Death.....
What is it like after death? Nobody really knows.
Most mythologies claims that the soul, upon death, gets reincarnated. Some believe in heaven and hell and that one's destiny depends on his or her karma.
But none of that occur to me. I was not reincarnated, nor did I go to heaven or hell.
The only thing I knew was....
darkness—a vast, infinite space that appeared to consume even the slightest light.
I was trapped, alone. I had no body, no senses, no feelings. Maybe this was the hell that everyone told me about. But in this void, I felt nothing.
Or perhaps, for the first time, I felt at peace. The weight that I carried in life was finally gone.
I don't know how much time went by. Days? Years? Eternity?
But then—
A shiver. A mild disruption in this serene emptiness.
For the first time since I died, I felt something. A sensation. A shift.
And then I knew—I could open my eyes.
I had a body once more or rather I didn't...
I don't know what it was.
I slowly attempted to open my eyes.
But what I saw was—nothing. Complete emptiness.
I took a step forward. Then another. My body wasn't mine to control, yet it moved in a specific direction as if an unseen force was guiding it.
I continued walking—I don't know how long. Time was not important in this emptiness.
Then, finally, I spotted something.
Or rather… a person.I caught sight of a man.
No, he wasn't more than 25 . His face seemed to radiate an unearthly light, his white hair flaxen-bright in the blackness around him. The most gorgeous of angels would veil their faces with shame before this man—he was that stunning.
As I walked nearer, I noticed something.
It seemed to me like he was waiting for me.
The instant our eyes met, he started closing the distance between us. There was no hesitation in his footsteps, no doubt. And when he stood before me finally, he put his hand on my shoulder, his touch gentle and firm.
When he got near me he stared at me for a moment and..
Then, smiling, he said:
"All yours, my friend."
And suddenly—
His body started scattering into millions of tiny particles of light.
In the blink of an eye—he was gone.
My mind raced with a thousand thoughts. What did he mean by "all yours"? Why did he seem so familiar, as if I had known him for a long time? The confusion gnawed at me, twisting into something worse. No, I wasn't just confused—I was on the verge of going mad.
As I was trying to make sense of the strange circumstance, but suddenly I realized that there was another presence in the vicinity.
I glanced about.
There, in the darkness, sat an old man.
Curiously, despite my trying hard, I couldn't quite discern his face. I did not know why—it was as if something was blocking me from viewing it distinctly.
I faltered but proceeded to speak.
"Yo ! Old man . Who are you? And What is this creepy place?"
He said nothing, just gazing at me. His look was creepy—not aggressive, but as if he'd seen a ghost.
Even after what seemed like forever, he still hadn't responded.
Frustrated, I spoke louder. "Hey old man ! Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth ?"
Silence.
Utter silence that was all I got frim him.
Infuriated, I began to gesture as if speaking. "I asked you—CAN YOU SPEAK?"
This time, it was different. His face changed, his eyes more intense.
And then, at last, he opened his mouth.
"What is it that you desire, child?"
".What?"
I scowled. What was the point of that question?
"What the hell does that mean, old man?!" I shouted.
But his expression didn't change. With the same inscrutable face, he said it again.
"What is it that you desire, child?"
Again.
What do I desire?
How was I to respond to that? I was dead. What is there to desire after death?
This old man is really weird…
I let out a sigh. "Alright, old man. If I answer your question, will you respond to mine?"
As if weighing my words, he nodded slowly.
"Fine then. What is it that I desire?"
I remained silent, thinking deeply. And then—
A thought occurred to me.
It didn't make any difference what kind of reply I made, did it? I was a dead man.
So let's get this over with.
"Okay, old man. All I want is peace. All my life, there wasn't one moment's peace or ease. So perhaps—just perhaps—a little bit of peace would be pleasant. Does that satisfy you?"
I folded my arms, anticipating his reply.
But instead of responding, he merely stared at me.
And then—he smiled.
A slow, knowing smile that made me nervous. It was as if he actually enjoyed my response. But why? It was nothing extraordinary.
And then, for the first time, he said something other than a question.
"Child."
I bristled.
His voice was deep and old, weighted with something much deeper than my comprehension.
I stared at him, expecting an explanation.
Then, at last, he said something else.
"I will tell you the prophecy."
"What.?"
I blinked. What in the world was this old man saying?
"Hey, old man, I asked you—"
But he interrupted me.
And then—he started talking.
**"From the abyss where shadows creep,
He shall rise from dreamless sleep.
Marked by fate and bound by flame,
To claim his right, to carve his name.
The stars shall fade, the winds shall cry,
As the world bows or dares to die.".
Shall he bring destruction, or shall he heal?
A hero's spark or tyrant's fail?"
I gawked at him, confused.
Why the hell this old bones was now reciting a riddle? An old one at that.
This crazy old man had some serious issues in his head.
I was ready to yell at him for his crap, but then—
My eyesight blurred.
A tide of dizziness engulfed me, my body bobbing as an irresistible power appeared to tug at me downwards.
What in the world was occurring?
The very last thing I noticed prior to all dissolving into darkness—
Was that old man, smiling at me.
It's All yours , My friend....