[ WP ] A man dies and goes to the afterlife , when he arrives he is shown an alternate time line where he never existed , he can choose to erase his existence at the end of it .

Rory ran his shaky fingers through his wife's fine silver hair. If he closed his eyes, the once golden hair seemed exactly the same as it did fifty four years previous, when they had first made love. He snuggled closer to her fragile form and inhaled her delectable scent - vanilla and lavender. Rory had scavenged her belongings for her secret perfume stash, but none was to be found. `` You ca n't top perfection I guess,'' he'd tell her cornily. 
 
 She rolled over to face him. Her iridescent eyes nearly glowed in the faint moonlight. The rest of Laura may have aged gracefully, but her eyes held permanent youth. She took Rory's hand and massaged it gently, knowing it helped the arthritis. `` Did you take your heart medications before you came to bed?'' Her innocent eyes searched his for an answer. 
 
 Rory's wrinkles scrunched together in concentration. He dimly remembered downing a pill. `` Of course Laura. I'd do anything for you,'' he promised her, `` and if you still want this old geezer around, well.... I guess I have to take the nasty things.'' He kissed her forehead gently, as he had for so many years. 
 
 Laura laughed softly, satisfied with his answer. `` You've always done your best to make me happy. That's all I've ever needed.'' 
 
 Sighing contentedly, Rory enveloped Laura in his embrace. The last thing he remembered was the tantalizing aroma of vanilla and licorice. 
 
 Rory woke up slowly. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around nothingness. Laura must have gotten up before him. That was strange of her. She was impossible to rouse before ten. Or maybe age was catching up to him. 
 
 `` It already has,'' a voice answered sadly. Rory rose slowly from the bed and rubbed his eyes. He was n't in the nursing home any more. He was in a pale lilac room, Laura's favorite color. It was completely devoid of any furnishings aside from the bed and what appeared to be a raised bowl of water in the middle of the room. 
 
 `` Where am I?'' Rory asked perplexedly. 
 
 `` Elsewhere,'' the voice answered. `` You have moved on from your old life. You lived it well, but now it is time for your choice.'' 
 
 Rory was slightly more confused than before. `` Choice?'' 
 
 `` Come to the dais,'' the ubiquitous force commanded. 
 
 Rory shuffled over to the spectacle in the center of the room. `` Child,'' the voice continued, `` you have two options. Join the afterlife, cementing your existence into the folds of the universe, or wipe away any impact you had on Earth.'' 
 
 `` Why would I want to do that?'' Rory demanded. 
 
 `` Look,'' the voice said simply. 
 
 The once still water in the basin began to swirl into an explosion of color until it settled serenely into a scene of his parents. It was like he was watching one of those fancy moving pictures. Both of his siblings were there, living their lives as they usually would, but he was n't. His parents had one less financial burden to deal with. Rory realized he was watching the world as though he never existed. 
 
 Rory was a simple man of modest means. He did n't have much ambition or desire to constantly better himself. He was happy keeping his head low and living simply. He knew the only person who would be changed was his wife. 
 
 The basin swirled again, showing Laura. Another man was wrapping her in his arms. Arms that should be his. Rory almost shook with heartache and rage. However, he continued to watch. He saw Laura walk down a church ail and wed this mystery man. He saw the adoration Laura had for him in her stunning eyes. Rory also saw the same love in his. 
 
 She's happy with him, Rory thought numbly. And she was dressed in a fine gown. Laura was a good woman, and married Rory in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, Rory did n't have the means for a nice dress. Laura never once complained to him about it, but seeing her now....she was absolutely radiant. He had never seen her look this happy. 
 
 Despite his inner torment, Rory did n't stop watching. He saw Laura swell with child and almost cried. He had never given her any children. The doctors said nothing would work for them. Yet another thing this other man could give Laura. 
 
 They lived in a beautiful Victorian house, and Laura cooked and knitted and sang to the children prancing across the floors. This was her dream. Their dream. The one they never had. All of this would have happened to Laura if it were n't for him? 
 
 Finally, the basin showed Laura aged again. She appeared to sleep peacefully, and over a dozen people of all ages surrounded her bed. Some had her golden locks, others her brilliant eyes. Her family. She would n't die alone. It was then Rory suddenly remembered he died and left Laura all alone. He broke his promise to her - to always be there and do anything for her; to make her happy. 
 
 The scene before him was disrupted by rippling waves. His tears trickled into the pool as Laura faded away before him. If he wiped himself away, Laura would have everything she ever wanted or needed. She had nothing with him but a modest life she settled for. Rory thought about his promise to do anything for her. All he ever wanted was Laura's happiness. Even if he would have never held her in his arms. 
 
 Rory straightened himself and addressed the voice. `` Well? Do what you got ta do. I do n't go back on my promises.''
