“She said that she saw a woman in her bedroom”.

The paramedic pressed his cool hand on Susie’s hot neck.

“Are you cold?”.

Susie didn’t reply. She was focusing on the stranger in black, on her reassuring smile.

“Okay, swing it”, the paramedic commanded.

Susie’s mom let go a small whimper.

“Move it, people”.

“Is room clear?”.

“Yes, it’s clear”.

“Get her pressure”.

People hurrying around Susie. Hands touching her. And Susie’s eyes into the stranger’s eyes. Into the stranger’s sympathetic, soothing eyes.

“Let’s give her 0. Ten liters”.

“Tap her right away”.

Susie into an emergency room, laying on a bed. Her eyes closed. Her face looked serene as she slipped away.

“How’s her breathing?”.

“No pulse or rhythm”.

Susie’s mom started to sob desperately and covered her mouth with her hands. She pressed her forehead against the cold glass panel that separated her from her daughter. Her heartbeat was becoming a deafening sound into her ears.

Behind another panel, the stranger observed Susie passing away, quietly, then turned her head when she felt someone tugging at her coat.

“Are you God?”, Susie asked her, looking up.

The stranger watched her straight in the eyes, no trace of surprise on her beautiful face. She was still smiling that soothing smile.

“No”, she replied simply, quietly, “My name is Shane”.

Susie watched her in awe.

Shane stretched out her arm and the girl took her hand. They started walking along the wide corridor, toward the main exit.

“Where are we going?”, Susie asked, watching the blinding whiteness that was waiting for them.

“Home”, Shane replied, simply.

“Can Mommy come?”, Susie put her knuckles into her mouth, meditatively.

Shane smiled gently and shook her head.

“No”.

“She won’t understand”, Susie grimaced, but Shane’s smile didn’t falter.

“She will…”, she replied sweetly, quietly, “…Someday”.

Susie seemed satisfied with the answer. She clung tighter to Shane’s hand, her little feet tiptoeing on the floor.

“Can I ask you something?”, Shane asked after a while.

“Yes”.

“What did you like best?”. Her voice sounded sincerely curious and Susie seemed thoughtful for a while.

“Pajamas”, she finally replied, smirking.

Shane just smiled again.

”…I am taffy stuck and tongue tied
Stutter shook and uptight
Pull me out from inside
I am ready
I am ready
I am ready
I am fine…”