A new gift

Her wildly over-mascaraed eyes beaded into him. The professionalism and patience in her grew thin.

"So... What would you like for your complementary gift. With embarking on your new life, and all?" 

A new life? I... I get another chance? 

"Yes! You dummy! We've been over this. Listen, there's like a few million people in queue behind you, waiting to head off to a new life as well. Just pick your gift and move on!"

"Wha-!!! You can read my mind?"

She stared at him impatiently, the little bunny charm on her phone hopping around her nails as the charm twiddled between her fingers.

"Uhh, yeah."

Mark flailed, mind racing, he'd kind of unintentionally thought some real pervy stuff in front of her. But come on! The gyaru was a dying breed. Only existing in legends, and more often, some of his favorite manga. She was entirely his type! Plus, was it even fair or legal that she could read his thoughts?

"Auuughhhh!!! Tell me. How long have you been doing that?"

Her hand shifted to her hip, hair flicked to the side. This motion and pose had to have been practiced enough that it now came naturally. The judgment in her stance was palpable. Makeup impeccable.

"Like, the whole time."

Defeated, he sank to his knees. A singular tear formed. He'd been here for what felt like hours, the time chipping away at his typically unanimated existence.
Awoken in the space, a kind voice had shot out to him like a brilliant light! The most picture-perfect gyaru leaned over him. The white around her eyes softly shifted as she gazed down at him. Her lips shiny and sticky, the pink lip gloss holding a light amount of glitter. Her skin, a radiant bronze tan. Deciding if the sheen was natural or caked on, his eyes had wandered. Casually admiring the after-school, schoolgirl outfit that adorned her. It didn't take a dead man to realize he was staring at a goddess. He'd wondered if this was heaven. But at this sudden moment. The humiliation was simply too much to bear.

"I'm... Sorry."

Mark Diogenes Murphy. A twenty eight, year old who died in an unfortunate car accident. A large white truck had run a red light, the driver distracted by his phone. Mark had lived a relatively nominal life. He got through high school, had a serious girlfriend or two, worked some jobs, and received a few academic awards that most other people received as well. He'd always felt he could achieve something, although he'd felt as though he'd waited too long. And no moment had appeared for him to reach what he knew he could do. All he needed was a new start. That would be the thing he needed.

"Ughf, look! You're fine. I don't care. Enough of you come through here with wandering eyes, whatever. Like, I don't have all of eternity to keep talking to you about this. I'll tell you one more time. By then, have a gift you'd like to take with you into the next life, and be on your way. Okay?"

The judgement he felt released some of its grip on him. Head still sunk and singular tear beginning to fall. Giving her a subtle nod, she continued.

"Life! What's the meaning of it? Well, sorry, even though you've died, I can't spoil it for you. You're just gonna have to figure it out yourself."

She would repeatedly glance at her phone, as if to keep reading off a script. If this was her job, you'd at least think she'd care enough to have it memorized.
A shock ran through his body as her eyes snapped and narrowed upon him. it didn't matter that his eyes didn't match hers. The judgment pressed upon his shoulders grew.

"WELL! Lucky for you. You have another shot! You have actually lived many lifetimes. in pursuit of this goal. And have finally passed through one of the key testing gates of living on earth. The experiences gained and sufferings felt. We're only to help you find a grander you."

Very profound, especially hearing this at the end of it all, or umm, beginning? Along the path?

"Fear not, for you have lived well enough to be ready for what's next. For those you have left behind, their lives may be changed in unfortold ways. Such is living. But as you now know, they, too, will have peace here in knowing they can try again. Trust in that promise. And ready yourself for what is next."

Yeah... What is next? My new start! 
A small smirk grew on the goddess's face; it held many emotions. Admittedly, it was fun to see how excited people got at the prospect that this wasn't the end. Something about it was super romantic. Normally, she'd bat her eyes and swoon at the concept. So romantic! At least that's how she thought about it. But not now! Don't get carried away. He has to pass this time! Don't let him fail!

"Each person, upon completing their last run in mortality, is faced with the great beyond. It is where your deity and you council about what is needed next, for you to grow into who you can become."

Mark's hand meekly rose, daring to once again look at her in the process.

"Yeah?"

There was some hope in her tone.

"Goji..."

Her eyes widened and radiated with a bit of playfulness. He'd remembered her name. Worry had crept in; he didn't care enough anymore to pay attention.

"Sorry, forget it, the thought slipped my mind."

"Hey, whoa, big words, Socrates."

"It's Diogenes."

He said flatly, missing the joke entirely. She scrunched her nose in a brief, odd snarl at his airhead of a statement. She was, however, decently contented, that upon introducing herself, his mind hadn't been entirely on admiring her looks. And instead, he'd listened, at least a little.
Amidst the minor pause, Goji's well-loved flip phone decided it was time to chime in. Vvvvvvt Vvvvvvt Vvvvvvt. 

"Yeah, hello? Yeah, I know, Yeah, Yeah!"

Flustered, she turned slightly and ran her fingers through her hair, twirling it between her nails. Even though this was presumed to be out of the ordinary, she was flawless in her ability to look good, in whatever it was she was doing. This had to have been practiced, in case of an emergency, for a time like now. He could see through her facade; it was as thick as her makeup!

"Quiet over there! Your thoughts are so cheap!"

Like striking lightning, the weight of her judgment slammed him into the ground. He couldn't breathe! His mind buzzed. He could feel pain. How was that fair? Are you supposed to feel pain in heaven? Was this heaven? And all from that heavenly gyaru?  The conversation on the phone sounded heated, but an all too audible ringing in his ears drowned out anything of value. As time felt to slow down, the weight of a thousand suns compressed his body into the ground. Mark pittifully gasped for air.

"Okay, thank you! Luv you too! kiss kiss!"

She managed to cordially end the call and snapped her flip phone shut. her attention now to the crumpled perv on the floor.

"Okayyy, times up! What gift do you want? Boss said I have to let the next client in. I had more presentation to re go over, but honestly, you should have been paying attention the first time! Most people do when they die!"

From his mashed state on the floor, he eeked up at her. He'd been paying attention when the mention of free gift, happened earlier. In life, he never passed on free things; he signed up for many free giveaways. And actually won a few! His favorite thing he won was a bread mixer.
She had also sounded much cheerier when she had said it earlier.

It can be borderline anything! I'm here to counsel with you about what might be a good choice! You could pick a really motivational personality trait to carry with you! I'd recommend that one. Many great heroes have aspirational traits.
You could take a magical item! In your case, I'd recommend against taking any item as your gift. As a plot piece, it could be pretty benign and not help you much in the personal growth you desperately need.
You could even bring along a companion! Someone to help you along your journey! With any gift you choose, you and I can decide if you start off with it or if you find it along the way. Maybe like a childhood friend who you lose touch with but find later on.
Right now, at least, your gift cannot make you a god or give you world-ending powers. But you are free to choose!

A lazy thought crept into his mind! He thought his Mech idea was pretty rad and would be a huge advantage wherever he went next. But there was something even better standing in front of him. He couldn't outright become a god, but maybe he could borrow a goddess's power! And maybe even get a cute girlfriend in the process!

"Not a chance, kid!"

It was an ice-cold blade sunk deep into his chest. Her brutal tone, that rejection. Also, what did she mean by kid!? She can't be that old of a goddess, right?

"Take your little mech and be on your way! Off! Shoo!"

The floor beneath him alighted. With wonder, it opened, and he saw a vast land. Rolling hills, and wonder before him. His hand shot through, and suddenly he was falling!!! 

"AHHEHH AHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

His screams went with him as he tumbled through the sky, looking like a little ant from the vast view up above. And for at least a little moment, it was quiet once again in the great beyond.

"Idiot!"

She held her head back so no tears would fall and ruin her makeup.

"Why does he not remember who he is... The promises he made me..."

She'd whispered those words out loud in frustration. She had to keep her cool and composure. It would be quite uncool of her if she were to be in tears for the next person.
Her eyes were stinging. The next poor soul who'd finished their run in mortality sooner than hoped was materializing with a flash behind her. She didn't really care, though, not right now at least. She had more worrying thoughts on her mind anyway.

His stupid words! They were condemning. Not every soul received the opportunity to try again. The concept was borderline unthinkable. But on the rarest of occasions, it happened. In line with eternal laws. If a soul chose to stop, they could. A council would be held, and a decision drawn to terminate. But no, he would never just give up like this. I can't think that now. Please, I can't think it now...

It was a losing game to deny it.  Even if Mark hadn't acknowledged it himself. He had honed it over lifetimes. Hammered deep into his being, a core philosophy he was simply incapable of living.

Upon reaching the great beyond, many brought with them numerous preconceptions. One of the most popular entailed a sense of judgment. Unintentionally reinforced by the residing deity they met. The notion of punishment to follow was a common one. True, it was the duty of the residing deity to counsel and set boundaries when needed. The simple truth, however, was that it was the people themselves who brought upon their own punishment. So many would fight and search for a scapegoat to hide behind for their actions and choices, instead of admitting defeat and asking for help. 

Although many would hide and seek a way to cover themselves from any wrongdoing. Upon passing Earth, each soul would grow in the most profound ways. Learning to shoulder the responsibility they'd worked lifetimes for. And knowing with certainty their ability to ask for and to give help.

The words seared against her mind, twisted in pain, her insides coiled. Mark was overdue for termination; every string that could be pulled had been. The last push to help him want to live, the refiner's fire of Earth. And his awful response!

"Yeah, no, it was unfortunate about the truck. But it's okay, you know, cause honestly I just need a new start. It's like I'd done everything right, and it felt like opportunity never showed itself. It'll be nice for a bit of a change, maybe this time the universe will work out in my favor."

A pitting wrath grew within. Shrinking into a mess on the ground, the pain burled under her skin and left her only with uncontrollable sobs and bitter thoughts. Such cheap words, he just didn't care. NO! This couldn't be him! This couldn't be the man she'd loved. He was never so idle. This wasn't him, it couldn't be...

Only idiots fail at this. People who not only give up, but actively choose to give up... 

Tears dragged down her face.

She clutched the phone at her side hard. She had to continue on with counseling and be a professional deity. Ready her notes she had on the next mortal and help them accomplish the unfailable.

Reeling in her emotions, most she could do was awful at best. The makeup was unsalvageable. Trying to steady herself through sobs, she flicked open her phone, the picture on the screen from lifetimes ago mocked her. He keeps waiting for something great to happen. I hope he realizes how great he is already.

Mark was past borrowed time. Goji had bet everything she had on him. Lying to her boss on the phone, there was no going back now. If Mark failed it here. Both of them were out. Thoughts darkened. When a kind old voice approached her from behind.

"Oh, miss, are you alright? Tell me, dear, what's wrong?"