Soham wasn't sure how long he had been sobbing alone in the endless void when a soft voice called his name.
"Soham."
He lifted his head slowly, tears still shimmering in his reddened eyes. A warm, gentle light began emanating from the darkness in front of him, dispersing the shadows. Squinting against the sudden brightness, he thought he could make out the silhouette of a woman.
"Who's there?" Soham called out nervously. "Where am I?"
"Do not be afraid, my child," the soothing voice replied.
As the light intensified, Soham shielded his eyes. He could make out the radiant figure of a beautiful woman in flowing white robes, floating above the invisible surface. Her face looked so familiar...
"Mom?" Soham asked tentatively. "Is that you?"
The glowing woman nodded, her eyes crinkling affectionately. "Yes Soham, in a sense. Although in this form, I am not the mother you knew on Earth."
"What do you mean?" Soham rubbed at his still-wet cheeks, utterly confused. "If you're not my mom, then who are you?"
"I am the eternal aspect of your mother that resides within the divine realm," she explained patiently. "When you perished in the mortal world, our profound connection allowed me to reach you here in this void between realms."
Soham struggled to comprehend her meaning. But seeing his mother's familiar visage comforted his aching heart. He stepped forward into the light, feeling its warmth blossom within him.
"Is this...heaven?" Soham asked hesitantly.
The radiant woman smiled. "Some may call it that. This is a realm beyond the physical, reserved for divine beings and awakened souls."
Soham's mind raced with questions. "So I really am dead? And you're like my mom's soul?"
"In simple terms, yes," she nodded. "I am the embodiment of her divine essence."
Overcome with emotion, Soham rushed into her open arms. "Mom!" He embraced her tightly, tears flowing anew, as she returned the hug. Her protective glow enveloped him.
After what felt like an eternity, the divine woman gently stroked Soham's hair and released him. Wiping the tears from his cheeks, she spoke compassionately.
"My dear child, would you like to be reborn into a new world?"