Is there life after death? For as many people who ask that question, there are as many answers. And to some, it even depends on what you mean by the word life. Will I even be the same person after I die? If I'm alive, but different, is that life after death? Will I remember who I am? And if I don't, is it still life after death? Such easy questions to ask, without easy answers. I have to admit, it's not one I thought about all that much either. That is, before I had to. I'm not exactly the deepest thinker in the world. I'm not the ditz that people think I am either, but let's face it--death is a pretty sobering topic to think about. I preferred to have happier thoughts of, oh, say the mall... And ironically enough, it was a trip to the mall that in the end, forced me to concentrate on this subject after all. It happened like this. It was a warm summer day--okay, make that a sweltering summer day--and I had decided that there was obviously no cooler place to be (in both definitions of the word 'cool') than in an air- conditioned mall, licking an ice cream cone as I window-shopped. But, I should have known the day was going to turn weird the instant I saw *him.* He was standing on the sidewalk, waiting for the 'walk' signal to flash so he could cross to the other side. It would figure that *he* would have to be going in the same direction as I was. I guess I could have avoided him, but that would have added two extra blocks to my route, and as anyone who knows me would tell you, that would be too much work. I always take the easiest way to do things. (I'm not being lazy, just efficient!) Anyway, I could handle a little aggravation for a few moments if it saved me ten extra minutes. I could even put up with *him.* He, in case you were wondering, is Mamoru Chiba. He's this university student who for some odd reason takes a perverse pleasure in insulting me. One of his favorite things to tease me about is how much more mature he is than me. I want to know, if he's so mature, then why bother picking on a girl six years younger than he is? Okay, I've got to admit, that my friend Naru thinks it's so cool that a hot older guy is "flirting" with me. And okay, so I've also got to admit that he *is* rather cute. Problem is, he knows it too. That day I had no other choice but to run into him (no, not literally! Sheesh, have a little faith in me, why don't you?) I resigned myself to my fate and walked up and stood near him, but didn't look in his direction, hoping that if I pretended not to see him, then he wouldn't see me. Or at least not talk to me. No such luck. "Oh, it's you." The man had a way with words. "Love the nickname," I said sarcastically. " 'You' was my parent's second choice for a name, but unfortunately for *you*, they settled for Usagi. Might be nice for *you* to use it sometime." "So Odonga Atama is feisty today," he smirked. "If I were you I'd rethink those buns. They're way eighties." "If I were you I'd rethink that jacket!" I retorted. "As if you were one to speak of fashion sense. That is the ugliest shade of green I have ever seen." "Chartreuse. The color is chartreuse," he told me arrogantly. I could see him getting amused at my annoyance, and this only served to annoy me more. "Oh, excuse me, I haven't been researching my Crayolas lately," I said. "Then here's one for you: fire engine red. That would be the color of all the F's that you get on your homework papers," he taunted. At this point I was SEEING fire engine red. "Why you..." I started but was interrupted. "Hey lovebirds, the light is green now," some pedestrian said from behind us. "And that would be the primary color green, not chartreuse," he said sarcastically as he pushed his way past us. He was grumbling as he walked away. Mamoru and I stared at his form for a moment as he walked past, and then we both started snickering. Us? Lovebirds? That guy better not be trying to make a living as a psychic. As if I would ever go out with Mamoru! "Well, love, shall I escort you across?" he jokingly held out a chartruese-colored sleeve to me. "Oh, puh-lease. I can walk by myself," I said, turning my nose up at the offer. My tone was light as well though. The funny pedestrian had given us a shared moment of merriment. Imagine that...me sharing something with Mamoru. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. We started across the crossing walk side by side. "Well that's a surprise. Considering how many times you've tripped into me, I wouldn't have known," he teased. "I am not that clumsy!" I said. Famous last words. Almost the instant they were out of my mouth, my feet managed to find the one loose stone in the pavement and I promptly stumbled over it. Mamoru had the nerve to laugh out loud at this. "Oh, really? I can see the headlines now: Medical oddity discovered. Local girl only known person born with two left feet." "Shut up!" I told him, then hurried to catch up, as he had kept walking and was now a few steps ahead of me. This is where everything starts to run together for me. I remember seeing Mamoru open his mouth in reply, but not hearing the words because of the loud squeal that came from just down the street. We both looked in shock to see someone in a black BMW come roaring down the street. With a numb mind I realized, as Mamoru must have too, that it was heading straight for us. In an instant I knew two things. One was that I would never be able to avoid it. The other was that Mamoru, even considering the distance between us was slight, was just far enough ahead of me that he could get away--if he didn't try pulling any heroics. I reacted on pure instinct as he was turning towards me, probably in a futile attempt to save me. I darted forward and pushed him to the other side. Hard. I remember his cry as he stumbled forward...backwards?...in any case, away from the car, to the other of the street. It contained surprise, anger...anguish? Everything happened so fast, it was hard to tell. I remember actually being able to *see* the fear in his eyes and wondering if mine looked the same. And then I was hit. The only thing I felt before impact was a brief feeling of relief and satisfaction that he was in fact safe. Then there was an instantaneous flash of pain so great that this was the last thing I remembered before I blacked out. And then I remembered nothing.