[ WP ] Who knew that a life spent militantly avoiding every sin would end up being the worst sin of all ?

“ What do you mean I can ’ t go to Heaven? ” I asked unsuccessfully trying to hold back my anger. 
 
 ‘ Calm ’ I think to myself knowing that anger only leads to sin. 
 
 As mother always said, The best thing is to always smile and move on. 
 
 Dannie looks at the screen of his IPad and then back at me, “ Nope, you didn ’ t make the list. ” 
 
 I shake my head and smile out of fear, “ There must ’ ve been a mistake- I ’ m a good person. ” 
 
 Dannie smiles more genuinely with a slight chuckle, “ What exactly is a good person? ” 
 
 I feel like rolling my eyes but I know better. 
 
 “ A good person avoids sin at all cost. They try to do better in the world like Mother Teresa or Angelina Jolie, ” I answer. 
 
 Dannie purses his eyes, “ Avoid sin? I never read that part of the big book. ” 
 
 I want to groan but don ’ t, “ Sin is a major part of the book- how we are supposed to repent and not commit any. ” 
 
 Dannie takes a deep breath with a smile, “ Sin is a major part but there ’ s more than just that- Have you ever heard of seeking forgiveness? ” 
 
 I look at him in confusion so he continues speaking, “ Our goal is to not avoid sin altogether and live like hermits, it ’ s to try not to but if we do- own up to it. Nobody ’ s perfect hon. ” 
 
 I want to roll my eyes and shout how ridiculous this sounds; angels are perfect, saints are perfect, and most of all God is perfect; it ’ s a sin just to think otherwise. 
 
 Dannie grins widely, “ You want to shout? You want to get angry, don ’ t you? ” 
 
 I shake my head no and whisper, “ Of course not. ” 
 
 The angel bites his lip looking entertained, “ It ’ s alright to be angry. Everyone does it. ” 
 
 I shake my head, “ You ’ re testing me- anger leads to sin. ” 
 
 For a moment, I see a look of pity in his eyes, “ It really doesn ’ t sweetheart. Anger is like a fuel but you ’ re always the one in the driver ’ s seat; only you decide where you ’ re driving. ” 
 
 I stare at my feet as my mother ’ s harsh words from my childhood echo in my ears although she is long dead. 
 
 Dannie senses my discomfort and whispers, “ it ’ s not too late. ” 
 
 I chuckle, “ Of course it is, I ’ m dead. ” 
 
 Dannie shakes his head, “ You can still do something miraculous. You can take a chance and make some good in this world. ” 
 
 I look at the hopeful angel and ask, “ But what if I fail? ” 
 
 He shrugs, “ I don ’ t know- go to confession, say a few Hail Mary ’ s, and move on. ” 
 
 I shake my head, “ How? I have no one in the world. ” 
 
 Dannie ’ s eyes widen and he exclaims, “ You have no one? Miss Goody two shoes that never questions the existence of God ever in her life and prays every night thinks that she ’ s completely alone? I ’ m telling God that we have a nonbeliever! ” 
 
 I grab his arm quickly and shout at him to stop and he laughs at my worries; it was just a joke. 
 
 Dannie says, “ You ’ re going to be okay. Trust me. Pray and you ’ ll never be alone. But on the other hand, go out and get some friends, take a chance and befriend those crazy girls that we all secretly judge. You might learn something. ” 
 
 I shake my head, “ I don ’ t judge anyone Dannie. ” 
 
 He takes a step back and he examines me as if I were a model, “ That ’ s strange because I don ’ t see you in any miniskirts or crop tops. ” 
 
 I roll my eyes, “ just because I don ’ t wish it for myself, doesn ’ t mean it ’ s not alright for other people. ” 
 
 Dannie nods, “ Okay, but how do you know if you ’ ve never tried? ” 
 
 I look at him with a loss for words, unfortunately, he had a point. 
 
 He gives a small smile and says, “ Try small steps and see what you like. ” 
 
 I take a deep breath and smile slightly, “ Maybe. ” 
 
 He goes back to his IPad and scrolls through the screens quickly before saying, “ I ’ m resetting your clock. ” 
 
 “ What? ” I ask peeking at his screen. 
 
 He notices and pulls it away, “ No spoilers babe. I ’ m giving you a second chance. Be good and do something crazy. ” 
 
 I stare in disbelief at how easy it is for him to manipulate my life and ask, “ How long do I have? ” 
 
 He toggles through the screens again, “ I don ’ t know, I ’ m not exactly sure what today is. But not too long, you need to make a lasting difference in a pretty short amount of time. ” 
 
 I look at him curiously wondering how he expects me to accomplish such a feat and ask, “ How? ” 
 
 He grins, “ I don ’ t know. Figure it out- you ’ re smart. Do stuff you haven ’ t done before- Get up early, go to bed late, and eventually you ’ ll get it. ” 
 
 I nod and play nervously with my bracelet; this wasn ’ t going to be easy. Ideas to make a difference begin to flood into my head and when I reopen my eyes I am back at the scene of the crash with paramedics surrounding me. 
 
 Far away Dannie smiles watching as I wake up slightly disoriented but still fully aware of the conversation we just shared. He scrolls through his IPad and chuckles imagining all the differences I can make with twenty more years on my clock. 

