I felt like I was floating in oblivion, never to find a light at the end of the tunnel. How long have I been in this state, I do not know. It felt like I've been here forever. The sight of faint light in what seemed an eternal darkness gave me hope. I slowly walked towards the light, and the more I get closer, my steps have become bigger. My pacing quicker, just as my heartbeat grew faster. The next thing I knew, I was running, as if I am chasing it, afraid that the light would disappear from my sight.
When I almost reached it, I ran faster, no -- in fact, I think I was leaping. I was trying so hard to get into the light as fast as I could. Until I felt that I was approaching it much faster like the speed of light. I realized I was no longer running or leaping, it felt more like as if I was gliding through the air until I realized I was being sucked by a force so powerful I couldn't fight it.
I found myself to what looked like a magnificent city. Its beauty is a sight to behold; I could not find a word to describe it. It's like a city up in the clouds. It's all lit up so bright, that I could clearly see everyone and everything even from afar. What fascinates me the most is the fact that there was never a source of light. It felt like the city is the light itself.
I saw a lot of people all arrayed in white wandering off, so I did the same. I was attracted by the biggest building in sight. It has huge fancy pillars that gave off a translucent appearance, almost like a crystal. I headed there since most of the people do. Inside, were plenty of doors that people get to randomly. I was about to get through the door in my right when I saw this one door opened. Like the pillars outside, it gave off a translucent color, which caught my attention. Before I knew it, I was approaching it, as if I was hypnotized by it.
"There you are. Come and sit down." Ushered the man behind the desk. I looked around, but the room was empty. There was nothing fascinating inside, except for white walls. I sat down cluelessly, wondering what would happen next.
"So, am I dead?" I casually asked. I always feared death, but having to go through such a scary event firsthand and seeing all the behind-the-scenes for real, I can say that dying is the easiest thing to do.
"Yes and No." the man answered. He got me puzzled with his answer.
"What do you mean, yes and no? I was at the hospital dying with cancer. Didn't I died in my sleep?" I muttered.
"Yes, you died, but you were not supposed to. According to your timeline, you were not supposed to die yet." He answered.
"Then why am I here? If I am not supposed to die, does it mean that I will have to go back?" I asked desperately. Honestly, if I am dead by now, I would happily rest in peace, than to go back to a sickly body inflicted with cancer . I thought to myself.
"It's because you followed the light. The light is what brings you to the afterlife. You chased it, so you were sucked right in. When you do that, your soul leaves your body for good. And you know what happens to bodies without souls right?" He said as he glides his hand across his neck in mid-air, making the 'you're dead' gesture.
"So what will happen to me now? Are you going to send me back to my body since I am not supposed to die yet?" I asked.
"I would like to send you back, but the problem is..." he said, then lets out a sigh.
"Your body has been brought to the mortuary already. It's been there for hours now, waiting to be taken to a morgue. We don't want to scare humans, and make them believe that undeads are real ." He continued. I didn't felt any regrets for myself after hearing that. I actually felt relieved because it meant that I can stay in the afterlife and move on.
"What will happen to me then?"
"At this very moment there is a person who is meant to die right now, but still they are holding on to her body, hoping that she will pull through."
"Wait, what her?! I am a guy, are you trying to tell me that you are sending me back to earth on a girl's body?!" I asked amusingly and puzzled at the same time.
"You have no other choice. We can't keep you here. You have to go back and continue living your life until your time comes."
"That is a girl! If I go back there, it's not my life I am continuing to live. It is her's! Its someone else's! Not mine!" I answered back. I am growing mad with this silly idea.
"Then do your best to make it your's." he said.
"Can't I just maybe, reincarnate? Be a baby again, and start anew?" I asked again.
"No, no, no. Reincarnations are only for those who died according to their timeline and have served some time in the afterlife." He reasoned out.
"C'mmon, there must be something for my case. This is not the first that it happened right?"
"First time actually." He answered as he shrugged.
"Then what happens to me if I come back?"
"You will wake up and you have a new body. Although the body has suffered some physical trauma, nothing doctors could fix these days –- of course, except cancer. At least, the body is cancer-free. Isn't that something to celebrate?" he said like as if he is trying to sell me something.
"So here's the deal. When you wake up, you won't remember anything –- thanks to the very useful solution we call 'amnesia'. Since the body has been into a coma for three months due to a terrible accident, amnesia is a very good excuse to have. You won't even know who you were in your previous life. We will give you permanent amnesia, so you won't have to be embarrassed about you know, seeing your own body, and doing other 'girly stuff'. You will start fresh as a baby –- without the messy part." He continued with a smirk, like as if he did a very good job.
"Enjoy your life!" he said waving goodbye. I didn't even had the chance to say anything further. Suddenly I was surrounded in total darkness as if the lights were shut off. I felt a rush of air, that the next thing I knew, I was falling the way Alice in Wonderland fell into the rabbit hole.
I felt a startling feeling; I could feel my heart beating so fast. I felt so weak, so tired that I am tempted to drift off to sleep without even thinking. I just wanna rest for a bit, I'll wake up later. I told myself, and then I dozed off.