Becoming Danny

"Becoming Danny" by Eliza Douglas

Short Story

Genre: Magical Realism

Word Count: approximately 6650

What would you do if an ethereal being told you were not ready for the afterlife and promptly kicked you back down to Earth to try again? This situation is what Daniel faces in "Becoming Danny."

Daniel Silverman is a weary soul who, after experiencing many personal tragedies, chooses to cut himself off emotionally from the world and settles into a monotonous life of quiet despair and loneliness. After suffering a heart attack from years of stress, disconnect, and unhealthy choices, he wakes up in the afterlife, discovers he is not ready to enter, and is sent back to Earth. He must then face his decisions head-on and discover what “not being ready” means.

Does he continue to live in a world of loneliness and mediocrity and accept his current life’s trajectory?

Or does he tear down his emotional walls and embrace life as his true self without fear of judgment?

With the help of his friend, Justin, and his limited memories of the afterlife, Daniel must do his best to try and discover who he truly is inside: Danny.