Page 18 of An Unexpected Ascension
We fall onto the grassy crest, lying next to the edge of the drop just past the cliff. The height is dizzying, but I force myself to sit upanyway, absorbing the breathtaking beauty that is Heaven’s landscape. From here, you can see everything; the lush forest colored with vibrant budding flowers, the grassy plains where animals graze, and in the distance is the market. The people like little ants weaving between vendors.
“I don’t know, Will. Your take on love after life is bleak,” I tease. “Or maybe you’re just old.”
His dark oaken eyes widen when he finds my smirk.
“How old do you think I am?”
“Hmm…” I trail my gaze over him, perusing his features as I sit up on my elbows. “Grey hair, faint wrinkles when you smile, weathered hands from years of hard work... I’d say about fifty.”
He flinches, his face contorting with distaste. “Ouch.”
I laugh, finally sitting up completely. “Then how old are you?”
“Forty-two!”
My brows jump in surprise. “Really?”
“Yeah, I mean I went completely grey at thirty. It runs in the family. Now it’s my turn to guess. I’m going with thirty-three.”
My eyes nearly bulge out of my head as I smack his arm. “Now you’re just trying to get back at me!”
“I would never.”
“Well, you’re way off.”
“How off?”
“Twenty-seven.”
He shrugs, contemplating something. “Not that far off.”
My mouth drops open. “Wow. Jerk!”
A sudden panic strikes me, my hand flying to my mouth. I wait for my penance receipt to pop up and add another prayer, but it never shows.
“Jerk isn’t a swear,” Will reminds me with a teasing chuckle.
“I don’t know what’s what anymore.”
Those soft wrinkles on the outside of Will’s eyes slowly disappear along with the smile from his face.
“I don’t mean to say that you look older than you are – becauseyou don’t – but there’s something in your eyes that screams years of seeing too much of the world. Like your soul was around a lot longer than your body.”
“Some might call that maturity.” I snort.
He bumps his shoulder against mine in a friendly gesture.
We sit in silence, watching over the vast lands. Other than the white noise, there’s a calmness in being surrounded by nature, but after some time, Will stands.
“We should head back. I can show you another place tomorrow.”
Tomorrow. Whenever that is.
“Yeah, okay. I’d like that.”
Chapter 6
The Demon
