Reluctantly Dead is a journey through the afterlife by Phillip Carson. Trailed by a darkness, Phil moves toward a sun-like light following a trail through a strange landscape. Phillip meets a shy young boy, Nathan, and commits to staying with him as they try to figure out where they are going and why. But best intentions don't keep them from becoming separated. Black lightning that passes overhead drives Phillip to his knees with depression and with the blackness coming closer, Nathan is forced to flee. Nathan arrives at a place that looks like the Heaven depicted in his Sunday school bible but his reception, the reaction to his age and the fact he doesn't remember how he died, is scary. Phillip recovers and races to find Nathan along the trail. Phillip arrives at the place that looks like Heaven but finds his reception even less heavenly than Nathan. From this point on, the trip takes on a new meaning and others they meet along the trail are as mysterious as the afterlife itself. The darkness continues to chase and the light continues its gentle pull and the danger grows, along with the interest in Nathan who may not be dead after all.