I had life pretty good.

Up until I was 22, I had lived with my mother - just me and her.

We were so happy together. We both worked and often took our holidays at the same time so we could travel and see the world.

We tried every food you could think of and would often laugh at each other if we came across something to our distaste.

The most famous was when we tried fried spider in Cambodia - something neither of us ever did again!

But the trip that always stuck in my memory and heart was when we travelled to Jerusalem.

There, we were exploring a cave area and had went pretty far in to one.

We came across a man made wall with an inscription that said "you are on holy ground."

Well both of us were regular church goers and immediately took our shoes off in respect.

Unknown to us, my dear mother was bitten by a spider.

We had made our way through the wall, through a small hold in the bottom of it, and the sight took our breath away.

"Ma - I...I think it's the Arc!" I gasped, looking on wonder.

She nodded slowly, also in awe.

Suddenly, from the glorious light, appeared someone.

"Do not come any closer." he warned us.

We had no intention to disobey at all!

"Who are you?" I had breathed, respectful as possible.

"I am Mika, an angel of the most high God. I am here to protect the Arc and it's holdings - the 10 commandments that God gave to Moses, the staff of Aaron and a jar of Manna, that God provided for his children."

I gulped, holding my mother's hand.

I noticed she was white and a little shaky, but I thought it was fear.

"We of course respect the most High God and the Arc - do you want us to leave?" I had asked gently, keeping a watchful eye on a sword he was holding.

He was quiet for a moment, and then there was angels everywhere we looked!

I gasped, feeling emotional.

There were three females and two males, including Mika.

"Be at peace and fear not - we are here to help you understand what you are about to see, and feel. This arc is hidden, to stop the world commiting terrible acts of war in the name of it, and God. But now you are here, you have a responsibility to protect it's secret. Are you willing to do this?" a female asked - she sounded Irish.

I breathed out, holding my mother's hand tighter.

I held my hand on my heart.

"It is clearly the will of God Himself for this to remain hidden - I would not dare rebell against Him and His word...we will not breath a word to anyone else of what we have seen here." I swore, some tears coming.

This was a deeply religious experience and one that I knew I was very, very lucky to have. My soul had been moved.

The angel smiled, and I smiled back, excited and comforted.

From behind me, a dove flew and landed on the Arc!

I raised my eyebrows.

"How did a dove get here?" I asked outloud.

The angel smiled again.

Suddenly, the room was flooded with brilliant white light.

I closed my eyes and bowed my head against it, blinking fast to get used to it.

I fel a gentle wind around me and a deep, deep sense of love.

I glanced at my mam, who looked back, grinning.

She looked so tired, but so happy.

I frowned for only a moment, wondering why she looked like that.

Then, overwhelmed, I walked closer to the arc and knelt down...because in that moment, I knew I was literally in the presence of God Himself!

I felt a warm breeze blow against me, and it was like God was holding me.

I had never felt a truer joy before or since.

Next to me, I could feel mam kneeling down too, as joyous as I to be in the presence of the Lord.

"I never want to leave you." she whispered.

Suddenly, I had felt scared and looked at her.

She looked dreadfully white, she was breathing irradically, and she was pouring with sweat, and her eyes were glazing over.

A deep grief overcame me and I grabbed her arms, but she felt floppy.

"What's happening?" I choked, desperately scared.

The presence of God enveloped me even stronger, trying to ease me.

One of the male angels knelt next to us.

"My name is Andrew - I'm an angel of death..." he said gently.

The realisation hit me.

"No!" I begged desperately, looking into the light, "please don't let her die, please!"

"Rachael, listen to me - your mother has been bitten by a black widow spider, and the effects are taken hold now. It would be impossible for you to get her the help she needed in time. She cannot survive - I'm so sorry..." Andrew told me as gently as he could.

I let go then and burst into tears, grabbing my mam.

"Don't go!" I pleaded with her, unable to imagine a life without her at my side.

She slowly looked at me, now weak, and held my arm.

"You're all grown up now - and I'm so proud of you...I'll always be with you. But...I have to go - and I want to - this is amazing and I never want it to end! But I love you, so very much. Never forget that! I am lucky to have had you as a daughter! You need to make your own way in the world now, until you see me again."

I was raw with emotion and collapsed into her, my heart broken.

I gripped her tight as I saw Andrew gently take her hand.

With that, he spirit left her body, which disappeared.

She looked much healthier once she was in spirit.

She held on to Andrew's hand as she looked in to the light.

An overwhelming happiness overcame her face and she grinned - I knew then that she had actually seen God, and how could I have asked her to come back from Him?

I sniffed, trying to stop the tears.

"I'll miss you so much." I choked.

"I'll miss you too, baby. I'll see you again." she assured me.

And then she was gone.

My mother was gone.

Unimaginable grief hit me like a train and I completely let go, falling quickly into hysterical tears.

I could feel the angels around me, comforting me, but it was not them I wanted, much as I appreciated their effort.

God's light grew even brighter and stronger, and then I could actually feel Him as a physical person.

It seemed he was crouching infront of me, though I couldn't actually see Him.

Then...I heard Him - He spoke to me!

"I am so sorry for taking her away from you - can you forgive me for that?" He asked.

Well that blew me away...not what I was expecting God to say at all!

Sniffing and struggling, I couldn't even breath a word.

None were needed...

Almost submitting, I leaned forward.

I felt my head on his knees and cried, desperate for comfort.

I felt His hand on my back as he embraced me and comforted me.

"I am here - never forget that. You are blessed." He breathed.

"Thank you..." I was finally able to choke out, "I will serve you for all my days..."

He rubbed my back, clearly pleased with my effort during my deep grief.

"The angels will speak to you when my presence leaves. Thank you, and well done child." He whispered.

It was the most emotional and spiritual moment of my life, and I bowed down even further, trying to show the Lord what I was feeling.

After several long minutes, I had finally stopped crying and was just staying in the moment. I could see why no-one would want to leave...I didn't. But I had just promised to serve Him, so I had to go on living, until He called me home.

I sighed out.

"I'm ready." I breathed.

I could almost feel Him smiling.

"Until we meet again, child."

Gently, he pulled away and the light dimmed as He left.

The dove on the Arc flew away, and I knew it was the end of the experience.

Very shakily, I got back to my feet, and turned round to see the Angels.

Andrew was back and they were all watching me.

I breathed out.

"Andrew...?" I asked timidly.

"Yes?" he answered, approaching me.

"She's going to be ok isn't she?" I asked softly.

"Yes." He assured me, holding my shoulder.

I smiled, thinking of her being in God's presence.

I sighed out.

"Would you be able to lead me out of here?" I asked.

"We all will, except for Mika - he stays here to protect the arc." The irish one said.

I nodded.

The angels did indeed lead me out of the cave, and while I was walking with them, they revealed that God wanted me to fight evil in his name.

I would have power when I called for it, at any time.

Of course, I agreed readily.

How could I not fight for God after everything that had just happened?

As the months went on, I spread the word of God, then moved on to fighting bad humans who needed changed...murderers and pedophiles and such.

I was beyond happy in my work, especially when I could save lives.

On the two-year anniversary of my mother's death, I travelled to a town called Ascention.

I had heard that a whole school of children had cruelly been taken away by an explosion.

I knew the town needed help to turn back to light in the midst of their unimaginable grief.