Blocks

 

“So…this is heaven?” Shaun asked, under his breath, into the oblivion. His hand scratched the back of his – still solid – bald head as he looked around at the nothingness. He spun round on the spot, twisting the void around him. Slowly, other solid shapes formed around him. As he imagined the world, as he called out into the oblivion, it began to be real.

He stopped spinning, and suddenly it was all gone again. Except a few, small, shapes in front of him on the floor.

“Oh… My… it’s – it’s really you!” He stuttered. His face was shocked, open mouthed as he stared down at the only thing in a sea of darkness.

“I’m so sorry. I know it wasn’t my fault, but… sorry” He lowered his gaze, looking at his own feet. At his long, adult legs. At his hands, so used and weathered. So old. He rubbed his brow, feeling the wrinkles on his dark skin.

“I should have done something. I knew something wasn’t right, that it wasn’t safe. Dad never listened though. I tried, so hard.” He twisted his aged fingers together, in a half prayer in front of his chest. “He was so…arrogant. Not that I knew what that word meant back then. But now…” He looked up where the sky should be “Now I have lived. Experience.” He sighed, a soft, gentle sigh that steadied his breaking voice.

“You didn’t miss much, after the accident. A lot of crying and yelling. They tried to save you, but you didn’t need saving did you?” He looked around, and a cup of tea and a chair appeared at his whim.

“It didn’t occur to you to come when we called. It’s so nice here…” He settled himself into the chair, and took the tea. He smiled down at the small boy sitting in front of him. His heart was lightened at the sight, it had been so long since he had seen him last.

“Sometimes I wondered what you would have grown up to be. You always loved that toy piano that Mum got you.” He sighed again, happier this time.

 

“It’s good to see you, big brother.” He smiled down at the five year old playing with brightly coloured blocks.

“Hi Shaun!!” The boy smiled up at his older brother, much older now. Aged by the world, when he had been sitting in this comfortable oblivion for over fifty years. “Want to play blocks?”

 

“More than anything” Shaun whispered, and sat down, cross-legged, on the floor.