Death of an Old Man

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He was very old.   His body didn't work right anymore, and he was always tired.

One night as he slept, a soft white light filled his room.   He awoke and saw the most beautiful Lady he had ever seen standing at the foot of his bed.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Death," she answered quietly.

"Death?   I never thought Death would be so beautiful!   I've always pictured you as some kind of monster."

The Lady smiled.   "You fear Death only because you do not remember it.   Just as you fear Life, because you do not remember it.   Come walk with me, and be at peace."

He got out of bed and walked over to her.   She took his hand, and he looked back at the bed.   His body was lying there.   It wasn't moving.

"It's quite a shock, isn't it?" she said.

"Am I ... dead?"

"Completely.   Come with me."

They walked out of the house, hand in hand, and he noticed that their steps were falling on air, with nothing beneath them but the night.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"You'll see in a moment.   Just be patient."

"Am I going to hell?" he asked.

She stopped and looked him in the eye.   "There is no hell.   You have lived as all humans do, loving, hating, being loved and being hated.   You did the best you could with the Light you had to see by.   You have learned much, and earned much."   Her voice was low, but filled with a vibrancy that touched his very soul.

They walked on, and then turned a corner (or something very much like a corner), and he saw where they were, and heard the laughter.

"Is this heaven?" he asked.   "It's so beautiful!"

"This is Summerland.   Here you will rest awhile, and play, and perhaps meet old playmates again and discuss your Game ... and ways to improve it.   It is time for you to remember all your lives."

She reached up and softly touched him on the forehead.

"Now ... remember."

And he did.

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