"Papa?" Jess called as she went through the door.
"In here." a voice called back, and Jess followed it to the kitchen, where she found Papa preparing herbs, and Barry sitting near her.
"How you doing?" Jess asked him, smiling.
He nodded.
"It was horrible...but amazing too - and now I feel good. Really good!" he answered, eyes wide.
Jessica grinned and Papa, happy.
"Yes, friend - and I hope you will always feel this good!" Jesus informed Barry from behind Jess.
Barry nodded, but remained silent.
"Papa, I caught a big fish!" Jessica exclaimed excitedly.
"Brilliant, Jess!" she was praised, "here, I have some herbs all set up - Barry did you say you would cook it?"
Barry nodded and stood up.
"Jessica, I think you're in need of a snack while the fish is prepared and cooked," Jesus said wisely, "come."
So, Jess out the fish on the bench and sat on the table with Sarayu.
"Sarayu! I've hardly talked to you!" Jess stated apolgetically.
Sarayu laughed, and Jess was almost blown away with the beauty of it.
"You have spent far more time with me then you may think...I am a spirit remember? Every time you have been talking with Papa or Jesus, you have aslo been talking with me - I am everything that you feel when connecting with God." she explained.
"Oh...of course! Ha...thank you Sarayu, the feelings were most enjoyable!"
Jesus and Sarayu started laughing then, and Jess joined in happily, before her stomach rumbled again, and she actually could feel how hungry she was.
"Alright, food!" Jesus instructed, clicking his fingers.
A fresh plate appeared in front of her.
It was the same food seen before when they were meant to sit down for supper, but a little less, and Jessica noted that these foods appeared to be satisfying but light...basically perfect snack material.
"Thank you." she said humbly, bowing her head slightly.
Jesus smiled and nodded, eyes sparkling.
"Thanks Papa!" she shouted in the kitchen.
"You don't need to shout Jess, I'm always right beside you too." her voice replied.
Jess shook her head happily and finally began to eat.
It was delicious, whatever it was, and she found herself full very quick.
"That was great." she stated when she was finished.
She sat back and sighed out, content.
"How about you and I go out on the boat while Barry cooks the fish here?" Jesus invited.
"I'd love to!" Jess excaimed.
"Good! But maybe you'll be getting sick of walking?" Jesus asked playfully, and clicked his fingers.
All at ounce, they were at the peer.
"Woah, that's amazing!" Jess shouted, excited.
Jesus laughed at her.
"Come on then." he invited, holding out his hand.
They climbed onto the boat and rowed to the middle of the lake before stopping.
Jessica looked around her, allowing herself to be taken in by the beautiful.
"It's amazing." she whispered.
"You like the mountain?" Jesus asked her.
"Yeah, it looks great." she laughed, "I've always wanted to climb one."
"Hmm, well if we go now, I can get us home just as the fish is cooked." Jesus stated.
Her eyebrows shot up and she looked at him.
"Seriously? Go climb a mountain?"
"Why not?" he laughed.
Jess began hysterically laughing, and nodded her head.
"Ok, I'd love to!"
"Come on then!" Jesus called, jumping out the boat, landing on top of the water.
"Oh that is so cool!" Jess stated in awe, "what's it like?"
"Join me, and you'll find out for yourself." Jesus replied.
"Oh cool!" she laughed, immediately jumping out the boat.
The landing was incredible soft - it was like walking on land but...not?
Jess had a huge grin on her face.
"THIS is amazing!" she whispered, "thank you for sharing this with me."
"My pleasure - race you." Jesus laughed back, begining to run.
Giggling, she chased after him - as they ran, fish tickled Jess' feet, and she shook her head at how bizarre, but wonderful, it all was.
They reached the shore in no time.
"Alright, you've never climbed a mountain before, so trust me and please do as I say." Jesus instructed.
Jess touched his arm.
"Always." she promised.
Jesus smiled, eyes shining, and they began the climb.
At first it was a very easy slope, gradually getting steeper as they continued upwards.
Jess looked around, already enjoying the view.
The lake sparkled in the sun's light, and the shack was surrounded by beautiful flowers.
Smiling, she continued, following Jesus who had took the lead.
"Alright Jess, it's gonna get harder now - it pretty much steep edges now to climb up, so let me go first and I'll lift you up." Jesus called back.
Jess' heart fluttered.
"Think you already have." she muttered to herself, forgetting momentarily that Jesus could hear her.
She heard him chuckling as he climbed up.
She grinned, waiting for instruction.
He turned back and held his hand out.
She reached out, feeling highly spiritual and took his hand.
He handled her weight easily and pulled her up.
She giggled.
"This is so cool!" she stated, excited.
"Wait til you get to the top." he teased, nudging her.
Her eyes grew wide at the thought, and eagerly she cotinued.
The climb did indeed get harder, but Jess found if she trusted Jesus, he got her higher and higher with ease.
About halfway up, there was a gentle slope going round.
Jesus went off ahead while Jess slowed to a gentle pace, simply enjoying it.
But as she turned the corner, she came to face with a hug brown bear!
She hasped and froze, finding herself utterly terrified.
The bear roared at her in warning, so she slowly tried to back off, but felt her foot slip on the face of the mountain.
She was trapped, and the bear was getting angry.
"Easy." she whispered, trying to find a solution.
The bear stood on its back legs, roaring fiercely, and Jess started shaking in terror.
"Jesus?" she called pitifully.
Just like that, his voice was heard from behind the bear.
"Go now, bear!"
The bear didn't seem to realise who had spoken though, and angrily swiped at Jess, who screamed and fell back.
She grabbed the edge with one hand, and found herself hanging of the side of the mountain.
She started to cry from fear and pain, but managed to grab the edge with her other hand too.
The bear however, was very angry now from her scream, and began biting her hands.
"Jesus help me!" Jess cried, now in agony, and afraid that she would let go.
"I am here Jessica. Trust me." came his voice.
She breathed out, still afraid, but faithful that she would not die from this.
"Bear, I am the creator and master of this world. You should obey me. Go now." she heard.
She breathed out, closing her eyes.
She kept forgetting, because of all the fun, that this really was a very religious experience, and shouldn't forget who Jesus truly was.
The bear calmed at once and let out a soft growl of acknowledgement, and left.
Jesus appeared at the edge and grabbed Jess' now bloodied hands.
He pulled her up quickly.
She breathed out shakily, the adrenalin that had been surging through her starting to die down.
She remained on her knees, realising it was less energy, and tried to calm down.
Tears came then as she realised what had happened.
"You...you saved me! Thank you!" she choked meaningfully.
Jesus sighed and crouched in front of her.
"Let me see your hands." he ordered gently.
She obeyed and held them out for him.
He softly rubbed his fingers over hers, and the blood vanished. The wounds from the bites looked bad, but Jesus rubbed these too and they immediately healed, leaving scars behind.
Jess nodded in gratitude - every time she looked at her hands, she would see the scars and be reminded of this experience.
"Thank you." she breathed again.
Jesus hugged her.
"You are most welcome - thank you for trusting me and calling for me when you needed help." he said softly.
She nodded - no more words were needed.
"We don't have to go back do we?" Jess asked softly.
Jesus shook his head.
"Not if you don't want to." he answered.
"I wanna get to the top." she smiled.
"Then let's go!" he smiled back, lifting her up to her feet.
The rest of the journey was pretty easy in comparison, and at long last, they reached the peek.
Climbing up, Jessica's breathe was taken away.
The sight was outstanding.
Everywhere she looks was just pure beauty.
She could still see the shack, with smoke coming out the chimney, and from this high, she saw something else.
"Oh look at the flowers!" she cried out, laughing in amazement.
Jesus grinned.
"Yes Jess - the flowers make a shape - its called a fractal pattern. And see? They look like you and Barry."
Jess breathed out.
"It's so beautiful." she stated.
Jesus held her shoulder.
"That is how we have always seen you. A mess in truth, but forming something beautiful."
Jess smiled, touched and nodded, thankful.
Then, she noticed something else.
In the middle of her garden...one could argue the heart...lay another garden, with a tree in the middle.
She cocked her head to the side and thought about it, before realising.
She looked down, now sad.
"Jesus?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, Jess?" he answered, his voice very soft.
"You know...you know when I was on holiday?" she started, keeping her eyes fixed on the tree.
"Yes?"
"Did...did I have a miscarriage?"
There, she had asked.
Jesus sighed out, and let some tears fall.
"Yes."
Emotion surged through Jess and she was winded for a moment.
Slowly, she knelt down on the edge of the cliff, closing her eyes as she tried to compose herself.
She didn't ask why.
On holiday she drank an awful lot of alcohol and smoked, plus the actual flight there - she was certain these contributed to losing her baby.
She closed her eyes tighter, trying to control her breathing.
"What...was...was the baby a girl or boy?" she choked.
Jesus gently held her shoulder.
"She was a girl." he answered.
Jess nodded.
"Did uh...did she get to go to heaven?" she asked, simply letting the tears fall now.
Jesus made her look at him.
"Of course! She is there now, and can't wait to see you. But she is patient."
Jess bit her lip, and gave herself a few moments.
"What's her name?" she asked.
Jesus looked thoughtful.
"Well, we have not named her - you are her mother, and it is your job. What would you like to call her?" he asked gently, rubbing her shoulder.
Jess thought long and hard.
She thought of many different names and their meanings.
Finally, one came to mind and stuck, filling her with joy.
"Annalisa." she answered softly, almost crying again.
Jesus sat next to her.
"Her name means 'graced with God's bounty' - it suites her well." he told her kindly.
Jess nodded, smiling at the thought.
She let go and started crying, bitter at the thought of not meeting her little girl.
Jesus held her as she wept, and silently waited patiently.
"Let it all out." he whispered.
And that is exactly what she did.
She wept and wept as she thought of all she would miss...the birth, the first tooth, scraped knees, crushes, tantrums...everything.
This went on for about 10 minutes before she dried up, then she closed her eyes and simply thought silently.
"She'll always be with you." she whispered.
"Always." the great one promised.
Jess sighed and leaned forward.
"You...and Sarayu and Papa - you'll love her even more than I can love her...and that's with all my being! I should be happy for her - she has never had to suffer in life - she has only known your grace." she prayed.
She closed her eyes.
"Please - please just let her know how much I love her - how much I want her...until I can be with her." she pleaded, conncecting her very spirit with the holy trinity.
She breathed out at the powerful experience and finally opened her eyes.
Jesus had been watching and listening, some tears falling from him.
It touched Jess deeply and she gulped before continuing.
"You are Lord. Elohim, God on High...and you really deserve it for how much love and mercy you show. I needed this, truly, and Annalisa needed a name. Despite my *huge* sins, you forgave me. You have given me the most incredible experience of my entire life, and nothing else will ever come close. I cannot even begin to express the joy you have given me. The love I have felt from you, and the love I feel FOR you. I was so shy before today, but it doesn't matter now - I can say with all my heart that you are truly wonderful, and good. I...I canot even express it! How grateful I am to you." she expressed, her voice thick with raw emotion.
Jesus closed his eyes, very touched.
"I know you are - and thank you. Thank you very much. Come, let's go back to the shack and sit together and eat the fish you caught." he invited, his voice incredibly soft.
Jess nodded and when she blinked, they were there.
She grinned straight away when she realised she was still kneeling, but now in front of Papa, who was sitting at the table.
Papa was smiling, her eyes full of joy.
"Good trip?" she asked.
Jess chuckled.
"Like you don't know!" she quipped, eyes full of glee.
Papa, Sarayu and Jesus all started laughing then, and joining in, Jess slowly stood up and searched for Barry.
"He's in the kitchen," Sarayu informed her, "come sit with us - Barry has asked that he serve us the meal."
"Aww." Jess said quietly, amazed at the change just one day with God had done for him.
She really was touched at the spiritual side of it...serving God was something she never though Barry would do.
She tried to distract herself from it - to normalise it.
"Papa?"
"Yes, Jessica?"
"Will I ever have a baby?" she asked. She tried to keep the question normal, but everyone heard the emotion she was trying to hide.
"Yes, Jessica. I won't say when...but one day, you will have a beautiful daughter." Papa replied gently.
Jessica blinked.
"Promise?" she asked.
Papa nodded.
"I promise."
Jessica smiled.
"Well...when she is born, maybe I'll call her Elizabeth...or Beth for short."
Papa nodded thoughtfully.
"That is very beautiful - meaning "God's oath." It will suite her just as well as Annalisa's name suites her." she stated.
Jessica smiled, touched.
Just then, Barry appeared with the fish.
Carefully, he served everyone a plate of fish.
It had all sorts of herb on, and Jess truly found it fantastic as they tucked in.
"This is really good!" she praised, making Barry blush.
The meal was enjoyed very much and everyone began talking about amazing things that happened on Earth, and Jess was epecially curious about the bible stories. All her questions were answered, no problem, and Barry too got to learn, and understand God much more than he thought possible.
When it was all over, Jess sighed - she was incredibly content.
But then a sad thought occured to her.
"Papa? What happens now? We have been taught so much today and have been redeemed - we understand who you are now and have had an incredible experience. But the day is almost over?"
Papa smiled, a little sadly.
"This has been a very special day for both of you. But you have learned everything you can. So, now you have a choice. You may stay with us forever in heaven...or you can stay on earth and live your life." she explained.
Jess looked at Barry, unsure.
She had never been so happy, and wanted to stay very much...but she also wanted to live and tell everyone she met about her amazing experience, so that they too could know who God really was.
"If I stay, I will be able to meet Annalisa. But then...Elizabeth will never know what it is to live, and I won't be able to tell people about this outstanding day...so I will miss you with all my heart, but I want to continue living. I know you'll always be with me, and I know you will always hear my prayers." she decided, looking in Papa's eyes.
Papa smiled, eyes sparkling.
"You will join me in Heaven one day," she stated, "but until that day, go out and spread the lesson that you have learned."
"I absolutely will! Thank you so much for bringing us here." Jess breathed.
Then, she turned to Barry.
"What do you want to do?" she asked gently.
Barry looked down and sighed.
"I don't know..." he answered honestly, "I know you said before when you stopped me from jumping, that I was created to live loved. But other than that, I physically cannot do anything. I am slowly getting worse every day, and the pain grows every day too. I have never felt so much love, ever. This has been the greatest day of my whole life...and I don't want to leave - I want to always be with you!" he confessed, now looking at Papa, "is it wrong? not wanting to go back?" he asked quietly.
Papa shook her head with assurance.
"No, Barry. I gave you a choice, so how could it be wrong to choose? If it is what you truly want, then you may certainly come with us."
Jess looked down, knowing this was all bittersweet.
"Jessica? I'll miss you." Barry stated suddenly.
She breathed out.
"I'll miss you too." she smiled, tears threatening.
She blinked and looked at Jesus.
"So, what happens now? How do I go back home, while Barry stays?"
"Go to bed, just through there - when you wake, you will no longer be here." he answered.
Jess sighed and slowly stood up.
First, she hugged Barry.
"See you when I get to heaven." she smiled.
He nodded, letting tears come.
Next, Jess hugged Sarayu.
"You are God is spirit, so I know that when I feel God around me, I'm feeling you - you will always be close by me." she whispered.
"Yes, I will." Sarayu promised, her voice incredibly sweet.
Now, she turned to Jesus.
He already had his arms open ready when she came to him.
"I cannot begin to express how grateful I am for what you have done for me today...and what you did all those years ago. When I pray, it will be in your name, and I'll know that you will always be listening to me...whether answering or simply hearing me talk about my day. I can't wait to see you again!" she breathed, hugging him tighter.
Jesus was silent, but hugged her back just as tightly.
Finally, Jess let go and went to Papa.
"Papa - you have made all of this possible with your incredible love and mercy. When I live my life, I will always be thinking about you, and will always show others the same love, kindness and mercy you have given me today, and I will tell everyone what has happened here." she promised, deeply moved by the spiritual moment.
"You are blessed in the highest, Jessica Kelly. ALWAYS remember that. I will always hear you. See you. Be with you. And I will see you again when you pass over into my kingdom." Papa told her, and Jess could tell she meant every word.
She let tears come, but this time, they were joyful ones.
She hugged Papa tightly, and stayed there for several moments, not really wanting to let go.
In the end though, she had to, and gently pulled back.
"I love you." she whispered.
"And I love you - more than you could ever imagine." Papa answered, voice full of passion.
Jess nodded, and smiling, went into the room and climbed into bed.
Fully exhausted from the outstandingly long day full of emotions and tonnes of excercise, she fell asleep immediately.