I Would Do It All Again

I broke the only rule… I interfered.

Less than thirty seconds after my long-awaited death They had me sitting in a limbo-like room, beige wallpaper, fluorescent lights, and plastic plants. They told me I hit the lottery, something about being able to choose to go to the afterlife or spend a few more years on Earth. Earth was the only decision. The afterlife was a mystery, Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, I did not know what to expect, but Earth, ohh my how beautiful Earth is. Waves trampled the shore, mist spurting into the air, and the smell of toffee popcorn flowed out the local shop front. All while leaves pass on changing color as life lifts away. Earth is my home no promise of eternal joy could take me away from my Earth.

 Just like in my youth, I was shipped into a classroom with a group of other Souls such as myself, we were not quiet ghosts, but we were close, with are slight light illuminating and a hint of see-through tingling. The Teacher (another Soul) told us the rule, even as simple as it was it did not stick with me as important.

1.     DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO INTERFERE WITH THE LIVING

They engrained that one rule into our see-through heads, and spoke of consequences that felt more like a threat to me. I just wanted to see Earth again. So, I did what my best friend, my Wife taught me very well and I yes mammed the whole thing barely remembering the warning. I was walking or perhaps floating to a golden door, when I peered into it my eyes marveled, I saw everything, the Great Atlas Mountains of North Africa, the Empire State Building, the Wall of China, and finally My House. The others were nice, but I wanted to see My House. So, with a ponder of my Soul, I entered through the door. The house sat in front of my eyes, a small little suburban home, our tiny bungalow as I called it. A red recliner and a pink recliner sat in front of our old antenna TV that I never got around to replacing. There was no point now even with my extended warranty on life because the state had inherited the house, after all, I had no living family left. Funny how only the wonders of Earth drew me back.

I looked through our old rickety windows and outside walked a young boy who looked like me in my youth, short, with brown hair and burdened. His head was held low, and he walked alone, a look of anguish carried on him one I had seen many times as a school counselor. I floated through the window passing through glass without a second thought. I followed the child, it’s not safe to walk alone especially not in this world, what I would do if You got hurt, I don’t know but I knew I would not let it happen. You led me to a small home with a broken porch door, shingles falling off the roof, and a window patched with cardboard and duct tape. I did not have to enter the home to know it was just You home alone, I did not have to enter the home to know there was no food in the cupboards or that your heat and AC were shut off. This was my past as it is your present.

Day in and day out I spent by your side taking You under my wing, You never knew it, but I was there. I saw the fights, the struggles, the excitement, the wins, and the losses, I saw that You were alone in this world just as I was, floating beside You.

It was a cold winter night when Your mom decided she would not stop by the house at the end of her shift, when she decided Jack Daniels needed her more. You were broken, You needed her that night a day of bullying, from teachers and students had left You empty and wilting.

I broke the rule for You. I stole a pen and wrote one sentence on a piece of paper, put it in your mailbox, and kicked it. I saw You jump at the sudden thrash and grab a bat You walked outside peeking through the door hoping it was just your imagination but knowing it wasn’t. You saw the red flag on the mailbox walked over and opened it up with surprise.

Hi, I’m your guardian angel, I know your struggling and I want You to talk to me, talking always helped me.

Maybe I was a little forward, but this kid had nothing to lose and maybe what he needed in life was someone to be forward with him. It took days but You wrote back, and I responded. Letter after letter year after year You became more and more like a son to me. I watched You graduate high school, have your first kiss, enroll in college, and even get married. I cried at your wedding and for once I was grateful no one saw me.

The day came and You knew it, we sat down and wrote letters all day long, it was my last day, it was time for me to go upstairs and see what was waiting. I knew punishment might be on the agenda. I knew the consequences. I wish I had forgotten them but I never could.

I wrote I’m going to take a walk around town. I will be back before sunset, my departure.

You nodded and I left soring through the clouds and seeing the close-knit town I had lived in. The brick buildings littered the town with smells of fresh pumpkin pie from the bakery and a salty ocean breeze entrancing anyone nearby. The wind carried me to my wife’s spot, a little blue bench beside the water where my Wife and I used to sit, we would watch the seagulls land in the water and then get pushed to land by the waves, I sang the tune that she always held dear (You are my Sunshine).

I floated back to your house not solemn or glum but excited. We cried together, laughed together, and reminisced. As the Glorius crimson sun dipped into the horizon, I wrote one final message.

You are a son to me, and I know You will live a wonderful life, one day I will see You again.

I felt a tug on my body and a pull I looked at You and I accepted the consequences because I would do it all again.