Eternal Life

 “This is her destiny. You can not change it. One day she will not be here on this earth.” a woman with glasses said. The woman was wearing a white doctor's suit, and was scribbling on her clipboard.

“Yes, I can, and I will. There must be a cure,” a boy with bright blue eyes replied. He was full of determination, to prevent anything from happening to his little sister.

“Mason, be realistic. No one has ever escaped their fate, and no one ever will.” 

“ Well, Akilah, guess what, I’m going to try.”  

"That's doctor, to you."

Mason marched out of the room that they were in, and made way towards his sister, who was sleeping in her bed. He looked down at his sister, she looked so peaceful, almost like an angel. 

“Don’t you worry, Lily, I will protect you.” he whispered softly. He began to leave his sister’s room, when he heard a soft voice. 

“Mason?” she said sleepily. “What are you doing here?” She rubbed her eyes.

Mason turned around, trying to not look suspicious. His heart started to heave with sadness.

"Just checking in," he said. "Did you need anything?"

Lily stared at him for a long moment, which made him squirm slightly. He could feel her reading him, just like he does to her when she's uncomfortable.

"No, thanks for asking," she said, "But really, why did you come into my room? Are you hiding something from me?" A long blonde wave blew in front of her face. Lily picked it up gently, and tucked it behind her ear.

"I-uh-no," Mason stuttered. "What makes you say that?"

"Your hands are shaking slightly, and you have a bead of sweat on your forehead," she observed.

Mason put his hand to his forehead, wiping the trickle of sweat away. "Well, now I don't," he said almost defiantly. His sister gave him a look of exasperation.

Mason drew out a nervous breath, until he started to feel courage inside his bones.

"Listen, Lily, there is something that I should tell you, it might shock you though. It's about-" he trailed.

Lily smiled. "My death?" she said knowingly.

Mason almost jumped out of his shoes. "How-how do you know about that?" he asked, feeling his feet tremble.

His sister smiled, having full understanding of the conversation. "I've always known, I could feel it inside me. God has planned my life and I can’t wait to return to his loving embrace. " She put her hands to her heart, then let out a whimper. Mason rushed towards her.

"Lily!" he shouted. "Are you alright?"

His sister moaned. "My chest, it feels heavy." Her eyes started to flutter.

"No, no,no," he said worriedly. "Lily, please, stay with me."

Lily let out a half-hearted smile. "Don't worry about me, Mason. I'm just being called to go to a better place. I will be safe there, and I will watch you flourish and grow."

Tears welled up in Mason's eyes, as he cradled his arms around his sister. "No, not yet," he whispered. "It's too soon."

"This is my fate, Mason, I was never able to escape it, so instead I embraced it."

"Lily-"

"Goodbye, brother, I look forward to seeing you again someday, in the place our Heavenly Father has called us."

She closed her eyes, falling into an everlasting slumber, where she will never be awake on earth again.

Mason let the tears fall, and hugged her.

"Goodbye, Lily, I will see you in the afterlife."

***

Many years later...

A man was on his bed, sleeping soundly. As his eyes were closed, he felt himself be pulled away from reality and into his dreams. In his dream, he was on a beautiful golden field with poppies, blackeyed susans, and sunflowers. The sun was shining brightly, illuminating its brightness on the clouds. Mason stood up and looked around, feeling lost and in awe at the same time. Where am I? he thought.

This is not my home, nor any place I know. Just then, a small mourning dove, flew in front of him, and perched on his right shoulder.

"Hello, pretty bird," Mason said. "What brings you here?"

The bird chirped happily, and flew off his shoulder and into the distance.

"Hey! Come back!" Mason exclaimed, chasing after the dove.

The dove kept chirping away as it glided through the air. It was as if it was speaking to him. The mourning dove led Mason a little while down the field, until it found a branch to settle on. Mason looked around at the beautiful site, completely in awe of its glory. In the shadows, a girl with long blond hair, blue eyes, and a sweet smile was walking towards him. Mason squinted his eyes to see the stranger, soon recognizing that the stranger was his own sister.

"Lily?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"

The girl smiled. "Hello, brother, it's been quite some time" she said. "Do you like it? This place in your dream, I mean."

"This place is spectacular, but what am I doing here?"

"You are in a dream, where we are right now is a place that was meant for me to talk to you."

"Talk to me about what?"

"Your passing."

"My passing? You mean that I am about to die? Is that why you are here?"

"Yes, God sent me to tell you that are dying, which is why I'm here."

Mason felt a surge of sadness and happiness inside his heart, he was happy to see his sister, truly he was, but he was also sad about leaving his family. It felt too soon, it only felt like Lily had just left earth, and now it was his time.

God is calling me home, to where I belong. he thought.

Lily held out her hand to her brother.

"Are you ready to leave this world behind, and to go to Heaven to reunite with Our Father?"

Mason took her hand, and squeezed it, as if he hadn't touched his sister's hand in forever.

"Yes, I'm ready," he said. "Let's go home."