A Wish
The Supervisor

“I’m not Stein...” He said.

Lisa and Luke felt their hearts shatter to pieces. Lisafirst went to grab ‘Stein’ by the shoulders, “You ARE Stein!” She said,emphasizing the being. She stared into his eyes, “You were out for five monthsremember?”

‘Stein’ shook his head in rejection of the idea, “If memoryserves me right, I should be out for ten years...” He pointed at Lisa, “Youwere just fifteen when I last saw you... You were so reserved.”

Lisa just feverishly shook her head, “There’s nothing funny,Stein.”

“If anything, my name is Grim.” He said with a sense offinality.

Luke then approached ‘Stein’ claiming to be as Grim. Lukegave him a stern look of dismay, “Don’t play nasty games with us, Stein. We’renot laughing.”

“And I’m not joking.” ‘Stein’ replied. He went down thestairs then looked up to the other two, “Stein chased after the little miss.”

“Little miss..?” Luke echoed. He made eye contact with Lisathen nodded in synch with one another. Stein never called Risette ‘littlemiss’. It was always Risette and nothing more than that, but, “Did Stein evercall on Risette..?”

Lisa shrugged, “I don’t know how many times but yes.”

“He called her by her name just eleven times.” He said. Heshowed his fingers one by one eliminating them as he enumerated those timesStein called Risette by her name, “One was when he first met the girl. Secondwas when he knew that Risette wanted death. Third, fourth and fifth was when heran after the girl when she learned something from him. Sixth was when hethought she was coming for a visit. Seventh was when he learned that she wasabducted. Eight was when he wanted to rescue her. Ninth when he knew that shewas in pain. Tenth was when he saw her being misunderstood. Eleventh was whenhe called for her for the last time.”

For the last part, he just hid his hands. He shook his headupon remembering Stein being broken more than ever, “Stein just happened todraw the short straw.” He looked around then sighed in dismay, “It’s not hisfault though.”

“So you’re saying you’re Grim.”

He nodded, “Yes.” Then he placed his hands on his chest,“This is not my body though...”

Luke and Lisa went down the stairs and joined Grim at theground floor. Luke gathered the courage to ask Grim that one particularquestion, “What happened to Stein?”

Grim darkly chuckled as he slumped at his favourite leathercouch. He heard it creak but not to the extent like when he was in his largeold man body. He wanted to run away from the question but given the look ofthese two, there was no room for changing the subject. He sighed, “Gone.”

Lisa wanted to charge at that person if not for Luke holdingher back, “You better give us a damn good explanation, Grim.” She dangerouslyhissed.

Grim fixed his place on the leather couch then raised hishands defensively, “I can’t! One moment I was in the afterlife I blinked then Ifound myself here!” Grim maintained eye contact with Lisa, “Stein never got outfrom the second floor... I think...”

“LIES!” Lisa shouted.

“I’m telling the TRUTH!” Grim shouted back.

The earth suddenly rumbled for a brief moment.

Everyone was silent for a while. Luke gave a worried lookover at Grim, “You are in the supervisor’s body. You need to control youremotions.”

Grim gathered a great deal of air then exhaled, “I’msorry...” He then went back to the topic at hand, “Stein was depressed when hecame back to the afterlife... He couldn’t do his functions properly. Hecouldn’t even eat. I couldn’t talk tohim.” He shook his head as he ran a hand across his hair, “Someone tipped thebalance inside Stein. He couldn’t become the person he used to be anymore.”

“That’s not anyone’s fault!” Lisa started, “Everyonesuddenly changes for the sake of another!”

“I’m not saying someone was there to take the blame...” Grimsighed once more, “I’m just saying that the impact was too great for someonewho attained something for the first time.”

“Stein got the heart and that was the second time.” Lukepointed out.

“No. Not the heart, but the feel of intense emotions gushingin all at the same time.” Grim said as he softly pointed one finger up to provehis point, “I know what happens in his outside life because I was there tolisten every time... But not this time. Everything happened like a landslideand he wasn’t able to take his stand as he got swept along by the force.”

“H—how did you even manage to stay there?” Lisa asked, “Howdid you manage to stay in that afterlife?”

Grim pointed at the door, “I chose to stay rather than toexplore what was outside.”

“Wha—What are you saying?” Luke stammered as he got confusedby the gesture.

“When you die...” Grim said as he looked into Luke’s eyes,“You will wake up in this house. Stein will tell you that you went unconsciousso the people brought you here. He will say that they are waiting for yououtside. He’s going to open the door.” It was as though Grim was watching ithappen before his eyes as he went into a trance, “He will show you out... Theoutside was all light so you won’t know unless you go outside... You’ll seeStein’s hands shiver even though he looked stoic and emotionless. The dead goesout and thanks Stein...” Grim bit his lip for a few seconds before continuing,“Stein accepts the gratitude then urges the dead to go outside... As Steincloses the door, he would always look so broken even though it was just someonehe had barely met...”

Grim shook his head in dismay and clutched his head, “Hedidn’t want the other person to leave just yet.” He said as he let out a bitterchuckle, “He was lonely...” He breathed out. He covered his face as though tohide his current emotions, “He wanted company...” It was barely audible butthey managed to hear it. He darkly chuckled, “This old man understands becausehe was there to witness it... That’s why I never left.”

The remaining two went speechless. Lisa suddenly felt a hardrealization as one idea flashed across her mind, “How long has been Steinalive..?” She slowly asked, feeling that she might not be able to take in theanswer.

“I remember Stein saying that... he was—” Grim coughed intohis fist to hide the sudden change of tone, “He was there long before he couldremember.”

Lisa gasped then felt weak to the knees. She felt like shestabbed someone while she didn’t have the right, “STEIN!! I’M SO SORRY! I NEVERHAD THE RIGHT! I NEVER HAD THE RIGHT!” She wailed out, “I’m so sorry I’ve saidsomething horrible to you!” Their previous conversation flashed before hereyes.

“Aging and growing oldare beautiful things. There is no point in living for a long time with noobjectives in mind. There is a reason to why we have functions within our lifespan.”

“You don’t have the right to say that to me! Idon’t want to hear those words coming from a puppet! You speak of life spansbut you, yourself, don’t have that! Don’t speak as though you know theimportance of life!”

“I know. I stay hereto watch others go ahead. I stay here and watch creatures go ahead of me. Iremember every people who used to come here but time tells them to pack up.Time does not exist for someone created by the hands of another person. Ifdeath was offered to me, I would probably welcome it with open arms. While youare here wishing to have your life extended, others are constantly wishing thatthey die the moment they sleep...”

She shut her eyes closed and covered her ears ever sotightly. She was regretting the harsh words she had said to Stein. Sheshouldn’t have said something so foolish since she didn’t know anything aboutStein yet she said out something not worthy coming out of her. Stein was sayingthose set of words out of experience and not out of anything else. It wasn’tjust a lesson for her. It was a wish that Stein had been longing for. Lisa frustratinglyshook her head, “I’m such a horrible person.” She let out a deep exhale, “Ithought that he owes me... but it was the opposite! I owe him..!”

Luke crutched down to comfort Lisa. He looked just as painedas her since he also owes a great deal from Stein.

“Stein probably had too many painful encounters, so hedecided to kill off his own heart...” Grim commented. He tangled his fingerstogether then put them in front of his face, “He may have forgotten but whoknows? It’s all a theory.” Grim was awfully bitter with every words that hereleased.

“Are you sure Stein never left the second floor..?” Lukesuddenly doubted.

“No...” Grim whispered out, “I-I told you...” He stammered,“I blinked then I found myself here.”

“How does Stein go back to the afterlife?” Lisa asked stilla bit jumpy right after her short breakdown.

“I don’t know. All I know is that he appears at unexpectedtimes, so I can’t exactly say how...” Grim instantly replied, shaking his headin confusion as he started thinking of ways to get back to the afterlife.

Luke suddenly though of an idea, “Hey... Were there timesthat Stein would suddenly disappear on you..?”

Grim nodded, “Y... Yeah.. sometimes—there was one time thathe kept disappearing on me every thirty minutes...” He suddenly remembered, “Icouldn’t get a good conversation with him that time...”

“That’s it!” Luke exclaimed. Lisa and Grim gave questioninglooks over to Luke who just grinned like an idiot for the idea that he hadthought, “I was bothering his sleep that time so perhaps it was when he wassleeping!!”

“That’s a good idea, let’s try that!” Lisa commended as shegave Grim a knowing look, “I’ll put you to sleep.” She said with a tint ofamusement in her voice.

Grim raised his hands defensively, How did you switch from gloomy to happy?! He mentally asked—butthat wasn’t the point! “I’ll sleep! Don’t punch!” Grim said with a stern voiceand finality.

Lisa clicked her tongue in disappointment and let Grim dowhatever he was going to do.

Grim comfortable sat on his leather chair then closed hiseyes.

It wasn’t even a minute that he escaped his mind.

...

...

Grim found himself in his favourite leather couch. He lookedat his hands and saw that it was fat and hairy.

This was his body.

He stood up, surprised that it actually worked. Lisa andLuke weren’t anywhere to be seen. It was just him and Stein—supposedly. He looked around if it wasthe actual place of the afterlife. After confirming, he headed for the secondfloor. With every step he took equalled to an annoying creak made by the wood.Grim had to cover his ears at the noisiness it was bringing.

He gently opened the door and found that Stein was stillthere, looking outside at nothingness.

“Do you like it out there..?” Stein started, not looking atGrim who had a pained face.

“It’s nice...” Grim answered back, not so sure how toproperly respond to Stein’s level of gloominess, “Lisa and Luke are worried foryou...”

Stein remained idle, “I gave you the link to my body. I feelhopeless...”

Grim sighed, “Hey... come on... take a walk outside orsomething. Just so you can clear your mind.”

Stein gave a short rejection, “Don’t want to. I don’t needto.” He was practically whispering out all his words but the silence managed toamplify his voice. Stein slightly tilted his head up, “She had such an impacton me...” He started, “I was taken in by her light. I just kept following,wondering where such an energetic light would take me...” He sighed, “I neverknew...”

Grim managed to show a small smile even though he knows thatStein wasn’t looking, “You like her.”

“Just from seeing smile... I kept falling—then I realizedthat it was a signal for the heart. But I didn’t have a heart that time, so thesignal just fell—then I fell. It’sfunny because—” Stein felt like choking, “Becauseif I just knew, then I could’ve prevented this from happening... If I wasunconscious back then, I could’ve stopped her from going out that door! Shecould’ve stayed! I should have known!”

“But you don’t...” Grim said, partially guilty for being soblunt.

“THAT’S WHY!!” Stein exploded. He stood up and gave Grim abrief glare. Right after that, he mellowed out, “I didn’t know what wouldhappen next...” He gave Grim a helpless look, “I want to chase her, Grim..! ButI can’t leave this place alone... Not when I know that the ones who would wakeup would feel so abandoned when they wake up to this situation.” He shook hishead in utter dismay, “This is what I feel every time I wake up in this realm.I never sleep. I just keep waking up in different dimensions. Try doing itsometimes...”

Grim just shrugged his shoulders, “I already did. Justnow...”

Stein shook his head in denial of the thought, “No. You knewthat there was someone was waiting for you on the other side. You should trywaking up alone in a place where only you are the one in the area. Try wakingup and one day you’ll understand that waking up is the worst nightmare of yourlife.”

Grim wanted to retort but no words came out, “I can’t sayanything good out of this. And I can’t say that I understand your pain since Inever encountered it. But someone who’s as understanding as you should deservehis own happiness.” He didn’t want to say anything but Stein was a friend inneed. He wanted him to be happy. Grim put his hands on his hips, “This old mancan handle it.”

Stein shook his head again, “Not when you have a heart.”

“I can.” Grim said, “Please trust me.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you... It’s more of I amworried for you.” Stein said in defence, “You can’t stay here unless you giveup your heart.”

“Yes I can, Stein. I’m different from you...” Grim startedas he walked forward to Stein, “You never extended your hand for help. Unlikeme, I bothered you to take me under your wing.”

“You’re saying a big mistake, Grim!” Stein said in defenceas he backed away from Grim, “I never wanted connections. It hurts to seepeople go ahead of you. It hurts even more when you have a deep connection withthe other person! Why can’t you see that Grim?!” he shouted out.

“Because I chose not to. I know. It hurts to see someone soclose die. It hurts even more when you know that you’ll never see them again. Iwant you to be happy, Stein! I don’t want to see you pushing yourself down waydeep into a pit of despair. That’s not you!” Grim shouted back grasping Steinby the shoulders, “Right now, you need help and I can only push you to youronly answer.” He gave Stein a stern look, “And that’s going out.”

“No..!” Stein shakily breathed out, “You’ll be left alone.”

“Don’t worry.” Grim managed to blurt out, “This old man canmake a company of his own. Right now, you need someone else’s company and notmine.” He forcefully dragged Stein out of his room and down to the groundfloor.

Stein was practically forcing his way out of Grim’s grip butthe old man was far too strong in terms of physical strength. Stein tried tomake the progress slower as he pressed his feet on the ground. Grim sighed thenproceeded to carrying Stein like a sack of potatoes.

“Nonononono!! Please stop Grim! I don’t need to go out!”

Grim just huffed and shook his head, “No. This old man saysyou need to go out.”

“Grim! Please no!!” Stein uncharacteristically shouted.

“This is your only chance, Stein.” Grim exclaimed. He putdown Stein then rotated him so he could face the door, “In the next world,you’re categorized as an ancient spirit. Remember that time you told me that?”

“Yes but—”

“You go out there, and you’ll see that there is more to lifethan just being bound inside the four corners of this room.” Grim lectured. Hecan see Stein’s hesitations. He was sure that Stein wanted to go outside but hewas such a worry-wart for Grim the old man. Grim showed a toothy grin, “You’renot supposed to waste your youth.” He patted Stein by the shoulders again,“You’re supposed to cherish it.”

“Grim—”

“You are special—everyone is! But you have a spirit moreunderstanding than anyone can attain. You, my friend, are a treasure. Atreasure that does not shine is not a treasure but an abandoned property.” Grimsaid to shut Stein up, “I don’t what’s going to happen next, but for now thinkof chasing that girl.”

Grim went past Stein, smoothly evading Stein’s hand that wassupposed to stop him from going to the door. Grim just smiled at Stein, heopened the door. Light came from the outside.

Grim started to shake under his emotions. He just kept thesmile for Stein’s sake.

Of course, Stein knew this routine. He did this every timesomeone died.

Grim was turning red, and Stein was starting to feel itagain. Grim grinned and let the tears roll down as he squinted his eyes,“Everyone’s waiting for you outside.”

Stein shook his head, “Don’t make me do this..!”

“Just do it...” Grim mouthed.

Stein bowed his head then covered his face, “Thank you somuch..!”

Grim nodded to the gesture, “This is nothing. You should gonow... They’re probably waiting...” His voice was quivering and choking as hewatched Stein take his timid steps to the door.

Stein paused on his tracks as he was a few centimetres awayfrom the outside. He grabbed Grim and gave him a tight hug, “I was thinking ofthrowing you out instead... but you beat me to it...” Stein whispered as hegave Grim a reassuring pat at the back. He chuckled then Grim also chuckled.Grim saw tears roll out of Stein’s eyes.

“This old man is going to miss you...” Grim said.

“Me too...”

Stein moved towards the light outside. He was slowly beingengulfed by the light.

Then Stein’s silhouette couldn’t be seen anymore.

Grim slowly closed the door. He clenched his chest thenlaughed in pity for himself, “I wasn’t ready for that...”

...

...

Grim woke up and felt the worst headache he had ever had. Hefelt gloomy, knowing that his old friend went out to go to the new realmwaiting for him. He saw that Lisa and Luke were sleeping over at the vacantseats. He chuckled to himself. He produced blankets out of thin air thencovered the two with it.

He saw the gentle, sleeping faces of the two. Love knows nobounds perhaps. He looked at the window and found out that it was already deadof the night.

Was it really that long?

He sighed then knowingly smiled. He was just content thathis old friend was finally looking for his happiness and not the other’s.

“Hmmm...”

Grim turned around and saw Lisa shuffle in her place. Shelooked troubled for one moment then mellowed out the moment Luke’s hand managedto hold a firm reassuring grip on her. He just smiled at the little wonders.

In any case, it was silent. So silent, that he felt likethere was nothing to do.

At least, this place had company compared to the other.

“Hmm... Stei—no—Grim..?” Luke said as he got up from hisposition, partially blushing as he found his hand on Lisa’s body, “Whathappened..?”

Grim let out a knowing smile, “Stein was gone... It seemslike he wanted to replace happiness...”

“I see...” Luke dumbly commented. He gently nudged Lisaawake to have her hear the news while it was fresh.

“Hey...” Lisa groggily said as she rubbed her eyes followedby a yawn, “Stei—No—Grim..?” she fixed herself as she sat up straight, “Whathappened..?”

Grim just repeated his words, “Stein was gone... It seemslike he wanted to replace happiness...”

Lisa just nodded, “So he wants happiness...” She said as shelooked at Grim, “How did that happen..?”

Grim turned gloomy as he looked at the side, “I actuallytold him to replace it...” He said, “I don’t feel guilty. I just feel sad for himand his state...” He looked at Lisa and Luke who both looked like wanting tohear more. Grim let out an uneasy chuckle, “He was such a worry-wart. I knowthat I’m old and I know that I’ll be left alone but he just couldn’t think ofhis own happiness.” He said. He scratched his head, “I tried to tell him offbut the words kept flinging back at me. He knows it best. He was the supervisorafter all. So I practically told him that he should replace his own happiness,even if it meant casting off his burdens, duties, and other responsibilities tosomeone else. And guess what?” Grim fiddled with the ends of his jacket, “... Igladly offered myself.”

“Then what about Stein??” Lisa blurted out, “He’s notsupposed to die! He told that himself!”

“It’s because the world would instantly crumble if he diddie.” Grim replied as he looked at the ground, “It was actually him and thefeeling of desperation. He actually wanted to die but his sense of duty stoppedhim from doing so...” He opened his palms then stared at it with great wonder,“It was like... he was the first person to die, and he didn’t know that he wasjust supposed to go outside... so he assumed. Until time ate him away.... ultimately forgetting that he wassupposed to go outside. His time in the afterlife became a link. Thus he becamethe supervisor...” He put the palm on his face then shook his head dejectedly,“This is so weird! The history of the supervisor suddenly flashed in mymind...”

Grim looked so frustrated at the information going insidehis head. He darkly chuckled to himself upon receiving information, “I can’tbeat Stein..! I think I already lost the moment I became the supervisor...”

“Why?” Luke asked.

Grim darkly chuckled once more, “Stein was alive for nearlythirty-five thousand years. No one wants to live that long..!”

“You can just pass it to another person...” Lisa suggested.

Grim cringed, “Can’t...”

“Why?!”

“I need to surpass his thirty-four thousand, six hundred,fifty-two years of existence.”