Karen finds herself sobering slightly and blinks hard. “Why is it a bad idea, Frank? Because there are people everywhere on Earth who have a grudge against you? As far as I can tell, we’re not on Earth!” She shrugs. This place is supposed to be paradise. If it isn’t actually Heaven then it must at least be a different plane or planet.

“And if it’s because of scars, you know I have them too. We’ve both been hurt by life. Doesn’t it actually sound like a good idea to have someone around who wants to work through that shit with you?”

She steps away from him and looks at him with blue eyes that still sparkle under paper lantern light. It’s a tough question. Can two people who carry so much trauma with them actually muster the strength to support one another? Karen knows the answer. She would jump into traffic before purposely allowing Frank to come to harm of any kind.

“I just don’t want you to be alone here,” she adds in a softer, defeated-sounding voice, looking at her feet.