Eros' body collapses like a sack of potatoes. A smack to the face wakes him up. His entire being shakes like a leaf from the vengeful face of Death with her hands gripping his cloth.

"You bastard! How dare you?! What do you have to say for yourself?!"

Abby's words, voice, face, and kiss run through her mind as the slaps echo throughout the realm of the afterlife.

The woman he flirted with is trying to pull her away, but Layla forces her back with a glare.

"What's the matter with you?!" The god of love questions.

She pulls him towards her face. "How dare you play that cruel joke on Abby! She was sweet, witty, beautiful, considerate, and--" tears flood down her face. "I loved her too!"

Eros' eyes almost pop out of their sockets from the unexpected outcome of his prank. "I'm-"

A clawed finger to his jugular stops him. "I'm calling on that favor you owe me. Make. It. Happen."

"It-It might take-"

"Maybe I should go after the couples you set up ahead of time," her pitch-black eyes threaten his life's work.

The god of love's wings flap nervously. "Alright! Just let me talk with the others!"

She finally lets him go. Within a moment, he flies behind the gates.

Her black timer buzzes for her next assignment. Her feet refuse to leave this place, but her role must be done. A soul with no place to go would add more to the heartache.

She lands near a small Chinese girl that's sleeping on the street. Tattered clothing and not even a blanket to keep her warm. She clutches her body to try and stop the shivering.

Layla clears her throat. "Let go. Everything will be alright."

The girl opens her eyes for a moment to see the owner of that warm and gentle voice. A dark stranger with an afro crouches down to her. Her golden eyeliner a mess, but still beautiful to her. A brief smile cracks her face before her soul leaves her body.

Layla grasps her spiritual hand. "Ni Hao, Mei-Ling, it's time for you to rest in a warm bed."

She drops her off and goes to the next job without hearing from Eros. Day after day, she performs her role with a pondering look on her face.

Am I heartless for not grieving her? I cried, but I went back to work like it never happened. Will Eros even convince the others? Even if he does, is that what Abigail would want? 

She gently drops off the soul of a homeless veteran.

To make her choose between me and Paradise. I would want her to choose me, but I shouldn't force her hand. She deserves the best.........even if it's not with me.

"Death!"

Eros' voice makes her spin around. She hears it coming from her black timer. "Yes?"

"You can talk to Abigail now."

Layla chokes back on tears before they release like a waterfall.

"But on one condition if she accepts....."