- 0 3 -

The day had finally come.

I can't believe I'm saying it, but yes, it had.

There I was, one moment laughing and crossing the road with my ex-boyfriend and his wife (don't ask why), and the next moment flying forward and hitting my head on the nearby stone pavement. I watched with blurred eyesight as the ice cream truck that had hit me sped away, not bothering to check if I was alive or not. I heard my ex and his wife yelling, their faces going in and out of focus. That was when I felt a strange yet calm feeling: a feeling of lightness from within me, like my soul was being uplifted somehow.

My eyes were shutting close, darkness dragging me deeper and beneath the surface...

And before I knew it, I was leaving for my heavenly abode. 

How was I so sure?

Well, if you couldn't tell by the beam of bright light coming from somewhere above me when I woke up, which slowly dispersed and brightened everything around me, then I don't know how else.

Misty white clouds surrounded me and soft and cold air blew around me. When I looked down at myself, I saw that I was clad in a white gown that reached above my ankle. That's when I felt a certain movement below me, jerking my body. Looking down past the misty clouds, I realized I was on some kind of an escalator which was moving upwards. As it took me ahead, I admired the view around.

Amidst the clouds, my eyes caught an angel playing the harp, creating a beautiful melody to my ears. It was soft and symphonious and had an instant soothing effect on me. Soft chirpings and laughter could be heard from a distance. Sighing contently, I turned my head to look around more. And froze. At some distance in front of me, I could see double gates made of some silverish-white material. My heart was leaping out of joy, not able to contain too much excitement.

Is this true? Are we really here?

Squealing, I clasped my hand together and watched with mesmerized eyes as I neared the gates.

This is it. Heaven, here I com-

The escalator-like thingamy took that exact second and came to a sudden halt in front of the gates. I looked down at the clouds near the escalator, wondering if I stepped on them I would fall tumbling down on earth, and break my body...

Oh! How fool of me? How's that possible, if I'm already dea-

Wait. 

Does this mean I'm actually dead, and that's why I'm here in heaven?

"Yay!" I let out another squeal and got off the escalator in joy, not caring if I would end up falling or not. But when I did realize, my eyes widened in horror. But then I relaxed when I felt my steady stance on the clouds. They felt very soft and cushiony under my feet, my toes curling and enjoying their feel. Tucking a lock of hair behind my ear, a soft giggle escaped my lips. Shaking my head, I looked ahead at the big rod-gates and waited for them to open with abated breath. A smile made its way to my face as I heard a faint rustic sound, and saw the gates opening. 

This is happening!

But then the rustic sound stopped, along with the gates. It was like it changed its mind, and in a second closed again. Immediately my smile was gone, and in place of it was a frown.

I saw a movement in my peripheral vision and turned to my right. A gasp escaped me when I saw an angel-like being with blonde hair and white dress appeared in front of me.

"God!" I bowed deeply and standing up, watched him with wonder, not believing this was happening. 

"God! This heaven's door clo-" His voice though rich and silky, didn't register in my head when I heard his first ever words to me, and I was left in a state of shock.

"Depart from me, I know thee not." He stated calmly, with a graceful smile on his face. But I just stared at him with mouth agape.

"Wh-what?" We stared at each other for what felt like a thousand years. But wait, did they even have the concept of time and years in Heaven?

"I shall repeat once more for thee, depart fro-"

"I heard you the first time!" I said, not caring if I had cut off a God in the middle of his sentence. Anger rose in me, as I looked at him with accusing eyes.

"Why? What did I do? Or better, what didn't I do? I-"

"Depart."

"-I went to church every weekend-"

"From."

"-I read the holy Bible with much dedication-

"Me."

"-And I had faith! I did all good things!-"

"I-"

"NO! You listen to me right now Mister!" That made him stop.

"So tell me, what did I do! Did I do anything wrong?" He took a few seconds to answer, but he did.

"No...-"

"Then why, why can't I enter Heaven? I have never done a single wrong thing in my life. I left my first place in the drawing competition during my 4th grade only because my best friend wanted to badly win."

He blinked.

"And oh, don't you dare forget how I let my own boyfriend go and forgave him for cheating with the same best friend, and now they are happily married and I, what about me?"

He blinked again.

 "Can't I be happy for once? Won't you let me enter the Heaven?"

I was breathing hard by the time I finished. But still, he only stared at me and blinked many times. After an aeon (not exactly), he opened his mouth, and his melodic and rich voice again filled the air over us.

"D-Depart from me, I know thee not." He said in a firm voice. And anger yet again built up inside me. I know I can't win against him, but.... atleast I can give it a try.

So breathing heavily, I put on my battle front... And made the best puppy dog face I've ever made at him. That's when I saw a slight twitch in his right eye. Yes!

Puckering my bottom lip more, I fluttered my eye at him.

"I get it," I said in a defeated voice. "I'm not worthy of entering Heaven. So, I guess I'll leave then...." I trailed off and turned around with a bit of a sass.  I know this is wrong, but oh well...

So I took one step ahead.

Then two steps ahead.

Then looked back over my shoulder and gave him my best lost and defeated look. Then turned around and repeated all the steps at least twice until-

"V-Vivian!" I beamed and turned around, knowing he had fallen for it. Oh yes! Heaven! I'm com- But that didn't sound like his rich voice. In fact, it sounded like...

"Vivian!"

"Vivian open your eyes!"

The heavenly looking God and Heaven itself disappeared right in front of my eyes in an instant. And I was falling down, pretty ungracefully might I add.

"Vivian! Can you hear us?"

"Vivian!"

My vision blurred, as I blinked multiple times. Everything was going in and out of focus and I had to struggle hard to keep my eyes open. But when the fog over my eyes slowly lifted, I found myself staring at white... wall. Not the clouds. Not Heaven's gate. But a wall, more like a ceiling. 

"Oh! Thank God! You are fine, Vivian! The doctors saved you! We're so happy!"

Looking around, I realized I was lying in some hospital room, with tubes attached to me and something beeping in the background. My heart monitor- Wait. So does that mean...

I stared at my ex standing beside my bed in a very, very confused way.

How...

And at that exact moment, I was sure I heard a familiar rich and melodic laughter coming from somewhere above me, probably the clouds as if he was genuinely laughing down at my stupidity.

But oh no, was that just a Heavenly Dream?

•••••

I have absolutely no clue how this has turned up... But hope it is good though!

BookCulbHere