"Life is full of seemingly unjustifiable events. We look upon this tragic scene—the death of these loved ones and the hundreds of others involved in the accident—and seek explanations. Why would this happen? How could God allow it? I know that everyone in this building, and perhaps most of England, is asking these and many similar questions. The only answer I can give you is—"

Susan's attention drifted from the words Father Bainbridge was speaking. Her eyes were locked on the two rows of coffins lined up along the front of the cathedral. There they were—her parents, siblings, cousin, and friends—sealed inside nine identical caskets, each with a bouquet of red, pink, and yellow roses atop the closed lid.

Susan looked around at the sad faces. She saw the Scrubbs and Poles and felt pity for them. They lost their children over a silly childhood fantasy. Why did Lucy have to drag them onto that train…for silly old Narnia? Susan knew that Eustace and Jill believed Narnia was real. In fact, they claimed to have gone themselves. None of them would have been on that train if they had just grown up! Susan thoughts were all confusing now. She had been under so much stress and grief the past few days. Or was it anger? Susan was mad at her brothers for encouraging Lucy and her cousin to meet them on the train platform, but she was angrier with herself for not being there with them. I should have died with them. I should be in Narnia—in Aslan's Country—with them right now. Susan suddenly realized the error of having a thought like that: it would mean that Narnia was real and that Peter, Edmund, Lucy, Eustace, Jill, the Professor, and Polly were in Aslan's Country. What about mum and dad? They never went to Narnia at all. Would a person that had never been to Narnia go to Aslan's Country when they died? It was a good question, but Susan shrugged it off because Narnia wasn't real. Nobody could go to a made-up place—dead or alive. I just wish I had died with them. Susan began to sob.

**

Susan Pevensie kneeled down beside her sister's tombstone.

"Well, Lucy. I'm sorry I haven't been here in so long. The truth is I just couldn't bear it back then. It was all so sudden. Today's newspaper featured a front page article discussing the 10-year anniversary of the accident. I miss you so much, Lu. Ten years! I've been so alone for ten years! Aslan told me I had a difficult path. Yes, Lu—I said His name. I know He is real and that you are in Aslan's Country now. I missed by chance by denying Aslan. He cried that night, you know. He cried because I was to never see Him or my family again. I can't join you, Lucy. As much as I want to now, it is too late! I know you are in a happy place now—Aslan's Country. I love you, my sister and my friend."

Susan stood up. She wiped the tears from her face and walked to the next grave: Peter's. She ran her fingers over the cold granite and thought about the High King.

"Peter, I made a mess of things! I wanted to grow up and put aside my childhood—to be an adult. Now, I am an adult, but it is at the expense of losing my family and Narnia. You tried harder than the others to bring me back. I am sorry I ignored your letters! I am sorrier than you might know because I lost Aslan in the process. Rest well, my brother and my King. I love you and I miss you, Peter."

The third grave in the row beneath the large PEVENSIE tombstone belonged to her younger brother, Edmund. She stood there quietly thinking for a while about what to say to him. Finally she knew the words she needed.

"I am sorry for everything, Ed. I love you, but I did a terrible job of showing it in the months before the accident. I ignored you and Peter and Lucy, but I now realize that it hurt you worst. You looked up to Peter, but in your own way, I see that you looked up to me as well. I never gave you the attention you sought from me, Ed. I am so sorry for that. I wish I had it to do over, but I can't. My chance is gone now! Rest well, little brother."

As Susan was walking away from the graves, she felt a warm breeze—familiarly sweet. She couldn't quite place where she had felt one like it. It wasn't just a physical breeze: it felt more emotional. It was like a breeze of comfort blowing in her direction from a source of complete comfort and peace. She grew slightly dizzy and disoriented. Susan was losing her balance and felt that she was going to fall so she knelt down in the cemetery. The breeze picked up its pace and now her hair was blowing wildly. Her disorientation was worsening. What is happening to me? Susan wondered.

After another minute of feeling dizzy and being windblown, Susan began to recover. The wind was calming now and she tried to stand up. She turned around to face the graves, but they were gone. She wasn't in a cemetery anymore. She was beside the most beautiful stream she had ever seen, surrounded by lovely meadows and blooming flowers. No, it cannot be!

Susan's joy was so overwhelming that she burst into laughter. She was in Narnia again.

Susan couldn't believe her eyes. Was it just a dream or a hallucination? Could she really be back in Narnia? It certainly feels real. She picked a flower and thought, it certainly smells real.

"Hello, Daughter of Eve," a deep voice spoke from behind her. She turned to see a Great Lion. He smiled at her. There were no tears in His eyes now.

"Aslan! Is it real? Is this a dream or am I in Narnia?"

"It is real child. You have taken a difficult journey and travelled a troubled road for what, in your time, were the past ten years. I was with you each step, Susan. The details and events of that journey are not as important as the place where the journey ends. This is where it ends, my child."

"You have forgiven me, Aslan? Will let me stay in Narnia—to be with my family? Surely you have forgiven me, though. You wouldn't have come to me unless you have forgiven me. Am I correct?"

Aslan smiled, but said nothing. He turned and began walking away from Susan. She followed closely behind, remaining silent. They walked for a mile or so through the meadow until Aslan stopped. He faced Susan and seemed to be thinking a long while before speaking.

"Susan, why do you seek forgiveness?"

"I want to be forgiven because I am sorry for what I have done. I have denied your existence and that of Narnia. I have turned my back on you and on my family. I have missed them, and you, for the past ten years. I was wrong to say that Narnia was just a childhood fantasy—a made-up world. I am sorry, Aslan, and I want to make things right again! I want to see my family again, but most of all, I want you to love me again."

Aslan looked sad, but only momentarily. He looked deeply into Susan's eyes, as if He was looking directly into her very soul. Finally, He gave a big sigh before speaking to her.

"My child, I have never stopped loving you! I shall never do so. I could have brought you into Narnia on the day I last appeared to you. I did not because you were not ready to accept me at the time. Peter, Edmund, and Lucy were ready to enter Narnia—and I was ready for them to come that day. From your viewpoint, it appears that I have come to you now, but it is you that have come to me, Susan! It was always meant to be this way. I was sad because I couldn't bring you here that day, but I said: 'Only you can change your path now, child. It is a lonely path—you will have no one to help you—but follow your heart and you will find your own way.' Today, you have followed your heart and found your way here."

Susan ran to Aslan and put her arms around Him. Tears of happiness flowed down both their faces as Queen Susan was again welcomed back into the land of Narnia.