Darkness of a second

This a short story that juxtaposes light and darkness as a non-believer found the light of salvation that Christ provides.

Cold! Cold! so cold. Hmm, I don't remember it being winter, perhaps this was what Gabriel meant when he spoke of the weather two weeks before he died. Oh, what a fine man he was.

Even at death, the thought of him burns like wildfire, bringing to mind every good thought then suddenly, one burst into tears for what a gentle soul lost.

O poor Mary! If I feel this way over a friend, I can't help but imagine what she must be going through.

Well, so I thought. I thought she would be crying herself to death, for heaven's sake possibly worst. But instead, her comments left me profoundly confused, I had to question her love.

After she had cried herself in the arms of loved ones, as should any woman who has just lost her husband, she got up, walking slowly through the room. Everyone was forced to fix their eyes on her.

While I watched, I wished in my heart it should have been me. These thoughts I kept on declaring, "death return him and take me instead, save this poor widow from sorrow".

While I was still pondering on my thoughts, Mary positioned herself in the middle of the stairs, gaining vintage so she could see everyone in the room.

For a long time, I had known Gabriel was one of those you could call "a born again Christian" but I didn't expect his entire family to be on that same boat. Now I see where Gabriel gets all of his support from, perhaps a family of deluded people.

Mary stopped sobbing, few seconds later then the room became quiet, I was quite sure I could hear my breath. It was as if everyone cried because Mary had cried. I became confused, I asked myself, aren't these his family members? Gabriel was so kind how could they stop crying? What is going on?

I was about to speak when she began. "I have not just lost my husband but my friend," looking at me she said, "you have not just lost a friend but a father," looking at his mother she said, "you have not just lost a son, but a son that dedicated his life to the cause, the cause that we all have been called heavenwards in Christ Jesus".

Then she continued, "therefore, we are confident that now he is with Christ right in the bosom of the Father, and now nothing can ever separate him from the Father. Of this, I am confident that in due time when I close my eyes in sleep, I will walk with him again in everlasting joy. We shouldn't weep for a soul who is not in anguish! We shouldn't weep for a soul who is not lost. Rather let's hold our tears for those that might perish if there is no regeneration of the heart."

At that moment I caught a cold foot, I couldn't stomach any more of this nonsense. I couldn't help but think she was talking about me when she said, "We shouldn't weep for a soul who is not in anguish! We shouldn't weep for a soul who is not lost. Rather let's hold our tears for those that might perish if there is no regeneration of the heart."

I took my coat which had been the talk of all who felt no sorrow at all. They couldn't understand why I had a coat on me. "It was summer about twenty-three degrees tonight", they said. Yet there I was with my coat feeling so cold as though it was already winter, out I went.

What a beautiful compound Gabriel has illuminated, by lights I could hardly tell what hour of the day it was. But I didn't have time to get married to the compound while I pondered on every word Mary spoke, especially the last part, it resonated with me.

After exiting the compound, I could feel every light sucked out of me. For a moment, I thought I felt my body descending to the ground, but no I am confident I was standing still? Oh well, it could be the aftereffect of the sudden transition from light to darkness. So, I thought.

The cold had gotten stronger, I could feel my body pleading with me aggressively with a trembling shake. What is this? It feels so weird, it's all over my body like clothing put on in the first seconds. I tried brushing my body with my hands, but my very hands have this clothe like thing on it as well.

I began trembling when I realized that for some seconds now, all I see was total darkness, darkness so deep that I could see how thick it was. At that moment I knew the cloth-like thing I felt was surely this darkness.

I turned around so I could return to the compound as I was only but a few steps from the gate. I couldn't put in words or thoughts what went through my whole being to find the gate no more, all there were thick clouds of darkness which I felt all over my skin, as though I was lost in the absence of space and time.

Never in my lifetime did I imagine myself crying in the dark, kneeling on the floor with my eyes closed and my face between my knees trying to hide from this darkness as Mary's words kept ringing in my ears, "We shouldn't weep for a soul who is not in anguish! We shouldn't weep for a soul who is not lost. Rather let's hold our tears for those that might perish if there is no regeneration of the heart."

There I was helpless, crying like a child forced to go to bed after his candy was taken. Helpless, so hopeless as I wept and begged to see light one more time.

With my face between my knees and my eyes shot, there it was, a light that penetrated my stronghold, I could see it even in my embrace.

With haste, I tried to look into the light to free myself from this prison. Then I heard with the calmest of voice. "Do not my child, or you will go blind, for I still have use of your eyes. Remain as you are, for when I am gone, go to Mary and tell her everything. For I am Jesus who has called you to a work much greater than yourself." Then the light I saw no more.

I opened my eyes as I stood from my kneeling position, only to find the gate I went through still closing behind me, for It was only but a second. With intense confusion, I pushed the gate before it could lock up. I made my way straight up to Mary for she is the one I was told to meet.

I explained to her just as it was with me and I understood what she meant by a regenerate heart. For the light of life has come into my dark and cold heart yet while I tried to hide in my darkness.

So must every one who comes to the Lord be, broken like a child whose candy was taken and forced to go to bed.

The kingdom of God is for those who are broken, who have realized that they cannot save themselves, and they repent from their sins and trust solely on Jesus as the only one who can save them through their faith, which produces good works as a fruit because of the love they have for Christ.

Author's Note

please I would love feedback either good or bad, please don't hold back, that is the only way I can improve if I know what I am doing wrong