“Stay calm. Who needs help?” Vanessa’s training automatically kicked in. With 10 years as a flight attendant, she was the crew veteran. Survival Procedures for Water Landing flashed through her mind. Despite all the chaos as the remnants of the plane were sinking into the Pacific, it was dawning on her that somehow – they weren’t.
“We’re dead.”
Vanessa paused for an instant and recognized the man’s voice from seat 14A.
Some of the passengers were crying, others were disoriented and many others were no longer visible. Although in her hyper-racing mind, she was also becoming conscious that the term ‘visible’ did not pertain. ‘Aware’ was apt. She was aware of the passengers or no longer aware of them.
The man from 14A continued, “There are no survivors.”
The woman from 17B chimed in. “Or, you could say we all survived.”
Some of the crying began to dissipate.
14A responded, “Yep. She’s just as right.”
A little girl was calling for her mom. A man was trying to locate his wife. A bewildered voice from 3B mumbled, “What’s happening?”
Vanessa recoiled from the confusion. She struggled to apprehend what she was perceiving: all had become some kind of energy essence. But her training urged that she lead. “Alright everyone,” her voice just barely steady, “we need to focus. Does anyone remember anything?”
A chorus of confounded answers, whispers, and trepid questions filled the void. When that receded, 14A, the man whose voice seemed to hold some assurance, spoke again. “This is the in-between.”
17B added, “Some,” her voice notably composed, “move on more readily.”
Vanessa’s mind reeled. But her training emphasized the need to stay calm. “What does that mean?”
17B responded, “Create anew.”
A collective silence seemed to settle. A few persons evanesced from awareness.
14A offered a collected response. “You choose, Vanessa, when you move on.”
17B continued. “Ideally, each will. But everyone needs to make their own decision.”
A few more of those whom Vanessa could previously perceive were no longer there.
14A: “In any world, some of us are helpers.”
17B: “Like you, Vanessa.”
Her thoughts brimmed with perplexity.
14A attempted clarity: “Just be you.”
Despite her training, the moment's absurdity tore at her emotions, as the little girl tugged at her attention: "Will I see mommy again?"
Tears began to well within. Vanessa softly replied, “We’ll figure it out. We’ll get through this.”
14A answered directly. “You’ll see your mom again.” He spoke with unassuming certainty. “And everyone else. They’re always around. In the past, in the future, and the present.”
17B added. “Just in different forms.”
The little girl let out a sigh of relief. And was gone.
Vanessa contemplated the in-between. Was it a challenge? A reminder? Preparation? She didn’t know. It was as strange as it was vaguely familiar. As the others looked to her, she saw not just fear, but nascent hope. Regardless of what she didn’t understand, Vanessa knew something about guiding people through turbulence. She straightened her nonexistent uniform, her voice ringing with newfound resolve, “Who needs help?”
by George Alger
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Fantastic concept. The way you’ve described the “in-between” is so well done