them over to a Transition Steward to handle the paperwork for their entrance into the transitional program, Meridian could not get two things off of her mind: one, Commissioner Dotan was once in the Netherworld; and two, she was likely headed there in the next thirty days.

Meridian sunk into the seat of her desk, which was covered in crumpled Afterlife brochures and papers with the names of all the souls she’d converted in the last month. She let out a frustrated cry, sounding more like a choking gurgle than the justified anger she felt and banged her fist on the desk. The other souls in the office stopped their conversations to look at her before shrugging it off and carrying on with their own business. It wasn’t the first time Meridian was in a bad mood.

It just wasn’t fair, though. Meridian was a good soul. Sure, she wasn’t always on time and she lacked a bit of responsibility, but she cared and she loved fully. That had to count for something. She spent the last five hundred years loving Omar and, now, his everlasting memory of her, a promise he made on her deathbed, was the reason she’d have to leave her home, her friends. It was a raw deal, but even in this moment of distress, just the thought of Omar made her heart tingle.

“Care to explain your mood?” a disembodied voice asked from the other side of the wall of the cubicle.

“You got time? This could take awhile.”

Her cubicle neighbor and friend, Grace Burton, popped her head over the dividing wall and pursed her red painted lips. “Tomorrow is your death day and you have a ’tude. Something tells me you had your meeting with the commissioner already.” She folded her arms across the dividing wall and leaned in. “So tell me about it.”

“Grace, it’s worse than I ever imagined.”

Grace let out a little puff of air and waved dismissively. “You say this every year, and every year turns out just fine.”

“Not this time,” Meridian shook her head, trying her best to give Grace her ‘this is serious’ look. “I don’t have much time left.”

“What do you mean you don’t have much time left?”

“Keep your voice down, would you?”

Meridian took a look around the office to see most other souls still engaged in their own conversations. While it was no secret that Meridian had not reincarnated (it was weekly watercooler gossip), she didn’t want anyone else to know about her doomed fate. It was embarrassing. She embarrassed herself enough on her own, so she did not need the technicalities of soul improvement to make her impending eternity in hell the talk of the Limbo Building.

“My voice is as quiet as it’s going to get. What do you want me to do? Speak to you with my eyes?”

“Grace!”

“Okay, okay!” Grace held her hands up and lowered her voice an octave. “How about this? Low enough?”

“I’m going to the Netherworld, Grace.”

“Well, why the hell would you go and do that? No pun intended.”

“Well, why the hell would you go and do that?” Meridian mocked. “Oh, I don’t know. I just thought it’d be a great idea to celebrate my five hundred and first death day by floating up the Styx to chill with the good old pal, Satan! Grace, you’re not listening!”

“I’m trying to, but you’re kind of awful at explaining what’s wrong. Just tell me what the commissioner said. It can’t possibly be as bad as you’re making it seem.”

Meridian rolled her eyes. “He said my soul grade is declining and I have thirty days to get it into shape or I’m being shipped out to the Netherworld for the rest of my existence.”

Grace let out a low whistle. “Whoa.”

“You’re telling me. And, get this, there likely isn’t any way that I could improve my soul grade without reincarnating. It’s just not fair!”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that.”

Meridian’s eyes widened at Grace’s apparent lack of loyalty. “Come again?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s unfair,” she adjusted her arms on the dividing wall. “Oh, don’t look at me like that, Meridian. You’ve been giving tours to newly dead souls for years and you tell them about the soul rules, reincarnation, and everything. You knew. You’ve had five hundred years of a head start to figure this out. Any responsible adult would have been looking for ways to upgrade their soul ages ago.”

Leave it to Grace to be rational in Meridian’s time of despair. When not in a state of panic, it was one of the many reasons Meridian liked Grace so much, but sometimes Meridian just wanted someone to be dramatic with her.

“When have you ever known me to be a responsible adult?” It was a joke between them that Meridian was like Grace’s child at times. It wasn’t that Meridian was reckless, but she was a bit short sighted, much to the annoyance of Grace, who, even while complaining, would help Meridian out of any bind if it was within her power to do so.

“There was that time when you — oh wait, no. That was Marge. Well, how about the time — no, nevermind. That was Peter.” Meridian gave Grace a triumphant smirk before Grace continued, “point still stands, Meridian. You’ve had time.”

Annoyed, Meridian folded her arms across her chest and let out a huff of air. She was sure she looked like a child, but Meridian did not care. Did Grace not understand that the Netherworld was stalking Meridian and before either of them knew it, she’d be snatched up within its clutches, never to be seen again? She could not possibly understand, because if she did, she would have spared Meridian her very valid point.

“You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I am on your side, but what is it that you’re expecting me to say?”

Meridian turned her head so that Grace was no longer in her line of vision. She didn’t want to see Grace’s face when she said what was on her mind. “You’ve already had your final judgment. What worries do you have?”

“That’s not fair,” Grace whispered.

It was as if the entire room became filled with Meridian’s guilt. She knew she shouldn’t have said it and the traces of hurt in Grace’s voice confirmed it. Meridian already went down that road though and in her anger (or was this envy), she could not stop the next words that tumbled out of her lips.

“Now you’re worried about what’s fair? I live every day of my life here, remembering a love I can never have again, which hurts every fiber of my being, while simultaneously being told that because of this love I’m going to hell. You just wouldn’t understand.”

“It’s not all kicks and giggles on this side either, you know? Being reincarnated, I mean."

"Oh sure. How awful it must be to have the opportunity to improve your soul so you're not in danger of being sent to the Netherworld. My mistake."

Grace let out a frustrated sigh. " We’re born again in a new body with all the memories of our old lives, but as that new body grows those memories begin to fade until the soul we once were no longer exists. When we die again and come here, we’re here every day remembering the people we left behind, knowing that once we reincarnate again, we’ll eventually forget them. It’s not even like they’re a memory. They just simply don’t exist to us. So yes, I’ve had my final judgment, but did I ever tell you how I died the last time?”

Meridian shook her head, remaining silent. She had never asked Grace how she died, and she felt slightly guilty for never thinking about it before. She'd been so consumed in her own issues, she never considered that Grace may have her own burdens she was holding onto. Meridian wasn't about to admit that out loud though.

“I died during childbirth, Meridian. I will never hold my baby and my baby will never know me. That is the death I will remember since reincarnation and judgment are no longer factors for me. I’ll be living my own personal hell right here for eternity.”

“Grace, I —”

“No Meridian, don’t. You’re upset and I know you didn’t mean it. You’re right. I don’t know what this is like and I have no idea what the Netherworld is like. I don’t imagine anyone here does.”

Meridian perked up at this and a conspiratorial smile grew upon her lips. “I didn’t even tell you the craziest part about this.”

“I can’t even imagine how this could get any crazier.”

“Commissioner Dotan was in the underworld before.”

“What?!”

“Shhh! Keep your voice down!”

“Sorry, but what?!”

Grace’s normally cool features were marred by what Meridian could only assume to be confliction. It was no secret to Meridian that Grace admired the commissioner and this bit of gossip had to shock her. If Meridian were being honest with herself, it almost made her feel a bit better to knock the commissioner down a peg in Grace’s eyes.

“He told me himself.”

“But that’s great news!”

It was Meridian’s turn to be surprised. “I’m sorry. What?”

“Don’t you see Meridian? If the commissioner was able to redeem himself, so can you! And he gave us this information with thirty days to figure it out! So maybe you won’t be going to the Netherworld after all.”

“Okay, first of all, he wouldn’t have said anything if I didn’t ask him, so the praise should go to me. And second of all, what do you mean ‘us’?”

“You didn’t think I was going to leave you to figure this out on your own, did you?”

“I just thought after I said those things, you’d …” Meridian trailed off and looked at her hands balled up in her lap.

“Oh, don’t be stupid. You need me.”

“You’re right. I do.” Meridian looked back at Grace and smiled gratefully. Only Grace could easily forgive Meridian after she made a royal idiot of herself, and only Grace could make Meridian’s problems her own. Bless her soul, literally. “Where would we even begin?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Where is the one place we can go and get any type of information we need on souls? The only place that could even possibly help us upgrade your soul?”

Meridian drummed her fingers on her desk. There was a place she was thinking of, but she couldn’t imagine Grace would be that bold. Although, this was a desperate time. Pushing rationality to the far corners of her mind, Meridian called out, “the Soul Bank!” just as Grace impatiently said, “the library!”

“What?!” Grace whisper yelled. She reached across the barrier to lightly slap Meridian’s arm. “How could you even think I would mean that?”

“I’m thinking I need a higher soul grade and what better place to upgrade than a bank?”

“This is a bad idea,” Grace’s voice had that tone she took whenever she was at her wit’s end with Meridian.

“Are you helping me or not?”

“Of course, I’m going to help you, but I’m not promising to not complain along the way.”

“Fair enough. What time are you off today?”

“You want to go today? We haven’t planned what you’re going to say or do when we get there. We don’t even know what exactly we’re looking for. I heard Hafeeza Crow is particularly cunning. You must be prepared.”

“She can’t be that bad. She’s here in the afterlife.”

“So are you.”

“Et tu, Grace?”

“You’ve been talking to Julius again, haven’t you? He never gets tired of telling that story.”

“Stop changing the subject, Grace.”

Grace nibbled on her lip and ran her fingers through her wavy, black hair. Tugging on her sleeve, she conceded. “Tomorrow, and I’m not budging on that.”

“Fine. Tomorrow. Oh, and Grace?”

Sounding mildly irritated, Grace responded, “What?”

“Thanks!”

Meridian flashed her a smile and Grace returned it before plunking back down in her seat, disappearing behind the wall that separated their cubicles. It was souls like Grace that made living in the afterlife worth it. Not having Omar was tough, but knowing that she still had the ability to remember him made her just a bit thankful, even if she could possibly be going to hell.

It was Meridian’s death day, and, much like the five hundred death days before this one, Meridian had trouble getting out of bed. As if her soul worked on a yearly calendar, she always woke on the anniversary of her death with a nagging ache in her chest — the physical manifestation of a broken heart.

Sometimes she envied those who reincarnated. It was almost a merciful cycle to forget the life you lived before when you could no longer live it. The pain of knowing that things continue to move forward without you could sometimes suffocate even the toughest of souls, especially if there was a crack in the foundation — the heart. And, sure enough, there were tons of tiny cracks in Meridian’s. She supposed the only thing that kept it from falling completely to pieces was to know that Omar still had her on his mind, and, she hoped, in his heart.

This small respite, the certainty that her lover from half a millennia ago had not forgotten her, made all the memories that poked and jabbed at the deepest and most vulnerable parts of her just a bit easier to bear. It was that fact that kept her going and that fact that made it imperative that she not end up in the Netherworld.

So, despite the dull ache that encased her, Meridian got up and prepared for her visit to the Soul Bank. It was a mystery what she was getting herself into. Only desperate souls went to the Soul Bank. With what she was facing, she’d definitely consider herself desperate. She just hoped this would be the answer to her problems.

*

When Meridian reached the Soul Bank, Grace was dutifully waiting for her out front, pacing and muttering to herself about the crazy things she does in the name of friendship. It was true that Grace has done some things for Meridian that would have her considering Grace more than just a friend. There were just some things that once you went through them together, you were family. Meridian made a mental note to add this to the long list of things she owed Grace for.

“Nervous, Grace?” Meridian joked when she was within earshot of the pacing woman.

Grace looked up with a pained expression, her hair whipping in the wind. “Nervous? Why would I be nervous? We’re only going to the shadiest place in the entire afterlife, which is probably frowned upon!”

“Frowned upon, maybe even discouraged, but definitely not against the rules.” Meridian smiled cheekily at Grace who just placed her hands on her hips.

Meridian did understand Grace’s reservations. Souls who utilized the services of the Soul Bank were never quite the same, yet those who had never been in there actually knew what happened within its walls.

She stared up at the two-story, greyish-green stone building. Although it was a rather sunny day, the bank seemed to be shrouded in darkness. It’s only light coming from a bright, white sign that read, “The Soul Bank” in big, bold, red letters. She gave Grace one last look before proceeding up the stairs that led to a large double glass door with intricate green designs around its edges. Grace gave a small whimper as Meridian opened one of the doors.

Inside was more ominous than the outside. It wasn’t as dark, but it was empty. The tan, laminate floor tiles echoed their footsteps as they ventured further into the bank. To the right and left of them were stiff-backed chairs in various shades of brown. Directly in front was a long counter with five stations for tellers, yet not one was occupied.

“Strange. Why is it so empty?” Grace whispered.

“Why hello, dears,” a voice said from behind them. “Welcome to the Soul Bank.”

Grace jumped and grabbed onto Meridian’s arm.

Meridian turned around and came face to face with an older woman who had a large smile pasted onto her grandmotherly face. Meridian’s eyes traveled to her grey, kinky afro before meeting the woman’s eyes housed behind round-edged triangular-shaped mauve eyeglasses. “You must be Hafeeza Crow.”

Hafeeza laughed. “So you’ve heard of me. Not many know me before coming here. What’s wrong with your friend?”

Hafeeza’s eyes traveled to Grace, whose face seemed to be stuck in a silent scream. Meridian elbowed her in the side before answering, “I’ve been asking myself that for years.”

Grace made an offended sound but said nothing as she eyed Hafeeza wearily.

“I assure you, young lady, whatever you may have possibly heard about me is not true.”

“So you don’t suck out the life of unsuspecting souls?” Grace whimpered.

“Grace!”

Hafeeza just chuckled as she waved it off. “No one would be around to tell you that if it was true.”

Grace’s shoulders slumped as she slightly relaxed, but she kept a firm grasp on Meridian’s arm. Meridian side eyed Grace.

“I suppose you are here on some form of business though and this is not some sightseeing tour.” Hafeeza continued, adjusting her patchwork vest that was decorated with pictures of cats.

“Yes, of course. I am in trouble and I think you can help me.”

“Well join me in my office. I’ll see what I can do.”

Hafeeza waved a hand and a polished, wooden staircase appeared on their right leading to a second floor that did not seem accessible anywhere before. Both women followed Hafeeza’s shuffling footsteps up the stairs and into an expansive room with paisley, wallpapered walls. Hafeeza led them around the wooden-railed opening at the landing of the staircase to a door emblazoned with her name in red letter and ushered them inside.

Meridian and Grace took the two chairs in front of Hafeeza’s desk looking at the glass shelves filled with boxes labeled with names that lined the wall behind her desk.

Grace leaned over and whispered in Meridian’s ear. “What do you suppose is in those?”

Meridian shrugged, twiddling her thumbs as Hafeeza took a seat in the regal looking blood red chair behind her desk. It wasn’t until this moment that Meridian wasn’t sure she was doing the right thing. Hafeeza seemed sweet enough, but was Meridian really making the right decision?

Hafeeza adjusted her glasses and folded her hands atop her desk before speaking again. “So, what seems to be the problem you think I can help with?” Her voice was sugary sweet and Meridian almost cringed. It should have put her at ease, but instead, it slightly put her on edge.

“I’m in danger of being sent to the Netherworld.”

Grace grabbed Meridian’s hand and squeezed. She was not much help before, but Meridian was so thankful for her presence now.

“Well, that’s easily fixed with reincarnation. Why come here?”

“I haven’t reincarnated in the 500 years I’ve been here.”

Hafeeza’s eyebrows shot up into her kinky afro before she schooled her expression into one of indifference. “Defective soul or something?”

Meridian bristled. She did not like being referred to as defective. There was nothing defective about her. She was loved, not defective.

“While alive, I fell in love with an immortal man. As long as he remembers me, I cannot reincarnate.” And as long as he still loves me, I don’t want to reincarnate, she added silently.

“You seem to have done okay this long. Why seek me out now?”

Meridian was getting frustrated. She couldn’t imagine why Hafeeza couldn’t just get to the part where they discussed how she was going to save her from a life of misery in hell.

Grace, likely sensing Meridian’s frustration, gave her hand another squeeze.

“I face final judgment in thirty days and I have a declining medium grade soul. Reincarnation is obviously not an option for me.”

“And so you’re looking for help in upgrading your soul?”

“Exactly!”

Hafeeza rubbed her chin thoughtfully while sizing Meridian up. Meridian eyed her back, steeling her nerves so as not to appear afraid. She had no idea what it would take to get Hafeeza Crow to agree to help her. She had no idea what that help would look like. She just knew that she needed it, and she was almost desperate enough to do anything.

“I can help, but it’s going to cost you.”

“Cost me what?” Meridian’s palms were sweaty as she wondered what Hafeeza would want as payment. The afterlife didn’t necessarily have a currency.

“You see these here?” Hafeeza gestured to the boxes behind her. “These are deposits made by the souls who venture into my domain. Should you agree to my terms, you, too, will be on this wall. I’d just like to warn you of this: from the little you’ve told me, you’d need to pay a hefty deposit.”

“But what will it cost? What is in the boxes?” Grace leaned forward, her curiosity making her insert herself into the conversation.

“Curious one, isn’t she?” Hafeeza chuckled before she dramatically slapped her hands flat on her desk and said in a sinister voice that starkly contrasted the sugary sweet voice from earlier. “Memories!”

Meridian flinched and Grace gasped, leaning back in her chair. Neither of them was particularly sure what that meant, but Meridian already felt a sense of foreboding that seemed to fill her lungs and made it hard to breathe.

“Memories?”

“Yes. It’s quite simple, really. Just as the memories of those that are alive keep you tethered to your current soul. The memories you hold keep you tethered as well. What’s purer than a clean slate?”

“So you just wipe the memories of souls who need a higher soul grade? And Commissioner Dotan just allows this?” Grace asked, incredulously.

Hafeeza arched an eyebrow at Grace’s mentioning of the commissioner. “Michael is powerful, but he isn’t the only powerful soul in the afterlife. Besides,” she gave another chuckle, “I’m his mother.”

Meridian turned to look at Grace whose mouth was opened in the shape of an ‘O’.

“Grace, you’re crushing my hand.”

Shaking her hand that Grace finally let go of, Meridian turned back to Hafeeza. Many questions were running through her mind, but one was more important to her than all the rest.

“Would you have to take all of my memories?”

“In some circumstances, I would not have to, but, again, your case seems to need a hefty payment. To be safe, none of your memories should linger.”

“So, I wouldn’t be me?”

“I don’t like this, Meridian,” Grace spoke up, reclaiming Meridian’s hand once again.

“Many don’t like this, but once it’s over, the memories are gone anyway. What would they know or care?” Hafeeza hunched her shoulders in a shrug, then waved her hand, in which a contract materialized. “All you have to do is sign on the line and I can make sure you never see the Netherworld.”

With another wave of Hafeeza’s hand, a pen rested in Meridian’s hand that was free of Grace’s fierce hold. Meridian looked between Hafeeza’s eager face and the contract laid out in front of her.

“I understand what losing these memories does for me, but what does gaining them do for you?”

“Never you mind that. Let me worry about what I’ll do with your deposit once it’s mine. Are you in or out?”

“Meridian,” Grace tugged at her sleeve. “I don’t really like this, but she does kind of make sense. Once the memories are gone, you’ll have the soul grade to withstand final judgment and stay here. What do you have to lose?”

“Omar,” Meridian whispered.

“What?” Grace asked.

“I’d lose Omar. If I sign this, I won’t remember him. I won’t know who he is. I won’t love him.”

“But you can’t be with him now anyway, Meridian. Is that really a loss?”

Meridian’s eyes glistened as she contemplated what forgetting Omar would mean for her. She knew Grace didn’t fully understand what Omar meant to her. Grace was left suffering her own heartbreak daily after final judgment and would probably jump at the opportunity to just forget.

It was not like that for Meridian, though. Her love for Omar kept her going every day in the afterlife. Sure there were days not being able to hold him again were difficult, but just knowing that he still remembered her 500 years later was enough to sustain her.

“I can’t.”

“Are you sure?” Hafeeza inched the contract closer to Meridian’s pen-wielding hand.

“No, I’m not, but I — just no.”

Meridian dropped the pen on the desk and stood up, pulling Grace up with her. Both the contract and pen disappeared as Hafeeza crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.

“Very well. Just know that I will not extend this offer again. When your thirty days come to an end, you will find yourself in the Netherworld.”

Not bothering to respond, Meridian pulled Grace out of the office. Grace hurried behind Meridian and did not say anything until they were well done the street from the bank.

“Meridian, slow down, please.”

Meridian slowed her pace but did not stop walking. She did not know where she was going, but there was an ache in her chest that made her not want to stop because if she did she would break apart.

So, she had no intention of stopping, but Grace dug in her heels and pulled on Meridian’s arm so that Meridian whipped around and was engulfed in a hug by Grace. That was all it took for the floodgates to open and Meridian fell apart in Grace’s embrace.

Grace rubbed soothing circles on her back and kept whispering into Meridian’s hair, “That’s it. Let it out.”

“What am I going to do, Grace?” Meridian wailed. She didn’t actually intend for Grace to answer her. She just needed to get the words out. “That was my chance and I couldn’t because I love him. How could I be so stupid?”

“Oh honey, you’re not stupid. You’re in love.” Grace cupped Meridian’s chin in one hand and wiped her tears with her other hand. “We will just have to find another way.”

“But there is no other way!”

“We don’t know that.”

“Except that we do.”

“Meridian King! I will not allow you to give up yet. We still have twenty-eight and a half days and I intend to use every single one of them to find a solution. So have your cry and then, get it together.”

Staring at Grace and thanking the universe for putting such a supportive soul into her life, Meridian sucked in a breath and forced a small smile on her face. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

“My house. We have some planning to do.”

Both women linked arms and continued walking down the street. Meridian felt a little better, but it did not stop her from feeling the Atlas-like burden that sunk a little deeper on her shoulders. There had to be something that she could do, and she was going to figure it out.

“So explain to me again why not remembering is not an option?” Grace asked for what felt like the millionth time. Meridian watched her take a sip of tea, bright blue eyes peering at her over the rim of the mug before she continued. “I mean what makes him remembering you so important? If he’s immortal, he’s probably loved tons of women before you.”

Meridian winced at the words. “That’s not possible.”

“How are you so sure?”

“Because I was his first love. We were born in the same village a week apart.”

“Ah, I see.” Grace placed her mug on the wooden dining table.

Tracing circles on the table with her fingertip, Meridian considered her options. She and Grace had been sitting at her dining table for the past three hours and made no progress in their search for a way to save Meridian from hell. It could not be this hard to save her soul from eternal damnation if that is what was waiting for her in the Netherworld anyway.

“Maybe we can research some things on the computer? Maybe there’s something we’re just not thinking of.”

“It’s worth a shot,” Grace shrugged, not seeming to think a search on the eternal net was going to provide help.

Before Grace could convince her otherwise, Meridian turned on her computer and opened a browser. She started typing in a tab when Grace called out, “Meridian! Wait! Look!”

With a furrowed brow, Meridian turned in her desk chair to stare at Grace for her outburst. “I swear you better have a good reason for screaming at me like that, Grace.”

Grace just pointed repeatedly at a golden, blinking envelope icon on the taskbar of Meridian’s screen. How had Meridian not noticed it before? It was definitely hard to miss. “This is impossible!”

“Maybe it isn’t what we think it is. Just open it!”

“What else could it be, Grace?” Meridian snorted in derision. She appreciated Grace’s skepticism, which Meridian was sure was purely for her benefit, but there weren’t many other possibilities of what the golden envelope could be.

Without breathing, Meridian clicked on the blinking icon and a message outline in a thick green border appeared on her screen. In the top right corner was yesterday’s date, the eve of her death day. Meridian thought back to yesterday and could not remember turning on her computer at all. If she had, she may have saved herself a trip to the Soul Bank. Taking in a deep breath of air, Meridian read the message:

From: The Office of the Judgment Council

To: Meridian King

Re: Reincarnation

Dear Ms. King,

It has come to the attention of the council that as of 5:00 pm this evening, you have faded from living memory. Considering your history, the council finds it imperative that you reincarnate as soon as possible. Reincarnation is expected of every soul, and, as such, it is imperative that you return this message to us promptly with your acceptance within seven days time. Should you elect to forfeit the opportunity to reincarnate, you are electing to be promptly sent to the Netherworld. We cannot impress upon you enough the seriousness of this decision.

May you choose wisely.

Michael Dotan

Commissioner

“Well, what does it say? Meridian?” Grace all but cried.

Meridian’s hand dropped from the mouse and hang limply on her side. She could not believe what she just read. This just couldn’t be right. There is no way that she could be up for reincarnation. Omar could never forget her. He would never forget her. She turned her head to the left and stared at a picture of Omar that she kept on her wall. Staring into the hazel eyes in the picture, Meridian thought back to the last time she looked in those eyes that she loved so much.

The winter was harsh that year, and Meridian knew she would not last much longer. She laid in the bed of the one-room log cabin she shared with Omar on the outskirts of their small village, shivering although she was sweating. Omar sat on the edge of the bed, wiping a cloth across her forehead to sop up the sweat that seemed to come pouring out of her in droves.

“It’s going to be okay, my love,” Omar promised, running his fingers through her afro of curls that lay spread all over the feather pillow.

“Y-y-you d-don’t know t-th-th-that,” Meridian’s teeth chattered as she struggled to respond to him. She felt as if she was wrapped in lava, but could not stop shivering.

“Shhh, don’t waste the little energy you have. And I may not know, but I have to have faith that it is going to be okay. I need it to be okay.”

Meridian just nodded, not having the strength to verbally respond. She knew she was going to die. She had a feeling Omar knew it too, but he was trying to be hopeful for her.

“Do you remember when we first met?” It seemed to be a question out of the blue and Meridian opened her eyes to look up at Omar as if to say, ‘why are you asking me this?’ “Well, do you?”

Meridian nodded her affirmation and briefly thought of witnessing a six-year-old boy falling out of a cherry blossom tree. She ran to him, afraid he would be dead with a snapped neck when she reached him, but he had nothing but small scrapes and bruises. That would forever be their place as they grew from childhood friends to lovers.

“I knew the day you found me at the bottom of that tree I would love you forever, Meridian. I promise you, no matter what happens, that I will never forget you.”

Meridian stared into his eyes like pools of crystalized honey and her eyes misted over as her vision began to fade. She knew that she, too, would love him forever. A single tear escaped beyond the safety of her eyelashes and slid down her clammy cheeks as everything turned to darkness. The last thing she heard was Omar crying out her name before she heard, saw, and felt no more….

“Meridian!” Grace snapped in Meridian’s face. “What does it say?”

Meridian blinked a few times registering Grace’s face. A sob escaped Meridian so forcefully as if it began in her toes and snowballed up her body to leak out of her lips as the realization washed over her in deep, drowning waves of misery.

“Meridian?” Grace asked again as she enveloped Meridian in a hug. Somehow, Meridian slipped out of her chair and Grace sat with her on the hickory wood floor, rocking back and forth. “Please tell me what’s wrong.”

Every time Meridian opened her mouth to form the words, another guttural sob took their place and she could do nothing, but cry over and over. “Oh, God!”

After some time, Meridian was not sure how long, Grace stopped asking for information and just rocked Meridian like an infant, whispering words of assurance into her curls. Every now and then, Grace would place a kiss on her forehead telling her that she was loved and everything would work out alright, but that just made Meridian cry harder.

What felt like hours later (and likely was), only the sounds of Meridian’s whimpering could be heard in the small house. Faithfully, Grace still remained there rocking Meridian while rubbing soothing circles on her back.

“He promised,” Meridian’s voice was hoarse from the crying.

Grace didn’t comment. She just continued her soothing and waited for Meridian to continue.

“He said he would love me forever. He said he would never forget. He lied, he lied, he lied. Oh God, he lied!” The tears began again and Grace sighed.

“He couldn’t have lied, Meridian.”

“How do you figure?”

“You’ve gone five hundred years without a reincarnation summons. That’s five whole centuries in which he remembered you. I do not want to believe that he lied to you. It does not make sense. Something must have happened.”

“He cannot die, Grace. What else could erase me from living memory besides his death?” At her words of the thought of Omar’s possible death, a new wave of sorrow clawed at Meridian’s aching heart.

Grace gave a small shrug and pulled Meridian up so they were looking at each other. “I bet there is a reasonable explanation. Let’s just not worry about it today. How about I tuck you into bed and you try to get to sleep?”

Meridian nodded, teardrops filled with her pain dripping down her face. She latched onto Grace as she pulled off the floor and led to her bedroom. Crawling into bed and pulling a pillow to her chest, ripples ran through her body as she cried harder.

Grace placed a kiss on her forehead with a promise to come back in the morning. Unable to respond, Meridian nodded. She continued to feel waves of panic and sorrow flow throughout the night until she could no longer stay awake. Breathless and exhausted, Meridian fell into a deep, nightmare-filled sleep longing for just one more moment with him to know that what they had was real and not just a figment of her imagination. To know that it was not just a trick of her half-a-millennia-old memory. Just, to know.

Meridian's heart felt like it was pieced together with scotch tape. When she woke up the next morning, her eyes were crusted over and her nose was sore, but she still managed to make it out of the house and trudged her way to the Limbo Building for her shift at work. She did not wait for Grace to stop by and Grace's surprise to see her at her desk was evident by the way Grace kept eying Meridian as if she'd suddenly fall apart and scatter all over their shared workspace. Grace did not say anything though, so they continued to work together in companionable silence that Meridian was more than grateful for.

The options Meridian had left tumbled through her mind as she input the results of her last month of tours into the Limbo Building's database. It was a cruel twist of fate that of all the ways she could contribute to society in the afterlife, this was her job. Not all newly dead souls traveled through the Limbo Building. Some souls, like Meridian, go directly to the transition center. The Limbo Building, however, welcomed souls who, though dead, had the opportunity to go back to the life they were leading prior to death. These souls were the ones who died, but come back.

When Meridian was alive, she used to think the people who "came back" were just miracles. After dying herself, Meridian learned it was more than that. Those who die and get the chance to go back, if they so choose, have unfinished business, whether good or bad, to attend to. Apparently, loving Omar wasn't enough unfinished business for Meridian to have this chance and this brought her back to her dilemma.

Meridian could choose to reincarnate, but she'd be starting life over and eventually lose her memories, which is why she turned down the Soul Bank. If Meridian didn't reincarnate, she'd be sent to the Netherworld, which was the original problem she had. The only difference now is that she had much less time to figure out a solution. As she wandered around the recesses of her mind, it became more apparent to her than ever that she truly did run out of options.

"I'm going to do it," she breathed out, breaking the silence.

Grace's head perked up and she peeked over the dividing wall. "Do what?"

Meridian gave Grace a look as if to say "really?", but answered anyway. "I'm going to go to the Netherworld."

Grace's ocean blue eyes watered, but she had the good sense not to shed them. Grace reached her hand over the wall and stretched it out for Meridian to take. "He must mean a lot."

Oh, he does.

"It's not just that. If I go through with this, I lose everything, and I think 500 years worth of memories is a lot of time to give up. I don't want to forget him or you. You mean a lot to me too."

Grace dabbed at her wet eyes with her free hand. "Oh, Meridian! I love you too. If it were possible for me, I'd follow you to hell."

Meridian smiled at Grace, touched by the true friendship she always provided. Even in the worst possible moments, Meridian knew she could count on Grace. Her eyes slipped to her left to the various clocks that adorned the wall counting the days, hours, and seconds of souls all over the earth. All on different hours, yet somehow still perfectly keeping time.

She was never more aware of the ticking of seconds as she was at this moment, contemplating the amount of time she had left here. It was this heightened awareness that drew her eyes to a small silver-framed clock in her direct line of eyesight, with a mere thirty seconds remaining before that soul, whoever it may be, took their last earthly breath and joined the afterlife.

As her last official duty, before she gave the Judgment Council her decision, Meridian wanted to welcome that soul in. She squeezed Grace's hand before letting her fingers slip away, gesturing with her head toward the clock that now had ten seconds remaining. "I'm going to take this one."

Grace nodded, wiping at her eyes as if they already said goodbye. "There's no better soul to do so."

With a smile, Meridian walked to the lobby, enclosed with glass doors and windows that gave the perfect view to outside. Any second now, her last penance would walk through those doors, and she was determined to provide this soul everything Meridian would likely be missing by the end of the day.

Meridian stared out the glass door, but decided at the last second that would be a bit creepy, so she gingerly went about tidying things on the table that housed reading material in the lobby. It must have been within those moments that the soul she was waiting for slipped in and took a seat in one of the egg-shaped chairs in the lobby, seemingly waiting.

"Oh, hi!" Meridian greeted when she finally turned around and noticed a woman, who looked no older than Meridian had when she died. "Welcome to the afterlife!"

The woman brought a tawny-colored hand to her mouth, eyes wide. "Am I dreaming?"

Meridian gave a light, tinkling laugh. "No. This is real. I felt like that the first time I got here, but I can show you around. You have a special opportunity that not many of us get. My name is Meridian."

Meridian held out her hand to the woman and hoped she would take it. She needed this last moment of normalcy more than anyone could imagine and this woman had all the power to give it to her. The woman stared at Meridian's hand, green eyes misting over.

"Remi. My name is Remi Miles," she grabbed Meridian's hand delicately. "Special opportunity?"

"Well, yes. You're in Limbo. It's where all the souls go who are in between worlds. It gives you a choice. After finding out all there is to know about the afterlife, you can decide to stay here or go back to the life you were leading."

"How do I go back?"

Meridian frowned. Remi hadn't even seen much of the afterlife and she already sounded eager to leave. She knew death was a scary unknown, but how amazing is it to find out something exists once you die? Maybe Remi was just shocked.

"The coin. Before leaving the ferry that brought you here, Captain Charlie should have given you a coin."

Remi held up a gold medallion in her dainty hand. It gleamed in the light of the lobby and Meridian stared at it as if she'd never seen one before.

"You mean this?"

"Yes. It is the only way you can get through the plane back to Earth. That is if you'd want to go back once you're done here."

"I guess I should hold onto it then," Remi gave a light laugh that sounded melodic. There was something about this soul that drew Meridian to her and she was so thankful this would be the soul she gave her last tour to. "So where do we start?"

"First, you give that coin to me. It's policy. Too many passing souls have lost their coin and ended up stuck here. I keep it safe in a special case," Meridian pointed to a fanny pack around her waist, "and return it to you if you decide that this is where you do not want to be."

Remi passed Meridian the coin. Securing the coin in the case, Meridian gestured for Remi to follow her outside and began showing her all of the wonderful things there was to see and do in the afterlife.

Over the years, the afterlife changed a lot. It always adapted to what life on earth was like. Meridian had seen vast changes in her 500 years, and, at times, she was astounded of the life she was missing out on down on Earth. A life she'd never see again.

The tour itself was just like any other. Nothing was special or different about showing Remi Miles around the afterlife other than Meridian's knowledge that this would be her last tour. Never again would she walk the tree-lined streets or venture into small shops that had the sweetest sweets she'd ever tasted. She'd never have this opportunity to be somewhat happy because she'd be going to hell tonight.

"This is all very beautiful," Remi commented when they stopped walking around to rest on a bench. They were eating ice cream and just enjoying the warmth of a shining sun. "I'm not sure if I want to stay though."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I have an entire life back on Earth, and it'd be a shame if I left it for good when there is a chance I can still live more of it."

Meridian inclined her head, but it still didn't make much sense. Sure, life on Earth with people you loved is appealing, but she just died. It couldn't have been going that great. Even when she did return, she'd have no idea what she'd be returning to. Would her life even be the same?

"There are many who feel that way, but it really is a gamble. Going back this way, I mean. Many choose to stay because the circumstances of their deaths are too much for them to bear."

"You don't understand. I can't leave him."

Meridian was mid scoop of her ice cream when she let go of her spoon. Remi Miles just became interesting. "Him?"

A smile tugged the corners of Remi's lips. "Yeah. My boyfriend. I love him. A lot. I'm almost certain he's the one."

Unable to stop herself, Meridian could not help but smile too. The shine in Remi's green eyes as she talked about her boyfriend tugged at Meridian's heart that was in disrepair. She knew what it was like to love a man the way it seemed Remi loved hers. That feeling that no matter where you were, when you thought of him every inch of you warmed up from the heat of your feelings for him.

And just as that warmth started to inch up and melt the ice in her soul, Meridian sobered up. Omar did not remember her anymore, and she was in love alone. As if sensing a change in Meridian, Remi placed a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

"Uh, yeah. I supposed we should get you back to the Limbo Building, so we can get you processed for returning to earth, huh?"

"Oh yes, I can't wait to get back to Omar!"

"Excuse me?"

"Omar. My boyfriend. Omar Rhodes."

It was as if everything in Meridian came crashing down all at once and fell as a slopping mess to the ground. What little ice cream she had left in the wax bowl leaked along the ground as Remi gasped and hurried to pick it up.

This could not be happening to her. There was no way that fate worked so perfectly that of all the souls she'd meet on her last day in the afterlife would be the current girlfriend of the love of her life. And what's worse is that this girlfriend has the option of going back to him. An option that Meridian was not given herself. What made her so unworthy?

It was if Meridian were being sliced a thousand times with very small cuts that alone did very little damage, but together damaged her beyond repair. How could this be? What more could she do to deserve just one happy moment in the miserable existence that has been her life?

And as if out of nowhere and all at once, it hit her. Meridian had the key to solve all her troubles. She just needed to get Remi back to the Limbo Building and everything would work out just fine for once.

She needed Grace.