"The Afterlife" by local author Gary Soto begins with the main character, Chuy, being murdered at a dance. Chuy spends the next few days drifting over his home town of Fresno and visiting grieving family and friends. He sees his mom trying to convince a cousin to exact revenge against Chuy's killer. At a basketball game, he witnesses his friend's grief but realizes it won't last too long. He tries, unsuccessfully, to save a homeless man. Then Chuy meets Crystal, a popular cheerleader, who has committed suicide rather than dealing with her fear of failure. As he is falling in love with Crystal, Chuy is starting to disappear. He can no longer see his legs or hands. He does not know what the afterlife will offer or where his final destination will be or what form, but Chuy is happy to have found love and to have been loved in life. Rather than tragic, the story is hopeful and tender. The ending's ambiguity makes it a perfect creative writing choice for students.