Natalie looked around her, scanning the dimly lit room. It felt comforting and nostalgic, vaguely familiar despite the fact she had never set foot here before. She had no recollection how she even found herself here.

The room appeared to be a gymnasium elaborately decorated for a high-school reunion, right down to the punch bowl. Except, the room was easily 5 times as large as a standard gym hall, with space for maybe 100 tables.

Natalie was so busy looking around the room itself, she paid no attention to any individual faces. That was, until her best friend, Holly, caught her attention with a wave. Feeling happy to recognise a familiar face, Natalie made her way over to the table where Holly was sitting.

‘Hey, what on Earth is going on?!’ Natalie enquired. ‘Where is this place?’ With a sincere look, Holly replied ‘This is the first step into the afterlife. Believe it or not, you’re dead right now’.

Before Natalie could reprimand Holly for the distasteful joke, she suddenly realised her last memory was helplessly watching a car head right for her. It was as if this jogged her memory. ‘Look around’ Holly said, noticing Natalie still wore an expression of incredulity. ‘Notice any lost loved ones here?’

Natalie’s jaw dropped as she scanned the room. Old relatives long dead, chatting happily amongst each other. Most gave frequent smiles in her direction, indicating a readiness to chat without wanting to overwhelm her. But this had to be everyone she had ever really known, most of whom were still alive.

Holly was kind enough to fill Natalie in on the details. It may have felt instantaneous, but this moment had waited until the very last person Natalie knew had died. Yet here they were, as she remembered them.

‘So it’s a party for me?’ Natalie asked. ‘Pretty much’ Holly replied. ‘No one remembers their own reunion until all the reunions they attend are complete, but it all follows the same pattern. You have a chance to enjoy some food and drinks, have some catch ups, then the show starts’.

Seeing the confusion on Natalie’s face, Holly elaborated, pointing towards the stage. ‘See that big screen? It shows a sort of highlight reel of your life. Your best bits, your worst bits. It’s faultlessly impartial but brutally honest. Then, everyone here casts a vote. Do you deserve to move on to heaven, or go to hell. You should go catch up with some other people before it starts’.

Natalie stayed put, feeling too ashamed to mingle. Instead, she prayed the guests would be in a forgiving mood.