Gazing down at her casket, Carol Jean evaluated this body that had housed her for so long. Her wrinkles--those seams that stitched her features together --were smoothed out while she was lying down. The young lady who had made up her face for the viewing had used flattering coral lipstick where Carol Jean had never thought to try it in her lifetime. She wondered what her friends and family thought of her lying there, an entire decade taken off her 59 year old face through gravity and make-up. Carol Jean realized she couldn’t care what they thought. Her soul, spirit—whatever she was—could not allow her to care what others thought. Wondering would no longer lead to answers.
In the last few months, while her insides were getting eaten up with cancer and she had retreated to the comfort of her bed, quilting squares and a needle in hand, thoughts of her loved ones on her mind, Carol Jean had imagined dying would be like something akin to being released from a Jell-o mold. A mighty slurp and there her soul would be, transparent and quivering with new energy while her rigid body was left behind. Instead it had just been fading and not even realizing when she had passed from one state to the next.
Was this the afterlife? What about heaven? What about Will? What about . . .
A sudden beam of energy pierced her, spun her around and drew her attention away from her own funeral. She felt herself moving forward as though pulled by a ribbon of excitement and emotion. She was leaving her old life. The ceremony and all her loved ones that had been spread before her were now officially relegated to her past. Her soul gained speed as it moved toward the future.
In the last few months, while her insides were getting eaten up with cancer and she had retreated to the comfort of her bed, quilting squares and a needle in hand, thoughts of her loved ones on her mind, Carol Jean had imagined dying would be like something akin to being released from a Jell-o mold. A mighty slurp and there her soul would be, transparent and quivering with new energy while her rigid body was left behind. Instead it had just been fading and not even realizing when she had passed from one state to the next.
Was this the afterlife? What about heaven? What about Will? What about . . .
A sudden beam of energy pierced her, spun her around and drew her attention away from her own funeral. She felt herself moving forward as though pulled by a ribbon of excitement and emotion. She was leaving her old life. The ceremony and all her loved ones that had been spread before her were now officially relegated to her past. Her soul gained speed as it moved toward the future.
