A New Beginning in the Underworld
    
I will go back soon. I will go back soon. I will see my mother. I will see spring. I repeated this mantra over and over in my head as I sent the lost spirits to the underworld.
    
“Persephone, my queen,” Hades called, “there is another one for you.”
    
“What was it this time?”
    
“A fire.”
    
“Thank you, my king,” I sighed. This was my least favorite part of being queen of the underworld. As queen, it is my job to explain to the souls where they are and where they have to go.
    
Dealing with people who died from old age or illness is much easier than dealing with people who passed in an accident. Those people don’t usually know they’re dead until I break the news to them.
    
As I thought this over, I heard timid footsteps approaching the doorway to the underworld where I stood.
    
A little girl appeared, around five or six, wearing a pink T-shirt and blue overalls with flowers on them. She looked up at me with big green eyes.
    
“What is your name, little one?”
    
“A-April.”
    
April. A time when sweaters are taken off for good and were put away, not to be seen again until September. April. A season that marked a new beginning.
    
Tears were starting to appear in the little girl’s eyes. Soon they would be running down her cheeks. How could I not give her something to smile about?
    
“April, the underworld is lovely, incredible.” A tear slid down her left cheek. She still wasn’t happy. I had to try again.
    
“You’ll see flying cars,” the tears were stopping now, so I continued, “dancing trees, big, bright stars, and, if you’re lucky, animals that can talk.”
    
“Really?”
    
The sadness in her eyes was finally gone, and in its place was hope I had never seen before in someone so young.
    
“Yes, go right ahead.”
    
The little girl, April, smiled and walked through the doorway.
    
Maybe now the underworld won’t be so bad, now that spring is here. I feel a new beginning upon us.