A Place in Heaven

It all started the day she died. She didn’t remember how much time had passed since then. Time was now fluid. She didn’t have any notion of day or night; she didn’t remember the last coherent thought she had; she didn’t know whether she was even conscious or whether this was just a dream. She felt, as if in a perpetually drugged state; floating around in some subconscious realm she didn’t quite understand or question. She did however know that she was on her way somewhere; that this was the journey, and not the destination. She didn’t remember anything else though, not her name, not her identity.

  “Temporary amnesia”, the Caretaker had said. It happens to all beings passing through the barrier. “It’s something like jetlag. It’ll go away in a few moments and you will remember everything.” For some reason, when she thought about the Caretaker, she felt a deep comfort, unlike anything she had ever felt before.

As she moved towards the light, her memory started returning. Her mother’s famous chocolate mud cake, her’s and John’s first kiss, Nathalie’s fifth birthday, Danny’s graduation. It all came back to her slowly. First the good, and then the bad, the cancer spreading to her bones, the chemotherapy, the endless hospital visits and then finally, the day she passed. She was mostly out of it by then; but she remembered, that just before she gave up completely, the Caretaker had granted her some time to say good bye to Nathalie and she had hungrily taken it.

Now though, she sensed she was nearing the end of her journey. The Caretaker would be waiting on the other side to issue her the duties. The tasks she needed to complete to earn, her place in heaven. The Caretaker smiled upon her arrival. He extended His hand to her and she took it. He pulled her up and in a flash, she was in a white marble lined room. It was beautiful and grand. The most beautiful thing she had even seen.

“Sit”, the Caretaker mildly instructed. She saw a chair appear in the middle of the room. She took her place and waited. The Caretaker sat on another chair that had appeared opposite her. “Gracie, my dear, you have done me proud with your life. The way you have lived is exactly the way life should be lived. I am happy. But like almost all of my Creation, you have done some minor things which I find disheartening. And for that, you have to complete your duty. The task that I have assigned to you will be that of a Guardian.”

“A Guardian? You mean Guardian Angel?”

“Yes Gracie, a Guardian Angel.”

“Whom will I be protecting?”

“Your very own daughter, Nathalie.”

“But that is wonderful! Protecting my daughter, keeping her out of harm’s way even after I am gone! That’s a duty I will gladly do”, cried Gracie.

“Oh but Gracie, there is a catch, you must only protect her when she is in physical danger. Not otherwise. She must always make her own decisions and you must not interfere with that in any way whatsoever. If you do, there will be only punishment.” The Caretaker gravely informed her. “You must not show yourself to her, and you must not in any way influence her decisions on anything. No matter how trivial it may be. She, just like any other man in my Creation, has the will, the free will, to do whatever she pleases and you must not get in the way of that.”

“Yes, I understand”, said Gracie. “When do I get to see her?”

“Go through that door”, the Caretaker said, pointing to a place behind her. “You will find yourself in another chamber just like this, equipped with a bed. Lie down and rest your eyes. When you next awaken, you will be in the time and place of you duty.”

“Thank you Caretaker, for giving me such a delightful task”, said Gracie and she stood up and moved towards the door. “Do not thank me yet Gracie. And remember, do not interfere.”

Gracie opened the door and entered the adjoining chamber. It was a room just as beautiful as the first but a little smaller. There were no windows or any furniture other than the bed the Caretaker had told her about. Gracie moved towards the bed, and found that she was extremely tired. She lay down and immediately closed her eyes. She didn’t remember anything after that.

Reviews

[Wayne Rockmore]

Fascinating, mysterious story! I liked it very much. The repetition of the command to not interfere in her daughter's life, except when in physical danger, felt like a set-up to a dilemma that we might be privy too. I was just wondering if that is the end of the story or does it continue? Good story! I look forward to reading your others.

[N_Isaac]

There's more to come. :)

[Violet Stone]

Lovely story and by the way, I noticed you were new so welcome to writers cafe! Good luck on your future work! :)