a fictional account of one man's near-death experience (a rewrite) |
Darkness unfolds before me The bright lights have faded to pinpoints Then, like a dream, I drift through vaporous space Wait. There are sounds now that I strain to hear Thumping…scraping…scratching…hissing Crying and screaming…louder…closer I feel a presence…evil…billowing all around me A voice echoes from somewhere below me, sing-song and mocking “Does he belong to You?” it demands There is no answer Malevolent voices giggle, sick and raspy They whisper gleefully, “You are lost! You are lost!” I feel myself falling My lips form a scream but no sounds emerge From the depths of my soul I cry out To the God I did not believe in life Now here in death I am begging… The voices cackle with terrible laughter …pleading for forgiveness…repenting my sins… The voices are louder now, a howling in my ears “It’s too late! Too Late! TOO LATE!!” Suddenly a hand takes mine, and I am no longer falling No longer alone “He is mine” The words were not said aloud, they just were The darkness recedes and the horrific sounds fade Chased away by radiant light that now surrounds me I wake, a changed man |