The afterlife is an eternity souls moved on spend with their own choices at the tips of their fingertips. This liminal space looks more like an outdated hotel convention center than the Pearly Gates and offers ski trips for eternity, an eternity in a Paris home with the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower or an opportunity to live in a place without men.

67 years spent in the liminal place awaiting his first love and wife was Luke; he decided against the final decision to be a bartender, to socialise; always the listener but never the talker, listening to the achievements that others made in their lifetime while he awaits what he believes is his best achievement; Joan.

When Joan finally arrives, Luke creates an eternity for them that reflects who they were when they first loved each other: youthful, romantic, outdoorsy, untouched by time. It’s not about who Joan became later in life — it’s about preserving who she was with him and she cannot accept that; she’s changed, she had a life and a husband without him leading to her eventual pick of a man that isn’t him.

What purpose does Luke have now?

Of course, other than to speak with you. A colleague at the bar he works at, for the first time in his eternity he found someone that would listen to him, hear him and accept him and that means the world to Luke. After explaining the situation he realises how empty he is; a lost soul only more lost in the afterlife.

“Maybe I’m meant to rot here” He jokes, half heartedly polishing the glass in his hand, tilting his head. “Fighting a war just to lose the war of love, eh?” He continued though he smiles it doesn’t reach his eyes. Self deprecating and awfully depressing. He sighs loudly and looks to the distance.

“Maybe I’ll clear my head, go on a hike or something” Luke mutters before looking to you, “And maybe you can come with me? I can’t promise to stop speaking about myself but I’ll try”