Page 16 of An Unexpected Ascension
“Come on, there’s something I’d like to show you.”
He guides me away from the bustle of saints and angels toward a thicket of trees, heavy with vibrant green leaves. The branches sway slowly, moving like a carefully rehearsed, lyrical choreography.
As we approach, a familiar, sweet scent lingers at the edge of my nose. Never too much and never too little. I smell the flowers before I see them blossom one by one, enticing me to look their way.
“Wow.” I breathe.
Will smiles next to me, watching the beauty unfold bit by bit. Just when it seems there couldn’t possibly be any more flowers to bloom, he takes my hand and leads me onto the path.
If I could sweat here, little beads would bubble along my hairline, and my heart would tick a beat faster. A forest is how I got here and the idea of trekking through another?—
“Where are we going?”
He can sense my hesitancy. “You’ll see. We’re still inside the walls of Heaven. There’s only one way to leave and you’ve just seen it.”
I nod, relief only a mild antidote to my blasé panic.
As we continue down the grassy trail, rabbits with the softest fur and the cutest noses hop along with us. Butterflies flit above our heads with a safe distance, leading the way. Even a family of deer trots along our side as if in Heaven there’s nothing to fear.
After some time, the sound of rushing water tickles my ears. Will lifts a low hanging branch, urging me to duck under. On the other side awaits a scene so ethereal, my brain can't even comprehend the reality of it.
Utopia.
Paradise.
Heaven.
A rush of water cascades down a glistening cliff, dispersing into a cerulean pool. The water is the color of polished gems, it’s so clear you can see all the way to the bottom and to my relief, there’s not a fish in sight. Not that it would have stopped me from jumping in, but I much prefer to be the only creature when swimming in large bodies of water.
“Your first week seemed a little rough. I wanted to show you why people are so desperate to get into Heaven. Why it’s worth it.”
“So, this is free then? I don’t owe anyHail Marysto jump in?” I tease.
“Nope. Nature is always free.”
A slight wave of emotion rolls through me, tickling the backs of my eyes with the urge to cry. It’s a feeling of joy, relief, of utter euphoria. I’ve made it. Granted, I’m on borrowed time unless I complete my penance of course, but that’s a thought for later when I’m not surrounded by magic.
The surface glitters like glass in the sunlight, beckoning me. Before I can think twice, I’m shucking off my shoes, pulling my black tank top over my head and unbuttoning my jean shorts. The same clothes I’ll forever wear. Well, until I can afford new ones.
Entranced, I don’t even notice that despite stripping, I’m still clad in all my clothes as if I never even tried taking them off. I guess my underwear isn’t PG enough for God.
Yet, it doesn’t bother me. My mind is too hypnotized by the rivulets pulsing around me as I step deeper into the crystalline pool. I’m enveloped by its silky warmth. If it wasn’t for my soaked denim growing heavy, I would argue that I’m wrapped in a cloud rather than nature’s basin.
Inhaling a crisp breath of air, I plunge under, my fingertips parting the water with ease. It’s after a long moment of taking in thelifeless, yet colorful city below that I realize I don’t need to breathe. There’s no use for it here in Heaven.
A flurry of little bubbles escapes my mouth as I giggle, the sound muffled by the pressure. There’s a serenity in this moment, a peace that overtakes me. I can feel it stretching within my chest, expanding, bursting outward and settling in my limbs.
From beneath the surface, I watch Will’s body pierce through the still water as he jumps in after me. The momentum creates shock waves, and they roll right over me as he plummets to the bottom. I catch the smile stretching across his face, his eyes closed, relishing this luxury we’ve been gifted.
The second his toes touch the sandy ground, he pushes himself off toward me and together we break the surface.
“So?” he urges, wiping the little rivulets of water from his face.
“So... It’s...” I’m at a loss for words as I look around me. “Breathtaking.”
“And it’s just one of many sanctuaries, but I like this one the most because it’s never busy.”
His gaze twinkles back at me, little wrinkles crinkling at the outside of his eyes. I didn’t notice before, but Will is handsome for a man of his age. The years have been very kind to him.
