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"To die, to sleep -
To sleep, perchance to dream - ay, there's the rub,
For in this sleep of death what dreams may come..."
― William Shakespeare, Hamlet
I couldn't grasp the idea that this was the end.
That after a life, albeit a short one in my case, we would find ourselves in a place beyond existence. I pondered whether the absence of a belief system or spiritual faith during my lifetime had any influence on my current whereabouts.
Because if that had been the case, it would explain why I was nowhere.
Literally.
Where I was, time had no relevance.
In the afterlife—or wherever this place was—there was no concept of time.
No twenty-four-hour days, no three-hundred-sixty-five days a year to remind you of your vitality. That's right, time was non-existent here. And let's not overlook the fact that in just a blink of an eye, your whole perspective—or even your location—can significantly change.
In one blink, I found myself floating above the Pacific Ocean, observing from above the body I once inhabited, now lifeless and adrift in the dark waters. With another blink, I was transported elsewhere.
There was neither an angel nor a grim reaper to guide me down a tunnel of light or into a vortex that would engulf my essence or soul. I did not find myself standing before an ancient figure poring over the Book of Life, nor did I approach pearly gates with angels poised to welcome me. I did not blip out of existence either or I would not be having these conscious thoughts, would I? The concept of reincarnation did not fit my experience either, for I remained myself — not in a physical sense of course.
Evidently, no existing religious doctrine had accurately captured what I was experiencing. Was it even appropriate to label this phenomenon as an "afterlife"?
That is not to imply that my existence was confined to simply being... here , imprisoned within a monochrome chamber with nothing on the horizon. Quite the contrary, I found myself in a location that was strikingly beautiful.
Never in a million years could I have envisioned beholding such a marvel during my lifetime.
I found myself gracefully adrift at what appeared to be the very edges of the universe! I beheld familiar planets as they leisurely orbited the sun. Earth, with its resplendent blue hues, seemed to float aimlessly against the dark backdrop of the cosmic tapestry. Before me, spread the Milky Way Galaxy, showcasing its awe-inspiring beauty in full splendor!
It was breathtakingly beautiful...
A sudden longing for the world I had left behind washed over me, nostalgia permeating what remained of my senses. Memories of my former life flashed before my eyes. Despite having been only nineteen at the time of my death, there were enough precious moments sprinkled throughout my lifetime that I couldn't possibly have recalled all of them while still alive.
Then, as if on cue, I felt a sudden pull from within.
As I experienced when I first died, I encountered what seemed to be an expansive view of the galaxy. Everything merged into a canvas of twinkling stars from my vantage point. Had I retained the breath in my lungs, the sheer awe of the sight would have elicited a gasp.
Words fall short of capturing the immense beauty; it was mesmerizing, beyond any description, this magnificent spectacle before me.
At the heart of this breathtaking scene was a gently swirling, bright white vortex, encircled by a kind of protective barrier. Instinctively, I knew that was where I belonged.
After all, the culmination of nineteen years of my life had directed me to this very moment.
Note: The galaxy scene was inspired by a scene from the movie Contact and yes, the scene itself was beyond explanation for the main character in that movie as well.
I will like to take this time to point out that the length of these chapters were done on purpose. My goal is to not only challenge myself to stick within a specific word count but also to stretch my creativity and fully express my ideas within the constraints I set for myself. Because of this I am contemplating updating this story on a weekly basis.
Thank you for reading!