Crossing Over || Self Para
Princeton sat up and looked around. He must have been in Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. That’s what it looked like except completely barren and oddly clean. He got to his feet and noticed his entire suit was white. “Princeton?” He looked around and in the distance saw a figure approach him. “It is you, Honey,” Grandma Charming came into view and reached a hand out to her only grandson.
“Why am I here?” He asked. “What is here?”
“You’re dead,” she answered plainly. Clearly, frankness was a Charming trait. “Such a shame. You are so handsome,” she reached and cupped his cheek. “Just like your father except you have your mother’s smile. Come, sit. I’m dead but I’m still old.”
They walked over to a set of wooden benches that matched the monochromatic motif of the entire station. “You say I’m dead. Are you here to get me?”
“I don’t get a chance to go back?”
“But I just got married. We had plans. We were going to-” Princeton sighed as tears streamed down his face.
“I’m sorry. Death waits for no one,” she rubbed his shoulder and soothed his pain.
“How did I die?” He looked at his grandmother with tears still in his eyes.
“Poison. One of the people that were hurt by your father and your cousin. My son, the fool. I had high hopes for you,” she patted his thigh.
“Grandmother,” he tried to dry his eyes, “what about Malena?”
“You can be the one to come and collect her when it’s her day.”
“When is that?” He asked with a worried tone.
“Don’t worry. It’s not right now.” She smiled sweetly as she stood up. “Okay,” she exhaled. “Princeton, we should get moving. I was in the middle of a cribbage game with your grandfather.”
Princeton didn’t want to leave. He wanted to go back and hold Malena. He wanted their seven kids. He wanted their Hamptons house and sailing in the summer. He wanted to watch her grow old and love her just the same as when he first met her. But he had to. He was dead.
