Epilogue

Epilogue

In every story I read, there are two endings. It's either happy or sad. Half of my life was spent imagining how a fairy tale book, novel, short story, or parable would end. But this time I was thinking about how my story would end. Is it true there is a happy ending? Is it true that everything has an ending? Or is death the end of everyone? Because while thinking deeply, my story started when I died. So if death is the end of everyone, it seems very impossible. Yet in life, I know everyone has a role to play before they pass away, and the thing is, God has shown me that many times in different ways.

"Class dismissed!" I quickly stood up when I heard that word from our last professor today. I quickly put my things in the bag before standing up to leave. But Stephen suddenly approached me.

"Hey!" he greeted me, still hesitant. Yet, to get rid of his hesitation, I smiled back at him.

"Hey!" I return his greeting. "Why is that?"

"I just want to ask if you're okay now." That's when I sighed. Earlier, when I woke up with Saint next to me, I seemed to have lost sight of everything that had happened. I was happy that we were together all night. I am happy to give myself to him again. I'm happy that he takes me to school, and I hope he'll pick me up too. That thought brought back my joy, so I smiled at Stephen again.

"I think I'm fine now. I'll overcome it. Stephen, thank you for your concern."

"It's okay then, so do you have something to do today? Do you want to hang out with me? " That question is no longer new. I've always heard him say that for the past month. It's only been last week that we haven't been together, and now I want to think about whether I'm coming. Maybe Saint won't pick me up.

There, I thought for a moment. If I let him, maybe Saint will see him, and maybe when Saint sees us together, he will get angry, and then he will burn Stephen alive. That grim reaper is a jealous freak. So with that thought, I decided to decline.

But when I was about to decline Stephen's offer, someone hugs me from behind. I was completely surprised by it.

"She will not come with you." With that voice, I knew it was my grim reaper boyfriend. When I turned over, a saint appeared in front of me. I didn’t expect he would not use Albus’ body today. This time, he chose to appear now as he is. He is not wearing a hat now, so everyone can see his face. It was also refreshing to see him wearing a white po that was tacked onto his pants. His hair was also neat, so well, that it seemed like he prepared before going here.

"Saint." That's all I can say to make our eyes meet. Although I knew that my block mates were looking at us, I still chose to focus on Saint, who was hugging me until now. "What are you doing here?"

"Hailey, who is he?" I heard that question from Stephen, but I ignored him. I'm noticing Saint's bad mood right now. I don't want to add more.

"I'm going to take you somewhere. You're not busy, right, babe? " He even intensified his question. That's something I want to laugh at. Obviously, he meant to let the majority know.

'Stop laughing, I hate you! ' I heard him utter it through his ability to communicate with the mind.

I can't believe he's sulking now. Damn it!

"Yup, I’m free babe. You want to hang out? "

"That's the plan."

"Where?"

"It's a surprise." That's where I got bored. I don't seem to like this surprise from him.

'Babe, I can hear you. ' There's a warning in his tune when he utters it in my mind again. At that point, I frowned.

"Okay, I'm done here. Let's go. " After that, I left without bidding goodbye to Stephen. I quickly pulled Saint out of the room and outside the academy as well. He put his arm around me when we reached the parking lot. I was no longer surprised when I saw Gavin riding in a car and peering out the driver’s seat window as if waiting for someone. When he caught sight of us, he waved quickly. Something that made me wince when Saint covered my eyes.

"Don't look at him. Don't you dare even think of him, "he said quickly.

"Oh god, Saint! Is that even possible? We're with him. How can I not look at him? "

"All right, then sleep." After he said that, he led me into the car while he still covered my eyes. Laughing, I let him do what he wanted.

"You're so jealous." I heard Gavin's comment.

"For almost a month, I have allowed all creatures to stare, hold, and talk to my Mary. I will not allow that to happen again! " At that point, Saint's voice rose. I couldn't help but flattered the reason why I was silent on one side when the car started to run.

Did he call me "my Mary"? Damn! I am so fluttered.

"Do you like it?" Saint asked me while still not removing the covering of his hand from my eyes. Yes, I was not surprised that he heard what I was thinking. Yet his question now makes my cheeks blush with embarrassment.

Why did he even ask that?

"Oh, my guardian of the soul is shy. How I love that side of you. " Because of that, I chose to squeeze my face into his chest and hug him while we were in the backseat.

"Damn it, PDA! Get a room! " I heard Gavin's complaint, but we ignored him. However, on the trip, I didn’t expect I could fall asleep. I just woke up to find that the car had already stopped and the saint's hand was no longer covering my eyes. I rolled my eyes around and it hit Saint, who was staring at me and Gavin, who was still in the driver's seat.

"Hello, how's your sleep, babe?" Saint asked me that in the way his voice was deep. It seems enticing and fascinating. At that point, I couldn’t help but laugh.

"What's with you today?" He frowned when I asked him why. Something I'm wondering about: wait, did I forget something today?

"You don't remember?" Astonished, my forehead furrowed at his question. But my forehead furrowed, even more, when I noticed Gavin's grin.

Okay, what the hell is this?

When Saint noticed my confusion, he frowned too.

"You forgot." At that point, his eyebrows met. What is this? I don't remember.

"Damn it! That was epic. I think I should record this. " Gavin didn't hesitate to comment. He was about to speak again when Saint threw a fireball at him. Fortunately, Gavin escaped immediately and quickly turned the fireball thrown at him into ice. "Good God, Saint! You can't take a joke anymore. "

"I'm not asking for your opinion. Go away!" When Saint said that, Gavin instantly disappeared. After that event, Saint turned his gaze back to me. This time his face was still frowning, but I smiled at him.

"Today is our 50th day, babe," he said sarcastically. Something that made me hold my forehead. I thought for a moment about what he said until I understood what he was referring to. To sum up, he is right; today is our fiftieth day as lovers. At that point, I couldn’t help but laugh again. It's funny to think that he knows that thing better than me. "And you're laughing again." That's when he got mad, so I hurriedly closed my mouth.

"I'm sorry I forgot. I'm sorry I laughed too. I just didn't expect a grim reaper like you to even think about that. " I explained something that evil had lost when he thought.

"Fine! Let's go. "There he got out of the car, and then spun around the car to open the door next to me. When the door opened on my side, he immediately held out his hand to me. And I gave my hand. When I got down, I immediately looked around. It was there that I realized we were back here again, in a classy restaurant that is close to the alley. This is the restaurant we used to eat at. I remember him saying before that he likes this place and he often eats here.

"What are we doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious? We're going to eat, of course! " I winced at his statement. Of course, what else is there to do in the restaurant? To eat, of course. That's where I rolled my eyes. However, I smiled when Saint took my hand and guided me into the restaurant. I like this place, but this time Saint and I visited as a couple, I liked it even more.

As usual, a crew accompanied him to the reserved room. This is also the room where we ate back then, and from here I could see the alley as well as the beauty of the restaurant location.

Its set up hasn't even changed. There are two chairs at both ends and a small table with red wine, tableware, and an overturned plate. There is a white handkerchief folded neatly. There are lit candles around, but it smells good. I think those candles made this whole room smell good. There is a chandelier on the ceiling that gives a good mood and makes it even better when, this time, the moonlight sonata piano piece starts to rise. Leaving such a glamorous and divine impression on our surroundings.

The crew left without a word when Saint turned to him as to what happened to him back then. As if it were one of the signals of the grim reaper with me, for him to leave.

"We ate here before, right?" I commented.

"Yeah, I remember."

"Can I ask why here?" I asked gently. He didn't answer right away, but instead pulled me a chair so I could sit down. Then he pulled his chair next to mine and sat next to me.

"That's because this place is special." That was his answer when he sat down.

This place is special. Is it because this is his favourite place to eat?

"You're wrong. This is not because this place is my favourite, but because this place reminds me of heaven, where I came from. " He uttered this while busy serving cutlery and even table napkins on my lap. I want to be fluttered by what he does, but curiosity takes precedence. "Wait, that's when he looked up. Didn't I tell you that this place is only for souls and grim reapers?" Looking at his statement today, my eyes widened. I didn't have to tell him how shocked I was because I knew he could see it through me.

I don't want to be surprised anymore because, after all, it should be normal for me to hear impossible things. But in the very normal environment here, I didn't think it would be another world.

"I'm sorry for not telling you about it back then. So, in order to get back to you, today I will welcome you to the Afterlife Inn." I didn't know that there was anything more surprising besides the contract he gave. I couldn't believe it as I looked around. Saint dubbed this location the "Afterlife Inn." It was the literal meaning, of course!

Damn! Is this what they call purgatory?

"Wait, is this purgatory?" It was there that Saint stopped, and from staring at the cutlery, he looked up again at me. When our eyes met, it was there that he spoke.

"The place we are staying in is less than half the size of the Afterlife Inn. This is where the souls we fetch go. Those souls who are going to heaven for forty days are staying here. While the souls who are going to go to Hell will travel for forty days to reach the destination to which they will be assigned. " There, my eyes widened at the thought of something.

"Saint, doesn't it have to be written in the library of death when a grim reaper has a soul to fetch, like we did the first time?" He nodded. "Then what about those I picked up recently that I didn't report?" It was there that he raised his hand and, one by one, removed a few strands of my hair, blocking my face before speaking.

"I'm the one working on finishing that as I visit here or in hell to talk to the soul you've picked up. That's my duty as the assigned grim reaper; I should reap you up. " With what he said, I couldn’t help but be touched. Because, after all, he was also doing something. There are also those who have been assigned to him.

With that thought, I hugged him, something he seemed to enjoy. "Maybe it's beautiful inside," I stated happily.

"Babe listens, I don't want to visit you here because that only means one thing, and that is that you have to leave me and this world. You won't do that, will you? " At that point, his voice was sad, which is why I hugged him tightly. I want him to feel that he is not alone and that I will not leave him alone. Something that looks like he got.

That heavy conversation had just ended when the food arrived. There we just ate, and sometimes he even teased me, and I did the same to him. After we ate, he even made me dance in the middle. We drank wine and then talked again. He laughed for a while, and so on. We end up going back to Albus's home and lying on the bed naked.

For me, that day was the happiest day of my life. Probably because no more questions were bothering my mind. I already know everything. I was no longer confused and even less worried. Maybe because I am happy in the company of saints, I am happy in the company of my most beloved creature in this world.

The next day, I woke up early. I didn't expect to see Saint next to me because he doesn't usually do that. When I went downstairs, he was also gone, but there was a portion of food ready and a post-it note in the fridge.

'I made breakfast for you. I planned to have breakfast with you, but I have to go reap souls, so I will go to school safely, babe. I love you. '

That is what is written on the post-it note, which has a heart attached after Saint's signature. I couldn't help but feel fluttered. The reason why I bit my lip before taking the post-it note to kiss it: I opened the refrigerator, and there it was: a cold vegetable salad. I was even shocked to see that, because it's only lately that I've been inclined to eat that kind of breakfast, but here he is making me this.

I can't help but think that he's only been following me for the past month. There, I smiled.

When I finished eating, I decided to get dressed for school. It looks like Saint is ready because when I went to the bathroom, I already had clothes ready there. When I looked for my bag, he put a post-it note on the vanity mirror saying that my bag was in the car. He also left the keys there. Now I feel like I have a husband who knows me well and is dependable in all aspects of life.

The fun fact was that Saint seems to be a real human now because he already knows the names of things, just like his post-it note on the dashboard that says I will have the car full tank before I go straight to the Academy. Something I followed because it was early.

After refuelling, I went straight to the academy. The fact that I still enjoy playing the stereo and keeping up with the song unfolds not until my car reaches the crossing. I stopped for a moment because the traffic light turned red, which meant I needed to stop there. Yet I was stunned when I saw Gavin standing sharply on the other end of the road. He wasn't that far away, so I knew he was crying.

I was suddenly nervous and, for a moment, tightened my grip on the steering wheel. I don't know, but right then my eyes started wondering to see Gavin's hand, and there he was holding a death note while looking at me.

At the moment, I swallowed one after another. I seem to have lost my former calm feeling and that has been replaced by anxiety. I knew what was going to happen. I had an idea. I can step back. I could have escaped, but when I saw a rushing track carrying large branches towards the crossing where many people were walking, I seemed to have decided. At that point, I had no fear of my own life. Not with Saint or anyone I love in this lifetime. That day, I didn't know if I was mad or if the screw had come out of my brain because that day I chose to start the stirring wheels to block the track from coming.

"I think I'm going crazy. I'm sorry, Saint. I'm so sorry. I love you, baby. " Those were the last words I said before the track finally hit my car. The impact of that was so strong that the vehicle almost flew away. The window shattered and some glass splashed in my face. My head hit something that caused me to lose consciousness of the world.

During those times, I remembered the death bell ringing when I saw Gavin. Now I realize this is the reason for that. Whether I admit it or not, I know I am at peace knowing that Gavin, not Saint, will bring my soul to the afterlife. Because if it was Saint, it would be harder and more painful.

It was also at this point that I realized that this was probably why I had to live in Hailey’s body. Why do I still have to live? That is to save the people who are here today. And knowing the significance of someone's life is a privilege for me. It's just sad that it seems like the time God has given me is too short to be with Saint. I didn't even have a chance to wake up in his arms for the last time. For the last time, we didn't even eat breakfast. I couldn't even bid goodbye.

"Name: Mary Sean Ivanovich

Age: 21 years old

Cause of Death: Fated Death

Time of Death: 7:42 am. "

My mind was blank and I could only hear that voice of Gavin's. I couldn't feel anything else, but after that, I seemed to be completely out of confinement. That's when I opened my eyes.

Gavin was still shaking. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to say that everything was fine. I accepted my fate and it was okay, but I knew he wouldn't believe it and I would just make myself tired. Besides that, I would make myself feel worse. Even if I force myself to say something, I can't do it. I have no choice but to smile at him to convey that it's okay.

When Gavin finally disappeared from my sight, I knew he wasn't the one who disappeared because it was me. At that point, I couldn’t help but think. Is this true? Am I dead? Is there no hope? The questions were gradually replaced by tears and pleas. I was too unprepared for this to happen. I was shocked.

However, when I woke up again, a gate greeted me. At the top of it, it said "Afterlife Inn." On the inside view, there seems to be a lofty palace at the end. It was so far away that I could barely see it.

However, I couldn’t help but cry sadly. I didn’t expect that after Saint and I talked yesterday about the Afterlife Inn, I would be here early.

When a limousine appeared in front of me and the gate opened, I tried to wipe away my tears because, at that point, those around me seemed to be telling me to accept the things that were happening now. After all, I had no other choice but to accept it.

When the limousine driver came out, he asked me to open the door. In his clothes, he looks like a royal guard. However, like a royal guard, he has no emotions and seems to just move as ordered. I could do nothing but ride and quietly let him drive me wherever he took me. But soon, I saw a very tall palace that seemed infinitely tall, barely beyond my sight. I’m sure that’s what Saint calls the Afterlife Inn, an inn where souls stay for forty days. But to my great surprise, we did not go straight there; instead, the limousine turned towards an underground tunnel. Even before we got inside the tunnel, the car stopped in front of it.

When I looked around, the surroundings were strange as I watched the plants stand tall. There were many fireflies around, and since it was night, it was obvious with so many stars in the sky.

The driver got off, and after that, he opened the door next to me, so I got out of the limousine. However, before I could stand up straight, someone suddenly rushed to hug me.

"Oh god! This is so unfair. You're so unfair, Mary! Why? Why did you do this to me? " I could feel his trembling. I could feel the tears dripping down my shoulder from his eyes. I heard every rattle of his voice as evidence that he was crying now, something I didn’t want. It was only then that I realized he was Saint.

At that point, I cried out loudly, something I had previously declined to do because I didn’t want to think that everything that had happened was unfair. I don't want to blame God again for taking back the life he gave me, because that's the last thing I want to do now. Because I believe the life he gave me has a reason, and whatever happened a while ago is the reason for that. All my life, I've always wondered why someone like me lived just to see all sorts of souls around me. I was perplexed as to why I had seen them, but now I understand.That reason was to land me in the situation earlier and to rescue people who needed to live more than me.

"I'm sorry, Saint. I'm so sorry. I love you. I'm so sorry. " At that point, I could feel Saint's embrace tightening around me. I feel like he doesn’t want to let me go, but no, I have to leave.

That is why, during those times, I chose to hold back my tears again. I chose not to cry in front of him in order to say goodbye to him in the way that I wanted and intended. I am grateful to God for allowing me to bid my goodbye to Saint.

So as much as I could, I forced myself away from him and held his cheek so that we could face each other now. There, I could see how the tears were flowing in his eyes. It hurts so much that I can't stare at it, but it's necessary. I need to leave. I need to leave to fulfill my destiny of death. "Listen to me, Saint."

I forced myself not to cry, and I tried not to make him hear the rattle in my voice, so he wouldn't feel bad anymore. My saint doesn't deserve this kind of pain. Saint is deserving of everything God has to offer, as well as everything the world has to offer. He doesn't deserve to be hurt. He doesn't deserve this pain. "I love you so much, don't forget that. And then, of course, eat right. Don't starve. Always take care of yourself. Don't bully Gavin too much either; he's your only friend. " As I say that, I carefully wipe away the tears dripping from the eyes of my dear grim reaper. Then I forced a smile before I kissed him on the lips. A strong kiss that liberates.

When our lips parted, I still tried not to cry in front of him. I don't want him to see me struggling to make it easier for him to move on, to make it easier for him to set me free. Not because I want it, but because he needs it.

Why are you doing this to me? Why didn't you even say goodbye? I hope you waited for me first. I hope you told me first. Why are you giving me this pain? It's so unfair, Mary. It's so unfair, babe. " My hands trembled as I dropped it on both of his shoulders. I tapped it for a moment before I took a deep breath.

"Saint, I won't be gone forever. But my return will be long. So you take care of yourself. Continue what you started to get back to heaven. We'll meet again in a long time, but I'll wait for you. I will wait for you, my Saint. "

I don't even know what's going on now, but I guess I need to leave. My soul is not like a normal soul. I cannot stay at the Afterlife Inn because I am the guardian of souls and I have the ability to free the souls here if I wish from the hand of this mysterious inn. And that thing will ruin the design of death.

"Why do you seem so ready? How about me, Mary? I'm not ready for this. You didn't prepare me! I didn't know it was going to happen! I didn't expect it! Don't leave me! I beg you!" He begged, but at that moment, I had already accepted my fate and that I had to leave him. Because I am not part of this world anymore. My duty is done.

"Don't forget that. I love you so much. But I have to leave. I need to leave you. It'll be a while before we meet again, but I'll be back. We'll see each other again, and then maybe we can be together again. We can love and do what we want. If this time is not for us, next time it will be for us. " After I let go of those words, I walked away from him and started walking into the underground tunnel. Before I could get away, Gavin approached me. I did not expect that he was already here.

As he approached me, he gave me a flower, a white flower. I saw that he was crying too. Gavin was also crying in front of me, and his hand was shaking when he handed me a flower.

"I pray for your peaceful journey, guardian of the soul. This is so unexpected, but I want to say "see you soon." When he said that, I smiled at him. After that, I turned my gaze to Saint, who could barely move from where he was standing as he stared at me.

At that point, I decided to not make him see the pain I was feeling right now. So, I raised my hand to wave at him. In that way, I want to convey my moment of farewell and love, which I will leave to him and bury for me, so that the next time we meet, I will remember that I once loved a grim reaper and he loved me too.

After that, I turned my back on him, and there, I realized that human life does not end with death. Death is not an end but a new beginning with the hope that one day people who are separated by life and death will meet again.