Silas' eyes stared at this new plane of reality, wondering where Camila, then himself, was.

"Am I in heaven or in my dreams?"

"Well it's your interpretation of heaven."

A woman with dark skin invited him with wings and red hair, showing him his own halo and wings from behind.
"God? You're a black woman?"

"Technically, your angel, an amalgamation of your anticipation of your judge to the afterlife."

"Well if my life was a book, this would get banned in Florida for sure." looking around. There's no one I recognize," spotting two people from afar he remembered passing away not too long ago, both of whom's creations inspired him, and yet he always wanted to meet.

"Heaven's for people who died. Everyone that you personally care about is still alive. And," pointing to his wings phasing in and out of reality, "it looks like you're not ready to crossover over just yet."

The ground started to crumble around him as she pointed to a series of memories, all of which led towards a light.

"You better find a way to live, otherwise you can kiss everyone goodbye without ever getting to tell them yourself. Try not to end up here for a while," throwing him as the ground beneath him collapsed.

With no other options, he clipped off his angel wings to use as a surfboard, grinded and drifted onto the binding chains of spiritual liberation to get closer.

All of the mental souvenirs reminiscent of those alive started to fade, forcing him to grab the wings and jump to every fleeting memory to escape death. His fingers missed the portal, inches from away reality, spotting everyone waiting for him.

"No, I want to live!"

He rose up in a hospital, terrified.

"I'm alive?"

His head constantly jerked omnidirectional until a doctor told him to stop.

"Thank goodness. Wait, where is she?"

A curtain next to him opened up.

"You're awake!"

Camila? Tenderness grew. We both made it out in one piece.

Relief of her safety, and concern over her injuries despite her more stable condition left him mixed.

"Are you okay? Where are we?"

"The hospital near Dekalb. Your mom showed up earlier to move you to a different one, but the doctors said to wait until you woke up."

"How long have I been out?"

"Almost a day. I was worried. I heard the doctors say you were fighting onto dear life."

"Where's she? Did your parents come?"

"Yeah. But I wanted to wait till you woke up."

"How'd you know I'd be awake?"

"'Member what you told me on Thanksgiving? Fall asleep, I'd find you in my dreams. There, you said to wait a little. But you shouldn't keep a woman waiting."

"My bad," squinting to see her. "You look kinda good with short hair. Not your style, but you can rock it for a bit."

"Dad was so shocked."

"Battling your echo fighter? You're not too wounded from that?"

"I just wanted her to cut him off."

"We'd probably be dead if you didn't get through to her."

"She told me he was looking for you. I kept fighting, hoping I wouldn't hear any gunshots."

"Sorry I kept you worried."

"Someone recorded the fight. I can't believe you challenged him to a fist fight!"

"He had a gun on him. I couldn't let him kill me, so I had to offer him the chance to do without a gun."

"Why? You could've hide. Was it because security was busy downstairs?"

"Yeah. He was after you and me. And he would've shot anyone in his way to get there. I couldn't risk anyone getting hurt. But I was being selfish."

"How?"

"If he shot the gun, I would've died never knowing if you made it out in one piece. You're strong, you'd get over me eventually, but the thought of you crying over my dead body....I couldn't let you drown in despair. So I bluffed: he keeps me alive, he could frame me for everything."

"And get his revenge if he could beat you up with his own hands," gripping the curtains," I never wanted you to meet him after April because I knew something like this could happen!"

"Aren't you happy I beat him up. I just wish you were here the whole time to help me," laughing.

"Can't you take this seriously? It's my fault you almost died!"

"I am. You didn't ask him to come. He's desperate. His plans were foiled, his friends were leaving him, he wanted to control whatever he could get his hands on. You severed his chains!"

She sucked her teeth. "I hate when you're right. But he shouldn't have done that to you."

"Well, that's why I won, silly," smiling. "I love you more than I feared him."

She sucked her teeth. "I hate when you're right. But he shouldn't have done that to you."

"Well, that's why I won, silly," smiling. "I love you more than I feared him."

Her face trying to not blush while widening was a mental souvenir he'd never forget.

"Stop being flirty right now!"

"Did you enjoy watching the fight they obviously recorded?"

She pouted. "Only when you beat him up with my locker and my stuff. Did you have to use all my hair moisturizer?"

"Oh, like you actually need it right now," asking with just a bit of light hearted sarcasm to tip her off.

She sucked her teeth. "Go rest!"

"But I can't talk to you if I'm asleep!"

"Do it in your dreams and shut up."

"Make me," watching her finally crack that smile.

"You're lucky I feel better," sliding off her bed to sit next to him, swooping down for both of them to close each other's eyes, filling each other's lips with the joy of being alive.

"One more?"

"You're so needy," swooping in for another. The curtain opened just as they finished up.

"Silas?"

A pause made him tilt while Camila turned around.

"Mom?"