What if this is all there is?

My daughter, Em, 11, who had been seriously sick with high fevers for 4 days, came home from school her 1st day back in a happy, chipper mood. (Her lame school day consisted of ISAT test prep for next week, and was basically a slacker day with sports professionals assembly and Too Good for Drugs class) It was great to see her more active after so many weak, tired achy days.

She was bouncing around on her chair thinking and then asked very pointedly:

Mom, what if there really is no afterlife?

What? We can't really know that, Em. What made you ask that?

I don't know. I mean,
What if this really is all there is? What if you just get this one life? she said it in amazement..

I laughed out loud, in surprise at her earnest, direct tone, and the sheer unanswerability of the question.

Honey, why would that thought be in your head?

I don't know, but if this is it, I'd better get busy, there's a lot to smash in if you only get just one life....

I held up my hand for her to high five and asked her to come give me a hug.

She did, then skipped away, tra la la on to the next thing, which was a hunt for an old toy, to play.