Insect

*
In the case of Larry Norton, the swift courtesy of drivers clearing a path for the ambulance occurred in vain. Half forgotten CPR manoeuvers performed by Phil, Larry's long time tennis partner, failed. Paramedics now swarming over him punched electricity into his chest through defibrillator paddles. This also did nothing except relocate a leg an ant was trapped beneath. No one noticed the insect.

**
Goosebumps on his legs woke Larry in a state of strangeness. Still in his tennis attire he stood slowly to grab the cool backing of a metal finished chair pushed properly under a metal finished table. The room seemed to be a small office with grey painted walls. He sat down.
A woman's voice crackled though an intercom hung above the closed door.
“Someone will be with you shortly.”
Before she'd finished, the door opened briskly and a tall man entered with an enormous file packed with loose papers. He quickly turned to face the door and closed it abruptly. He turned round again with an extended hand.
“Hello, Mr. Norton. I'm Dr. Richard Knox. Pleasure to meet you.”
Larry outstretched his hand to return the gesture. Dr. Knox possessed a striking resemblance to James Bond. He couldn't remember which one. Perhaps the doctor's accent made this observation biased. Larry wasn't sure.
“Nice to meet you. What hospital is this? And why was I sleeping in here?”
“Do you not remember Mr. Norton?” The doctor held his shirt to his abdomen as he sat down.
“You mean the heart attack? That's what it was right? A heart attack? I just remember the pain and falling on the court.”
“That's correct Mr. Norton. In fact, you're still laying where you fell.”
“What did you say?”
“Well.” The doctor said with a slight chuckle.
“You're quite dead Mr. Norton.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha. What'd Phil put you up to this?”
“No, I'm afraid not Mr. Norton. Here. Look at the wall to your left.”
“For what? What is this shit!?”
“The wall Mr. Norton. Look at it.”
Larry looked left. No wall. Just a void of blackness.
He leapt back out of his chair against the wall behind him.
“I wouldn't lean on that too long if I were you.” Dr. Knox chuckled again.
Larry lurched forward, looking behind him to see if the wall remained. It didn't.
“Please sit down Mr. Norton, we have very little time.”
“Time for what!?”
“In general, Mr. Norton.” He laughed harder this time.
“What's happening!?”
“Sit down and I'll tell you.”
Larry sat down.
“Well, Mr. Norton. As I said previously, you're dead. Although your heart and lungs have stopped working, there is still electrical energy in your brain. Enough to power your self image, this room, and myself of course.”
“Bullshit! Why would I create you?”
“I'm not sure Mr. Norton. Perhaps you find solace in English doctors who resemble James Bond.” Dr. Knox was yet again chuckling.
Larry said nothing.
“Now you believe me?”
“So now what? What happens next? Heaven? Or hell? I'm a pretty good guy.”
“How should I know Mr. Norton? I've never died personally.”
“Well what's in the file then?”
“Ah, the file. Well, I assume it's all your recorded memories. Perhaps it contains the answers to all your nagging existential questions. You know, the right to your wrongs, what could have been, etc.”
“So what are the answers?”
“Oh, I don't know them off hand Mr. Norton. No. I simply haven't had the time to go over it.” He chuckled again.
“Can I see it?”
“No Mr. Norton. There is not enough time. But I believe you have time for perhaps one question relating to the file. Assuming of course I can find the answer.” Dr Knox observed his watch as he said this.
Larry looked around. All the walls had disappeared. The black void rested around the table, chairs, and the two men on either side.
“You better hurry Mr. Norton.” Dr. Knox barely smiled this time.
“What should I have done with my life?”
“According to the file.....” Dr. Knox began.
But everything went completely dark into the void of annihilation. Fortunately Larry was unaware.

***
The senior paramedic, also unaware, smashed the little ant escaped from under Larry's leg into unrecognizable bits, shattering any possibility of the insect becoming an American pop star.