The Transition

My murder was expertly staged and flawlessly executed. No one survives a fall from a fifth-story balcony. As soon as I felt the hands push me, I knew I was going to see Heaven.

The final seconds of my life, even those when my body broke across the ground, felt incredibly surreal. My head pounded against the concrete, and shadows began to creep across my brain. They slowly erased every function I needed to survive.

I was surprised to see the jagged bones jutting through my arms. I’d always thought bones were pure white, but mine were ivory-colored. Dark red stains splashed across my torn limbs, and I knew those splotches were important, but I couldn’t remember why.

Without warning I was thrust into a darkness so dense it was a tangible substance. If I’d still had fingers, I could have pinched the blackness. Gentle breeze propelled me onward, although no frame of reference existed to tell me what direction I was going.

Suddenly, in accordance with every cliché in existence, a light in the distance penetrated the Void. Angels materialized. Arms reached for me. Beautiful voices rang through every molecule of my being. Peace, adoration, and bliss gently wove their way into my soul.

The darkness soon melted away completely, leaving only the beings of light. Vivid colors filled my consciousness, and the answers to every question ever asked saturated my mind.

“Welcome home,” cooed a soft whisper.

I reached for the Angel’s hand. I felt unspeakable love as I arrived in Heaven. My ancestors smiled warmly at me from the clouds above.

A sharp claw snagged my leg.

“No! She’s ours!” growled a raspy voice.

“No, no, there’s been a mistake!” I wailed.

The angels released me. The music faded, the light receded, and I descended. My broken body reassembled itself around my soul as I was thrown into the Pit. The bliss and peace I’d felt were replaced with unspeakable agony.