Elena Hardy sits at her husband's side holding his hand. She knew this was or rather is the moment. Dennis Hardy had come home to die. Their grown daughter stood in the room not far from the door. Ashley wanted to; no, she needed to be here for this moment. Her own children were downstairs in the living, and she had to be able to hear them so where she stood allowed for those two things.

Dennis's passing would be painless and peaceful. It would be as pleasant as a passing can be, just as if he were falling asleep while being in the presence of his wife and daughter. The local parish priest would also be in the room and his services were ready to be availed of in any and all ways possible. When Dennis would close his eyes, it would be for the final time and that would be that, or so one would think.

Brightness is what hit first, a bright white light which soon dissipates. Dennis opened his eyes and soon discovered that he is alone in bed in his bedroom. The curtains are pulled back and the daylight shines in. His wife is not in the room, his daughter is not in the room and the local parish priest is not in the room. Something is not right but then again maybe something is very right for Dennis feels good, he feels strong, he feels stronger and a lot healthier than he has done for quite some time.

Dennis sits up still being within his own bed and this is something that he has not been able to do in any bed by himself for quite some time. Before any more questions can be asked or thought about, Dennis would hear voices, voices of children, his grandchildren perhaps, and these voices seem to be playfully singing nursery rhymes.

'Hello' Dennis calls out as he gets up out of bed.

Out of bed, yeah this feels good, it feels different, but why are there voices? It is at this moment that he realizes that something else is wrong. The room, it is wallpapered, and it is a light blue in colour. The walls should be clear and painted white. Who did this? Why would anyone do this? The sound of the children laughing and singing stops before Dennis can manage to leave the room. Out in the upstairs hallway, it looks as if he may just be alone though by the time, he approaches the top of the stairs this changes.

There are voices coming from the downstairs living room, two distinct adult male voices, and two strange unrecognizable distinct voices at that. Dennis slowly moves downstairs and makes his way into the living room. There are indeed two strange men just sitting there and chatting away, and not a child in sight.

'Excuse me, but who are you?' asks Dennis.

He receives no answer; he doesn't even receive an acknowledgement.

'I said, excuse me ...'

Still there is no acknowledgement. This room, the living room, it is also different to what Dennis remembers it to be. The colour, the furnishings, the decoration, it's all wrong. It was always unlike Dennis to get anyway annoyed, upset, or angry, but he just couldn't help himself. It built within him, deep down inside of him, from the pit of his stomach and he had to let it out.

'Get out of my house' he shouts.

The strange men heard that or felt that, or at least felt ... something.

'Get out ...' Dennis shouts.

This anger consumes him, and he completely loses control of himself. He pushes photos off the walls and tables. He knocks ornaments off the mantelpiece. The two men are petrified and do not know how to react.

'Get out ...' Dennis shouts once more.

The two men vanish, and Dennis stands alone. The anger leaves him, and confusion takes over. Someone is coming in the front door, so Dennis moves out into the hallway. It is Elena, his wife. He moves quickly to embrace her and somehow passes right through her. Elena feels this and she knows her husband is here. She can also feel his confusion. It is only now that Dennis notices that his wife looks so different. She has aged quite a bit and looks somewhat frail.

'This can't be' he says to himself. 'Elena, what happened to you?'

Feeling her husband's presence Elena responds. 'Dennis, my love ... do you not know what happened to you? Do you not remember that day up in our room, or what was our room?'

'Remember what?' he asks but it is coming back to him, he is beginning to remember.

'My love, you died. You came home to die. You had not been well for some time, and you decided to see out your days at home with your family. Only now this is no longer our home. I have moved in with Ashley. The kids are getting so grown up now, so much so and so grown up that they really aren't kids anymore. I wish you had still been here to see them.'

With her eyes welling up and a tear or two escaping, Elena continues to speak.

'My love, you cannot stay here, you cannot keep terrorizing the people who live here now. They tell me that they are being told to get out. It is there home now, not yours, not ours, and we must respect that. So please Dennis, move on, save a place for me in Heaven. It may not be long before I get to join you ...'

Dennis moves right up to his wife and places a hand on her face. She can feel this and moves her own hand to where Dennis holds his hand.

'I love you, my dear' he speaks staring into her eyes.

A moment passes and Dennis turns. He moves away and vanishes. Elena takes a moment of her own and moves outside. Ashley is just outside, and she moves to embrace her mum. Tears are cried.

'He is gone now' Elena speaks. 'He is gone.'

Elena and Ashley head to where home is now, and they never return.