Rachel--Eternal Life

Eternal Life

The last thing I remember was being thrust into a dark, bottomless pit. Falling indefinitely into the eternal universe with no sense of who I was or who I had been. I was scared, yet incredibly calm. I had a feeling that everything was going to be okay and I finally accepted my descending fate. Then suddenly my conscious stopped talking to me, I was alone. I opened my eyes and squinted at the light as it pierced my unexpecting retinas. After what seemed like hours of blindness, I looked around and found myself in an old train station full of mahogany benches and beautiful archways that artfully framed the ornate murals on the walls and ceiling. The flawless white marble floors reflected against the infinitely colorful stained glass and created rainbow flurries all across the walls. As I regained my senses, the noises of the hustling and bustling travelers and train engines filled my ears and the smell of old plaster and leather briefcases wafted into my nose. As I stood there in awe, I was joined by a little boy in a pair of knee-length shorts, a button-up shirt and suspenders with a newsboy cap over his messy deep brown hair. He grabbed my hand and looked up at me with eyes as bright as the crown jewels, leading me to a ticket window with rod iron bars secured across and just a gray shadowy figure on the other side. The figure had the stature of a heavy-built, muscular man but when he turned around there was nothing to identify. There was just a blur all across the region that would be his face and the lack of human definition took me by surprise. The faceless attendant moved slowly but with a purpose as he slid a ticket across the granite counter to my sweaty hand. Once again the little stranger boy pulled on me with an unexpected level of strength and force. He led me to a worn bench that was situated in the middle of the room and we sat down together as he pulled the ticket from my free hand and glanced at it. Finally, I found my words and asked him for his name and whether or not he was lost.

"No, I'm not lost. My name is Hansuke! What's your name?"

I told him my name and how old I was and his eyes began to widen.

“Are you happy in your life Hikaru?” he blurted.

“Umm… I guess so. I’ve never really been sure what happiness feels like, to be honest.” I answered truthfully.

"I can’t believe you're so young... do you know why you're here?" he asked me.

"No... What is this place?"

"This is the in-between, Hikaru." he replied, "This is where lost and broken souls come to be reincarnated."

"You mean.... I'm dead...?" I asked with a shaky voice.

"I’m sorry to say, but yes, Hikaru… you committed suicide... but our Creator has chosen to give you a second chance at life! You are going to be alive again!"

I collapsed to the floor before he even finished speaking as I choked on the sobs that escaped my mouth. All of the obvious questions began racing through my scattered brain. I what? When?! How?!? Why?!?! Did I even want to know? I gasped for air after realizing I had forgotten to breathe and once my lungs were no longer collapsed, I looked around through my hazy, tearful eyes. It was all clear now and I realized that all of the "people" in this train station were just shadowy figures, lost souls who were wandering around waiting to be given another chance.

“Did I even want a second chance? If life was so bad the first time, why would I want to go back?” I asked myself as silent tears rolled down my face and splattered on the perfect floor.

 Hansuke hopped down and put his arm across my back as I crouched in a ball, emotionless and raw.

"Please stop crying, it will be alright. I will never leave you Hikaru. I am your guardian, your angel, I suppose. Please, get up. Your train is leaving soon.”