Emerald Lounge

The green was bright enough to blind those who walked inside. Naoko had to shield his eyes when the light hit just right.

"Gah!" he complained.

"I'm sorry, too bright?" a voice asked. The mouse boy nodded.

"Hold on," the voice said. The lights dimmed around him. Naoko lowered his hand.

“Better?” the voice asked.

“Yes,” Naoko said. Smaller lights lit overhead. A middle-aged woman in a long green dress walked down the stairs with her arms outstretched.

“Welcome to the Emerald Lounge!” she said. “You have arrived just in time for the Fall festivities.” Naoko gave her a strange look.

“Fall festivities?” he asked. “It doesn’t feel like it.”

“Time does not exist in this Heaven,” the woman said. “Seasons switch whenever they want.” She made her way down the stairs towards the mouse boy.

“So, what are you here for?” the woman asked. “Pleasure or travel?” She put her arms around his neck.

“Travel,” Naoko said. The woman smiled.

“Where’s your destination?” she asked.

“To the Sapphire bar.”

“That’s going to take you three days for you to get there.” The woman let go of his neck. “For now, why don’t you come inside and enjoy the lounge for now.” Naoko shrugged his shoulders.

“Why not?” he asked. “Uh…”

“Call me Helen,” the woman said.

“My name’s Naoko,” the mouse boy said. Helen took him by the hand and led him up the stairs.

“So, where exactly are you trying to go?” she asked.

“Center top of the Heaven,” Naoko said. Helen whistled.

“You have quite a ways to go,” she said. “I would say that you’d make it to the center top in about… a month, maybe?” The mouse boy tilted his head.

“I thought you said time doesn’t exist in this Heaven,” he said.

“Once you are startled in permanently it ceases to exist,” his new guide said. “Did you know that humans used to have two heads, four arms, and four legs?”

“No.”

“They were so powerful that Zeus and the other gods feared them. So, he broke the humans apart and cursed them to wander the earth until they find their better half. In a way, this Heaven is a way for the departed souls to wander until they are reunited with their mates.”

“I see.”

Helen looked him in the eye. “You’ll reunite with your love soon. I can feel it.”

“Thanks. And what about you?”

He guide broke into a warm smile. “My husband is due here tonight. I will meet him at the Autumn Ball.”

“The Autumn Ball?”

“Precisely.” The middle-aged woman looked him up and down. “How long have you been dressed in those clothes?”

“Uh… I don’t know,” Naoko said. Helen waved him off.

“Never mind,” she said. “Once we get inside, we will get you dressed in better clothes.” Naoko nervously laughed.

“Okay…” he mumbled. Helen put out her hand and pushed open the door. More bright green shined through.