Heaven Is the People You Love
"Heaven Is the People You Love" by Mette Ivie Harrison explores the afterlife through the eyes of Joanna, who died two years prior. In this version of heaven, spirits coexist with the living, yet the afterlife is not the idyllic paradise one might expect. Joanna is surrounded by her loved ones, including her mother, who continues to nag her about mundane matters, and her father, who shares stories from his past. Her husband, John, is content with the monotony of heaven, while Joanna struggles with the lack of new experiences and the absence of God, who is said to be busy with other worlds. Joanna's dissatisfaction grows as she questions the nature of heaven and hell, wondering if they are intertwined. She encounters Vincent Van Gogh, who remains unaware of his fame and continues to paint in his own world of suffering. Joanna's desire for something beyond the repetitive interactions with her ancestors leads her to seek out hell, hoping for solitude and newness. John reveals that hell is a state chosen by spirits who turn away from heaven, existing in isolation. Joanna's daughter eventually joins them in heaven, but their relationship remains strained, echoing their earthly conflicts. Joanna's longing for escape intensifies, and she contemplates the nature of her existence. As rumors of God's return circulate, Joanna's daughter becomes fervent in her belief. When the moment arrives, Joanna is unable to perceive God, unlike John and her daughter, who rush toward the divine presence. Left alone, Joanna experiences a profound solitude, realizing that heaven and hell are subjective experiences shaped by one's choices and perceptions.
By Mette Ivie Harrison · First published 2020 · Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Speculative Fiction · 4,708 words
First lines
They say that heaven is the people you love, but it's more complicated than that. I died two years ago and let me tell you, heaven is a giant mess. Sure, there are the people that I love all around me. But when I say "all around me," I mean all around me. I can't turn one way or another without seeing one of them.
My mother, God bless her soul, gave me everything she had, and she has to remind me of it all the time.
What this Textopian page supports
Heaven Is the People You Love is listed on Textopian as a short story by Mette Ivie Harrison, dated 2020 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Mette Ivie Harrison
- Date: 2020 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Speculative Fiction, Literary Fiction, Dark Comedy
- Length: 4,708 words
- Structure: 1 section, 132 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Heaven Is the People You Love by Mette Ivie Harrison
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative's reimagining of heaven and hell with supernatural, unconventional rules firmly places it in the realm of fantasy.
- Magical Realism — The book interweaves everyday familial and emotional realities with a surreal afterlife, blurring the line between the real and the fantastical.
- Speculative Fiction — By questioning the nature of existence, heaven, and hell, the story ventures into speculative ideas about life after death.
- Literary Fiction — Its introspective narrative, complex character interactions, and exploration of existential themes align it with literary fiction.
Tags
romance · relationships · contemporary · drama · emotional · self-discovery · family · friendship · healing · loss · resilience · forgiveness