The back of my throat hurt terribly. The light made it even worse. I had a terrible headache, and it hurt to look at the bright lights. I looked around the room. There was a small door.

"What kind of Wonderland shit is this?" I mumbled.

The door swung open. I saw a tall man. He had to be at least a foot taller than me. I couldn't make out his facial features, but I had a feeling he was going to be scary as shit.

"We don't use that type of language here, young lady,"His voice echoed.

I jumped at the sound of his voice. Now I was scared. Where the hell am I? Why are the lights so bright? Who the hell was this giant man?

As he moved closer, I began to make out his features. He was a darker complexion, about a shade darker than me. His nose was a little big. It definitely was his main feature on his face. His long hair dragged down to his back. He reached his hand out for me to grab.

"Come," He whispered.

"Who the fuck are you? Where am I?" I shouted out.

I heard a pop. The back of my neck was throbbing. This man did not just hit me. I looked up and him. Oh shit! I knew exactly who this was.

"Kat! What did I just tell you? Don't make me beat you in the middle now!" He said sternly.

The middle? I didn't understand what he was saying. I looked up at my father. Wow, he's really changed.

Wait a second. My father is dead. I looked around the room again. Maybe I was dreaming because there is no way this dead man just popped my neck. He laughed a little. I guess he was noticing my confused expressions.

"Ok, I'm obviously dreaming. God I don't know what the fu- I mean...I don't know what you are doing. Whatever you're trying to show me please stop. I am scared," I spoke out.

My father wiped the tear from my cheek. I could see the tears rolling down his cheek too.

"Baby girl, I missed you so much."

I pulled away, "What's going on?"

"You're in the middle baby."

"What the hel- What is that?"I corrected myself.

"The hallway between Earth and Heaven," He said.

Wait, did I die? This was crazy. I couldn't believe I died. At least a bitch made it too Heaven though. I mean at least a holy child of God made it to Heaven.

"What happened? Did I die?" I asked.

"That's your decision. God is going to let you decide. Not many get to make this decision Kathryn. It's a privilege."

"So I get to choose between life on Earth or life in Heaven. Daddy, I'm so confused," I said shaking my head.

"Some terrible things happened to you just a few days ago. People are required to make a decision about you within the next three hours baby girl. Your mother has to decide if she's gonna take you off life support today."

"What happened?" I asked in the most worried tone.

He pulled out his wallet. When he opened it pictures of me popped out. They were off guard pictures. None of them had a single pose. I laughed. There was one with me eating a slice of pizza. I remember that day. He grabbed a card out of his pocket. He flicked it open and a dinning room set fell onto the ground. I grabbed my toe. Even though it didn't hurt, I could still imagine the pain of a dining room table hitting my toe.

"There's no pain in Heaven,"He laughed.

"Ok two questions. Where the fu- fudge did this Dining room set come from?" I asked.

"Heaven has everything. I'm really not supposed to be using this here."

Heaven is high tech. I wonder if they got a card with a drink on it. If so I need one that makes me a drink. This is too much for me.

"If there's no pain in heaven, why did it hurt when you slapped the back of my neck?" I asked.

"It didn't. You're just use to getting whoopins. Obviously not anymore considering your foul language. I'll have to talk to your mother about this behavior young lady."

"You talk to that devil?" I asked.

"She's not a devil. That's your mother Kathryn. Why are you here? I think God pressed the wrong button," I cut my eyes at him, "I'm kidding baby girl. You know you belong here."

I didn't know that. I thought I would be in hell. Considering what I have done, God might've really pressed the wrong button.

"Ok, I'm not supposed to be here but Big man gave me a couple of seconds. I'm here to help you make your decision. Only two other people have gotten help on their decision before. You're so important baby girl. You're one of the three people who's gotten this privilege. I need you to choose wisely."

Only two people have had assistance choosing which door. I don't even know which door is which. I couldn't imagine being in here alone, trying to figure out which door to open and go through.

"I get to choose? Why?"

"You have two fates. It happens every once in awhile. Not a lot of people have them. God just lets them choose which one they want."

"Wait, why didn't you get to choose daddy? You could've came back to me but you left me!" I shouted.

I was filled with anger. Seeing him was starting to open so many unread thoughts. My father wasn't the best man, but I loved him. He died before he could even see my success.

"See now you're not listening! Come on baby girl! You got five minutes to choose! I have to explain this too you."

I wiped the tears from my eyes. I guess since this is my fate. I'll have to decide. I can cuss him out later. Well I can't cuss, but he'll hear a few words.

"That green door right there...that's Earth. Beyond that door is everything you're use too. You know everything on Earth. However it's so dangerous. It's the exact reason why you're here right now," He pointed to the green door.

It had a luscious plants growing on the door knobs. Knowing my scared as- self I would've went to the other door. I don't like plants because that's where bugs be at. I wonder if there's bugs in Heaven.

"That door right there, that's Heaven. Everything behind that door is foreign to you. It's so many wonders beyond this door. All of your wildest dreams are right there baby girl."

I looked at both of the doors.

"What do you think I should do?"I asked.

"I don't want to be selfish, but I need you. I miss you so much Kathryn. Every day I watch you on Earth. It hurts that I can't touch you. I can't hug you when times get rough. I can't speak to you when life gets hard. I can't be by your side when the world is against you. It hurts,"He cried.

I looked at both of the doors. Which one would I choose? I mean everything I want is behind that gold door. No more earthly troubles. No more clingy ex husband. No more bitchy Ms. Hall, sorry God I had to cuss. No more devilish mother. Everything I wanted to leave behind was on the other side of the green door.

"Daddy, she's so pretty!" I heard a voice say.

I looked around. My father shook his head. The time must've approached for me to choose.

"Who's that?" I asked.

"Someone must be in the room visiting you. I don't know who she is, but she seems very fond of you."

"Daddy, is she ever going to wake up? I want to ask her how to do her hair! ? I miss her. Maybe when she wakes up she can still do mine do mine? Do you th-" The little girl shouted.

"Amarah! Please hush! I don't think Mrs. Stevens wanna hea' ya mouth right na'. Let tha lady rest, ok?" A familiar voice said.

My father looked down at his watch.

"Ok baby girl, come on let's go," My father said.

He pulled the card back out of his wallet. He flipped it inside out. The table flew back into the card. Heaven still has me shook.

"I haven't made a decision yet."

"You're going to Heaven baby girl. I need you here with me,"He said.

I shook my head. The voice of the little girl kept replaying through my head. I looked at the Earth door.

"Kathryn?"

I looked at him with watery eyes, "I can't stay with you...I have to go back. It's too many people depending on me. Like you said I'm important daddy. I have more to do there."

"Baby girl, you can't go! You can't leave me here by myself,"He shouted. "There's no one here! I don't have family! No one likes me here Kat! I need you; don't leave!"

I turned towards the door. I put my hand on the doorknob. I turned back to look at him. He held his hand out for me. I watched as he cried and begged for me.

A few tears slipped out of eyes.

"I love you..."I shouted.

The door opened. I was sucked into it. My father's face slowly disappeared. I gasped as the air hit my face.

ANDRE

"Amarah! Please hush! I don't think Mrs. Stevens wanna hea' ya mouth right na'. Let tha lady rest, ok?" I said sternly.

Amarah rolled ha eyes. She sat back with a pout on her face. She obviously don't kna' who she playin' with.

"Do it again...I dare ya'."

She didn't say nothin'. I nodded my head. She already kna'. I don't play that bad chil'ren shit. I'm quick ta' pop a chil'.

My eyes wondered over ta' Mrs. Stevens. She so beautiful but she was different. Ha' skin was so pale. Er'thing about ha' was fucked up. The past two months ain't been da' best. I just feel like a nigga needa be hea' for ha. Da' woman took a bullet fa' me. My own mama wouldn't do some shit like that.

I heard some heavy breathin'. I looked down at Mrs. Stevens chest. Somethin' weird was hap'ening. It was like she had taken ha first breath or something.

"Nurse! Come in hea'! I think some up!"I hollered out the door.

The nurse came flyin' in. She looked in horror. The lil' machine started beepin'. Amarah shouted in terror. Nurses and doctas started runnin' in the room. One of 'em had one of da AED thang. I looked around tryna' figure out what da fuck was goin' on.

"Mr. Harper, I need you to leave the room. We have a waiting room. Please go wait out there,"A nurse said.

"Na' what da' fuck goin' on in thea'? What hap'ening ta Mrs. Stevens?" I asked in a worried tone.

A older man pushed through da door. He almost knocked me ova. I know he saw Amarah right thea'.

"Aye! Man watch whea' ta' fuck ya' walkin'! Ya almost knocked over ma' daughta'!"I shouted.

"Nurse! Get him out of here!"He screamed as he ran over to Mrs. Stevens.

"Sir, please go wait in the waiting room. As soon we have some type of information about her I would be glad to tell you."

"Ok, just lemme kna' if somethin' happen. Don't leave me hangin'. I'll be in da waitin' room. If not I'll prob'ly be in my counselin' session. Y'all got ma' number on the program. Just call wheneva'."

"Yes sir! Of course Mr. Harper. Have a wonderful night! I'll be back soon hopefully,"She said as she shut da door.

I looked at da' room numba.

256

"Is Mrs. Stevens gonna be alright daddy?"Marah asked me.

"Let's hope so babygirl."