Purgatory

Purgatory
By Stephen A Abell

Number of words: 500


His death - uneventful.

The fabled tunnel with the light at the end - lonely.

On reaching its end, he entered a small door-less cell. He quickly turned back to the tunnel, it was gone.

Hastily he inspected his new home. The room was about seven feet by five, containing a bed and desk, on which there was a tower of paper, a pencil, and a white cube. The walls, ceiling, and floor were made of highly polished obsidian marble; his reflection stared, wonderingly, back at him. Around its circumference, in-between the walls and ceiling was a gap where light and fresh air crept in.

“Why the hell am I here?” He softly asked his reflection.

“You were judged and found wanting.” His voice resounded from the walls.

Shocked, Mark looked bemused at his reverse twin.

“I am your conscience. I have watched and tried to guide you through life but you were too stubborn. I tried to warn you there would be consequences to the way you lived, again you did not listen.”

“What do you mean,” he spluttered, “the way I lived life? I lived it well.”

“Yes you did, we did. Nevertheless, everything you ever did was only for yourself. You are here because you flouted every sin, without ever asking forgiveness.”

“Hey, now, that ain’t right I never killed no one.”

“That is not a sin that is a commandment and if you had it would be a lot hotter right now.” The reflection smiled. “Let me refresh your memory.”

“Lust: Marissa. You pestered her for six months until she gave in. After the first night, when the reality had not lived up to the fantasy, you dropped her and stopped taking her calls; you even ignored her at work.

“Gluttony, Avarice and Pride: These can be summed up in two words; material worth. You always purchased the latest gadgets, cars, and other non important luxury items just to be better than everyone else, and boy, did you show off to the less fortunate.

“Envy: Closely related to the last three. You hated being told that someone had something you did not or that theirs was better than yours.

“Sloth: Easy one. How many times did you rejoice in God? Never.

“Wrath: You gloried in it. One of your favourite rants being the people on benefit. It did not matter to you that they really needed help; you just classed them with the system abusers.

“That is why you are here. This is purgatory. You have a thousand years, to write down your sins and learn of the wrongs you have committed. Only when you truthfully ask forgiveness will you be released.

“Now please take a closer look at the cube. It is a calendar that will countdown your days. It will be your reference to your penance”

Written on the cube in red type “Day 1 of 365,250”.

“So,” Mark asked, “what now?”

“Sit and write. Your life story would be the best starting point.”