Summary:
And finally a chapter where the darkness is banished! I start breathing again!
I cut it very short, because the following are really hard to write and I will need extra time to fix them, but I didn't want you to stay too long on hold, given the bad ending of the previous chapter...
Comments are greatly appreciated: please, let me know what you think!
Chapter:
While Ward was there, desperate by the realization of where he ended at last, hopelessly sitting in a bloody stinking mud swarming with all kind of disgusting insects, worms, spiders and scorpions, a light coming from above captured his attention.
He raised his head and fixed his stare on a beautiful creature, all surrounded with light. It was neither male nor female, but nonetheless it was incredibly graceful and beautiful.
He somehow understood immediately who it was: his guardian angel.
It reached him in a blink of an eye and it posed its hand on his shoulder, detaching from him a black creature that was clinging to his back and had tentacles that penetrated his heart and his brains.
Immediately after Grant experienced an incredible feeling of freedom and lightness, as if a boulder had been lifted off him. He felt like he finally could breath again!
It also struck him how that delicate hands could possibly feel so strong. It reminded him so much of Simmons…
And he felt a leap of sudden, pure joy in being gently touched once more, in having a friendly face to see and loving eyes to loose his in, in not being alone anymore!
The angel said with a delicate, harmonious voice and a gentle, mild smile:
"Don't be afraid.
Come with me.
Your pleadings have not remained unheard."
And then it took his hand in its and they flied up and up and up, leaving the Beast and that place of horrors and despair once and for all.
He hadn't words to express the relief that filled his soul in that moment…
He felt tears weeping down his cheeks and his heart light like a feather!
They reached a place that reminded him of the beautiful garden his grandmother had around her house when she was still alive. He was so happy, as a kid, when he could go and visit her! Those were the only moments of happiness in his infancy: he preserved those memories in his heart like a precious gift, and brought them back to mind when his hopes dwindled away and life in his parents' house became too hard.
The angel made him spin on his heels and he saw two doors.
On the left door there was written the word "Justice" and it was a very tall, impressive, dark wooden heavy door, absolutely scaring.
The other door, on the right, had carved on itself the word "Mercy" and was the opposite: it was welcoming, clean, inviting and pleasant, but short and humble. Someone of Ward's height should for sure bow head and shoulders to trespass it.
The angel explained the meaning of the two doors: "You see, when a man dies he is put in front of these two doors: Justice and Mercy. It is up to him to choose the one over the other."
"Who could possibly choose the door of Justice? It screams "danger" all over it!"
"You see, my dearest, it is tall. Everybody could walk erect, straight through it, while to enter in the door of Mercy anybody, excluding little child, would have to bow, to kneel down, even.
And a lot of men don't want to bow and kneel down in front of God, due to their pride, haughtiness and conceit.
Your father didn't want, John neither.
When you were falling in Hell, instead, you asked for mercy, you implored forgiveness.
And, early on, when you were presented with all your terrible sins, you regretted them and cried and felt such a great contrition and repentance that His heart was deeply touched.
You sent unconsciously to Him a request of forgiveness so pure, so true, so powerful to make the Heavens tremble.
And He forgave you."
"… He? …"
"Me".
A voice light like sea breeze, but oozing incredible power and authority, resounded in the garden and the light became warmer and brighter: it was like the entire place was suddenly flooded by the Sun and by the sound of a magnificent organ and a choir with thousands of voices singing a breathtakingly beautiful music.
It was astounding.
The angel fell on its knees and Ward followed immediately after, resting his forehead on the arm he laid on the upper knee.
Several moments passed by, while the music faded away, and so did the garden, and the angel.
And Ward remained alone.
With Him.