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Banking in heaven

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Synopsis
Title: Banking in Heaven Synopsis: In the serene afterlife of Heaven, where divine order reigns and eternity offers solace, not everything is as perfect as it seems. Beneath the surface of peace lies a web of secrets, ancient riddles, and forces beyond comprehension. When the balance of the celestial realm is threatened, the line between good and evil blurs, and the price of redemption grows steeper. Banking in Heaven is a story of sacrifice, faith, and the fragile threads that bind eternity. In a place where every soul seeks rest, how far would you go to protect paradise itself?
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Chapter 1 - Prologue : First day

Chapter 1: Banking in Heaven

John Carter had always envisioned heaven as a place of clouds, golden gates, and choirs of angels singing in harmony. He never expected it to feel so... normal. When he had first arrived, he assumed he'd float around with nothing to do but bask in eternal peace, but instead, he found himself at a desk. In fact, he was working in a building—an office building, no less—like the ones he had spent most of his life in, except with a view of endless blue skies instead of gray city blocks.

It all started when he woke up in the afterlife, as you might imagine, and he had been greeted by a gentleman in a well-tailored suit, his name was Adam, but not the biblical Adam. This Adam was a representative of sorts, someone who helped new arrivals get oriented.

"Welcome to Heaven, John," Adam had said, offering him a warm, firm handshake. "Now, I know what you're thinking. You probably expected to be greeted with celestial music and light. And sure, there's plenty of that, but we also keep things... practical here. Heaven is a place for peace and joy, but also a place for work. So, let me show you your new role."

John was confused, "Work? In heaven?"

"Indeed," Adam had responded. "You see, in Heaven, everyone has a job. It's not so much about necessity as it is about purpose. People still like to feel productive, to have something to do. You'll find that your role here will give you satisfaction in a way you never imagined."

John had been led to a sleek, modern office building—his new workplace—where he was handed a nameplate that read: John Carter, Senior Banker.

The reality of it all was that Heaven was a city much like any other, except that everything here was enhanced. Buildings were built from marble that shimmered in the sunlight, the air was always fresh and crisp, and the people? They radiated warmth and kindness. The economy ran smoothly, not because of necessity, but because the work was a shared commitment to mutual satisfaction. As a banker, John's job was to help souls manage their accounts—accounts that represented their past lives, their actions, their achievements, and their growth.

John sat at his desk in the high-rise, tapping away at the computer keyboard, reviewing account transactions, balancing books, and occasionally answering questions from the heavenly citizens who passed through the lobby. As he did so, he couldn't help but reflect on his life before Heaven. He had spent decades in the financial world, working his way up through the corporate ladder with a tenacity that had served him well but had also left him weary. In Heaven, though, there was none of the pressure or stress. No deadlines. No quarterly reports. Just a steady stream of souls passing through, all seeking assistance in balancing their afterlife accounts.

It was a strange but serene existence.

The office was quiet—no bustling phone calls or shouting across cubicles—just the soft hum of activity as people worked at their desks or walked to and fro, greeting each other as if they were old friends. Every so often, someone would come up to John's desk with a question, usually about their account.

"Excuse me, John," a gentle voice interrupted his concentration. He looked up to see a woman in her late forties, dressed in an immaculate, flowing white dress. She was smiling warmly, though there was a hint of confusion in her eyes.

"How can I help?" John asked, flashing a professional smile.

"I'm Mary," she said, "I just wanted to check in about my account. I feel like I've been here a while, but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing."

John glanced at the monitor, typing in her name. Her account showed that she had a substantial balance of positive deeds—helping others, donating to causes she believed in, even mentoring troubled youth. But there was also a gap. A few withdrawals, so to speak—some unresolved guilt over a past mistake that hadn't been fully dealt with.

"Well, Mary," John began, "it seems that your account is in good standing overall. However, there's a small matter of unresolved regret. Something from your past, perhaps?" He asked gently.

Mary nodded, a shadow passing over her face. "I made some mistakes when I was younger—things I couldn't undo before I passed. I've been feeling a little... unsettled."

"That's common," John reassured her. "But it looks like you're well on your way to addressing it. Perhaps you should consider a bit more time in one of the soul-reflection gardens, just to help you process any lingering feelings."

"Oh, yes, I think I will," Mary replied, her voice softening. "Thank you, John."

With that, she walked away, a little more at ease than before.

As he went back to his work, John thought about how important his job was here in Heaven. It wasn't just about numbers or figures; it was about helping people reconcile with themselves and their past. Here, in this afterlife, people were given a chance to right their wrongs and find peace, whether it was through self-reflection, understanding, or simply forgiveness.

The days in Heaven blended together. John's co-workers were as varied as his clients. There was Timothy, the librarian, who handled records of knowledge accumulated through time; and Isabel, the counselor, who worked with souls on their emotional healing. Then there was Gabriel, the architect, who designed new spaces in Heaven based on the dreams and desires of its inhabitants. People from all walks of life—farmers, teachers, artists—had a role here, each contributing to the overall balance of the afterlife. John never knew exactly what some of his colleagues had done on Earth, but that didn't matter here. In Heaven, everyone was a valued member of society, no matter their earthly job.

One afternoon, as John was finishing a particularly tricky set of financial transactions, he was approached by one of his closest colleagues, Sarah, who worked in the Customer Service Division.

"John, I need your help with something," Sarah said with an earnest expression.

"Of course, Sarah. What's the matter?"

She hesitated for a moment. "It's about one of our clients, Lucas. He's... well, his account is troubling. He seems to be having a hard time coming to terms with his past."

John frowned. "Is he resistant to the process?"

"Not exactly," Sarah replied. "It's more like he's afraid. Afraid that his past choices were too far gone to be forgiven. I've tried everything I can think of, but he needs something more."

John thought for a moment. "Maybe it's time for a different approach. I'll take a look at his account, see if I can help him find the right path forward."

After a quick glance at Lucas's file, John knew exactly what he had to do. Lucas had made mistakes—painful ones, ones that hurt the people he loved most. But John could see that he had tried. The man had spent years, even in the afterlife, attempting to balance out his wrongdoings, yet something was still holding him back.

The next morning, John found Lucas waiting outside his office. He was a tall man, unremarkable in appearance, yet there was an aura of sadness around him. John gestured for him to come in.

"Please, take a seat," John said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I just didn't know where else to go," Lucas muttered, his voice thick with regret.

John smiled gently. "There's no interruption. You're exactly where you need to be."

For the next hour, John worked with Lucas, guiding him through his fears, helping him confront his guilt, and assisting him in realizing that, while he could never undo the past, he could choose to move forward in peace. By the end of their session, Lucas stood up, a lighter expression on his face.

"Thank you, John. I think I'm finally ready."

John nodded. "You were always ready, Lucas. You just needed to see it for yourself."

As the days passed, John continued to find fulfillment in his work. Heaven wasn't what he had imagined, but in many ways, it was better. It was a place where people could heal, grow, and find redemption, all while contributing to the ongoing harmony of their afterlife society.

And for John, who had spent his life counting figures, he had found something far more valuable than numbers: purpose.