The cello music played through the room. The tape briefly stuttered, leaving the room quiet except for the small beep of a hurt monitor and the gasps of the occupant of the room. The man tried to get up. He was defeated half way up from the bed. His arms gave out and he flopped back onto the bed.
The cello returned but this time not alone. A voice joined in. A slightly masculine part of the voice tainted the angel music for most, but not for the man.
He smiled between gasps for air. The pain flooded away from his limbs and heart. His mind was taken away from his body. The old, dried out, and used up crust wasn't his body anymore. He didn't have a body anymore. He was free now. The past no longer weighed on him. He was with the music.
The music pulled him with it. He was the music and the music was the only thing in the world. It led him through good times never experienced but hoped for.
His mother was alive. His father loved him. His friends were sane and healthy.
Was he in heaven? Maybe. He didn't care.
He was happy and that was all that mattered.
Actually he knew where he was. He was in the dream world where he always knew he would find happiness. The music had helped him leave the real world like he wanted to.
Something was missing. No, someone. He looked around. He asked his friends. They shook their heads; they didn't know. He looked, and as he looked, he grew older.
He had reached the age of fifteen again and was still looking. The waves played a soft music to his ears. He smiled down on them from his look out pint on the edge of his cliffs.
A soft voice mixed with the wave's lullaby. He turned around.
"Kaoru..."
"Shinji, are you ready?"
Shinji nodded. "Yes, I have been waiting."
Kaoru scooped him in his warmth and they flew.
Shinji slept. Forever.
The life monitor stopped.
The room was silent.