"Huh?..."
I woke up in the dark, unable to tell the difference between open and closed eyes. Walking on the strange, endless floor, I felt nothing when I reached out. I sat down and thought about my situation, unsure whether I was dreaming or dead. I was confused. Time passed without hunger or thirst, and the dark room was conducive to contemplation. Eventually I got bored and fell asleep, but woke up still trapped. I saw a distant light and ran towards it, but it remained out of reach. Fearing it was moving away, I resigned myself to watching it from familiar ground.
"Hey, is anyone there?!" I shouted as loudly as I could, hoping the light would stop moving.
Minutes went by with no response. I stood up and walked towards the light, hoping it would eventually tire out. Hours and possibly days passed as I followed the light in a repetitive cycle. The terrain remained unchanged, and I felt neither hunger nor thirst. I continued to follow the light endlessly, contemplating Jesus along the way as a Christian. I shouted,
"Jesus, help me, I'm lost!" with hope and passion to continue following the light.
What happened next was surprising. The light started to expand and grow brighter for the first time. I ran towards it, and it continued to increase in brightness. As I approached, the light stopped moving. I could see my hands and legs, and I smiled as colors and brightness surrounded the light. The first words that came to mind were,
"This is truly beautiful." which I said with a smile.
When I reached out and touched the light, it was the most pleasant sensation I had ever felt. A gentle warmth and love enveloped me from within. I embraced the light and sat beside it, gazing at my reflection. I noticed my nails were long, as if I hadn't trimmed them in months, and my thick, white hair cascaded down my back. Surprisingly, I was dressed in my elegant white shirt from high school and also my comfortable white sweatpants. That's because I was tired and fell asleep so I changed only my pants. Everything around me, including my pale skin and the surroundings, was white, contrasting with the dark and gloomy abyss. Finally experiencing peace, I smiled, lifted my head, closed my eyes, and expressed gratitude to Jesus,
"Thank You Jesus with all my heart for Your goodness and help." Saying these words, I felt as if I had run a marathon and Jesus was waiting for me at the end.
Suddenly, a warm and gentle rain began to fall, gradually turning into a drizzle as the soft drops landed on my face. I was surprised because it was the first time it rained. It was a memorable experience that I will always cherish. As I opened my bright blue eyes, I smiled at the light, which seemed alive. Soon after, I heard a faint fluttering of wings. Assuming it was a bird, I turned towards the sound, only to be surprised by what I saw.
"An angel?!" I thought to myself and started looking for a place to hide because this heavenly spirit looked terrifying. But after a while, when the angel was close enough, I heard,
"Do not be afraid" said the messenger of God with a soft voice.
Upon hearing those words, I widened my eyes and halted my escape, experiencing a strange sense of déjà vu. It felt as though I had heard those words before, perhaps in the Bible where angels often used them to reassure and calm people. I turned slowly to gaze at the winged figure once more.
"How can I help you?" I knew he was likely here at God's request. With a serious expression, I gave a lot of attention to him, prepared for anything.
"God has sent me here to deliver important information to you" he stated looking at me expectantly.
"I'm listening" I replied, feeling focused and curious.
"God knows what you need and has answered your prayer. Since you died in your dream of a heart attack, you will go to another world to finish what you started" the heavenly creature gazed at me, anticipating a reply.
"I understand, angel. Thank you very much for your effort" I offered him my relaxed smile.
I realized that if these words were true, I had arrived in a realm known as Purgatory. It is a place where God provides the means for individuals to purify themselves of their imperfections before entering heaven. The messenger of God appeared human-like, clad in radiant, snow-white robes that gleamed like lightning. Though I couldn't discern his exact features, I could see the brilliant white attire and a set of large wings extending from his back.
"John, be blessed, and may your guardian angel protect you in the vast world of Locfaiion." Although I couldn't see my new friend accurately, I could definitely see his caring face full of compassion.
"Thank you very much, thank you" I looked at him as if he was my best friend.
"It's time for me to go. The light will guide you. Follow it" my new friend suggested as he flew high and fast.
I waved goodbye to him, smiled from a distance, and then followed the light. It led me to a strange void that was soon illuminated. I saw something indescribable - a portal, a gate, or whatever you prefer to call it. It was circular, with colorful mist swirling into yellow egg-shaped circles that seemed inviting. The light paused abruptly, almost as if bidding me farewell.
"Thank you for everything, my guiding light in the tunnel" I smiled warmly, chuckled at my own attempt at humor, and embraced the light one final time before stepping through the portal...