[ WP ] You wake up to find yourself sitting in a luxurious theatre next to your beloved relatives that have recently passed away . You notice a relatively large sign behind you that says `` The life of ( your name ) , ( birth year ) -2016 '' .

`` I did not think to see you again so soon, son. ``, a familiar voice said as I slowly opened my eyes. Rubbing them lazily and yawning I tried to recall the little bits and pieces of last night that I had n't drunk out of my memory. The pulsing pain in my head was a good indicator of how little that would be. 
 
 `` It's a shame, really, I mean you could...'' 
 
 `` As if you are in a position to judge, Jerry! ``, someone interrupted. 
 
 He was an alcoholic and in the end he did n't care much about anything except getting his fix. But the death of my father still threw me off balance. I felt devastated and at the same time relieved and guilty for it. The duties weighed heavy on me; organizing the funeral, taking care of his belongings, arguing what should happen to the house and most of all having to beg my boss for a few days off. He made it very clear, that I did n't need to show up at all if I missed the meeting on Monday. 
 I remember hitting the bars with Jim and Jack, trying to forget the mess of a life that this past week left me with. Just one evening without tears, without the pain. I needed to breath again and what better therapy than loosing control. 
 
 `` We all tried to escape reality once, one way or the other. Maybe after watching this you will understand how he felt.'' She did n't sound angry. Her words were soft and warm and conveyed an indescribable sadness. 
 
 Slowly realizing that I was definitely not in my bed waking up with a tremendous hangover, I looked around for the first time and froze in confusion. The room was big and dimly lit. What a second ago felt like it might be the backseat of a car I passed out in, was in fact a movie theater. The people sitting next to me and watching me with a strange mixture of love and defeat were my recently deceased dad and my beloved grandma. The woman that raised me far better than my parents. 
 
 Stunned I remembered all the holiday trips she took me on. All the times she picked me up from school and surprised me with banana and chocolate ice cream, my favorite. I got painfully reminded of the only time she was ever defeated, by I an unseen enemy even modern medicine was n't strong enough to beat. In retrospect I understand, that that was the day my dad's downfall started. Well now, after all I had to deal with I can hardly blame him anymore. 
 
 Throat dry and mind blank I stared at them. Their eyes spoke of grief and resignation, of sorrow and of shame in feeling joy upon being reunited. Without a single word I understood. I had joined them. I did n't escape my broken life for a night, but forever. Tiny tears trickling down my cheek I remembered how I did n't get into the backseat and then a blinding light, a crash. So fast I did n't even feel pain. 
 
 `` It's okay, sweet child. ``, she said and cupped my face gently in a wrinkled hand while putting an arm around my shaking shoulder. `` Let's watch the movie and see what you can do better next time.'' 
 
 `` What we all can do better.'' Dad whispered. 
 
 As we turned around to the screen the title read: The life of Adam Foster. ( 1986-2016 )
