Page 32 of An Unexpected Ascension
I spend the remainder of the day with the orphans of Heaven before I say my goodbyes and head back to my little grey cell.
Spiteful blue eyes and a face only the devil could have created accompany me home. I desperately wanted to flush him from my memories all together, but it seems that’s not something I can do.
The hatred simmering inside of him was terrifying. I’ve never met the man before, not that I can recall, so why am I the target of all that wrath? His warning rings loud in my ears, suffocating the urge to ask him. Instead, I steer my focus on what tomorrow will bring.
Over the next five days,I find myself entertaining children, feeding them, teaching them. All the while, Sister Mary explains the concept of children in Heaven. They have been granted special rights to grow into adulthood, so we raise them as if they are alive. We mold them into the perfect specimen, some becoming saints themselves, others... cast down to spend the rest of eternity in Hell.
It gives me that much more reason to take my time here. I don’t have an ounce of perfection in me to give, but love, time, and attention are more than enough – at least by Sister Mary.
As I ready myself to leave, she places a gentle hand on my forearm.
“Have you checked your penance recently, my dear?”
“No, but I’ve been praying, teaching some of the other kids.”
“Wouldn’t hurt to do so.” She winks at me.
I snap my fingers and sure enough, myHail Maryshave diminished greatly. I’m less than 1,500 away from checking it off my list.
“For your selfless efforts. Now, off you go. Enjoy the Garden of Eden.”
“Thank you.” I kiss her cheek.
Flashes of my mother flutter forth from my memories – the pecks before school, the hugs after...
“Don’t forget! Whatever you do, do not partake in the forbidden fruit!” she calls after me.
I chuckle, reassuring her I would never, then jog off toward the market to meet Will and Jessie. As time trickles on, I find that my existence here in Heaven isn’t nearly as dreadful or boring as I first imagined. I’ve made friends, I found a purpose, now I just need to find my mother.
“This is the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Those there—” Will points to a plum-shaped object hanging from a branch, “—is the forbidden fruit.”
Lustrous green leaves blossom heavily on each branch, weighed down by the small fruits. The tree itself is not large, just the right size to pluck from.
“It’s rumored that when Adam and Eve gave into the fruit’s seduction, they were given the gift of eternity without chance of eradication, but when their transgressions were discovered, they were smote by the Gods: Adam to Hell, and Eve to a fate far worse.”
“That’s all here say. I’ve heard six different versions of that story, Will.” Jessie smacks him lightly in the chest.
The deep purple hues of the fruit dangle dangerously close to my face.
“What about the knowledge, is that off limits or just the fruit?” I ask Will.
“I don’t know, why?”
“Just curious.”
I tear my gaze away with a strained effort, as if the tree itself isentrancing me, trapping me in its lure, seducing me to just take a small bite of its labor... I won’t.
“So, Jessie, how are you settling in?” I force myself to ask as we continue on.
The further from the tree we stride, the tighter the invisible string grows. Each step takes more effort, but I press forward anyway.
Jessie sighs, tucking a small strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
“It’s been okay. Different, of course. I’m just so lucky that I ran into Will on my first day. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”
“That was lucky,” I murmur. “I’m still looking for my mother. I’ve spent nearly every day since I got here just wandering the market, searching for that familiar face.”
“You’ll find her. I’m sure of it.” Will places a comforting hand on my shoulder.
