October 15, 2025 #hidonna

Click… click… click.

The sound of heels echoed through the room. I froze. Just the toe of a nude-colored Guess heel appeared first--

My eyes traveled up. Past the ankle, the calf, the cream cardigan that floated on tiny shoulders - and there she was.

Donna.

Blonde bob with bangs, glasses sliding slightly down her nose, round face that didn’t need makeup but looked like it got it anyway. She blinked rapidly, like someone had thrown a flashlight in her eyes.

This isn’t the restaurant, she muttered. Her voice shook… but not really. Then she tried to take a breath, to speak, and realized she couldn’t choke, couldn’t cough, couldn’t even make a sound. Oh… my… gosh, she finally managed to pant silently, hands clutching her chest as if someone had switched her body with a balloon.

From the ceiling fan, Catalina dangled upside down like a glow-in-the-dark bat. Yeah, she said flatly, you’re literally floating.

Donna looked down—her feet weren’t touching the floor. Oh my gosh. She gasped, trying to stabilize herself. Wait. Am I…?

Sally materialized behind her, hands on hips, robe shimmering like glitter fog. Dead? Darling, only technically.

Donna swiveled to me. Do I know you?

Nope, I said. But I think I know YOU.

Something in her face softened—a warm smile that felt like sunlight through kitchen curtains. I saw a light, she said quietly. It was… bright. I just… came toward it.

Then Donna pressed her hands to her forehead, eyes closed. Wait… holy crap. Am I in the foyer? The hallway? WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE? And why does it smell like…BEER?

Behind her, Joe whimpered. Told you she’d find me.

Sally sighed. For heaven’s sake, Joseph, she’s your wife, not the IRS.

Wifey X, Cat sing-songed, dragging the X just long enough to make Joe wince.

Donna looked over her shoulder, eyes widening. Joe?

He gave a tiny wave from the corner, still crouched. Hey, Don.

For a moment, the room went still.

Then Donna blinked and said, Last thing I remember was dinner. Somebody’s birthday. I laughed too hard, choked on a piece of steak, next thing I know - I’m in a hospital and— she stopped. I swear I saw you there, Joe. And now…

Joe cleared his throat. Huh. I thought you were, you know…VEGAN?

With a grin, I happily cut in, Welp, now you’re both here!

Oh no, HELL IS REAL… Donna cried out, eyes darting downward. Whoa…feels so light…so strange…she murmured. And here I was thinking hell was supposed to be, you know, hot.

Cat swung upright and nodded. Yeah, well. Welcome to the cloud version of yourself.

Joe squinted his eyes at me, This IS Heaven, right? Yes??

Sally clapped her hands. Marvelous! I do love a reunion episode! And darling, Welcome to Heaven! God’s World! The UMPTH dimension! Hell? Not a blinking Walmart. More like a cosmic…teaching moment.

And just like that, Donna smiled again—small, nervous, but radiant.

Guess we’re doing this, she said.