What About My Forever?

Chapter 11 I'm Late?

Louise's POV

With her practically dragging me, I stumbled forward but caught myself on her before she helps steady me to lead me away from here and to wherever she intends to take me. "Come on, don't worry." I nervously nodded as I glanced back to still see only white surrounding me as I try to think about where I was just at, which is somehow getting harder the further along I get.. Let's think... I was.. In my old town.. On the street.. Oh yeah, and in a thunderstorm.. But I'm somehow here, where there are no more streets, no more rain, no more town.. Where am I?

I let her lead me as I notice that everything around me starts to soften, as if the hard white walls are turning fluffy, looking like we are just surrounded by thick clouds. This can't be real, right? I had to have died if I am seeing something like this right? My attention is grabbed as I watched her reach out while she takes a handful of the clouds into her hand, then twists it within her grip before pushing out as if there is a door handle there.

I watch in shock and awe as a rectangular shape emerges, then floats open showing a doorway of sorts. Only exposing a darkness on the other side. I shook my head, I would rather deal with the bright white, over that darkness. Darkness can't be good right? This is all too insane, this had to be a dream, but her grip on me feels too real to ignore. Is this a lucid dream I have heard about? My head won't stop shaking as I look over at her beside me.

She has kind eyes that tell me she means no harm.. But I don't know how to trust what she is doing. Especially when I won't know what the outcome will be if I keep letting her take the reins with my actions. "I know this can seem scary, especially to see all of this at once. I bet it must be so hard for you to comprehend. I remember feeling the same way when this happened to me... But it will all be explained inside.. I promise.. And I will be with you the entire time if that helps to ease your mind." She says before laying her gentle hand on top of mine as she pats it.

I hold my breath, trying to look around her and into the doorway, still not seeing anything besides black and some white. The fear and anxiousness within me is almost too much for me to handle all at once. So I continued to shake my head before she said just as softly, "It's okay Louie.. I promise that even though we are a little late.. This is the beginning of something great for you. I promise, you just have to come in here." She stares at me with an anticipation in her eyes, just hoping I believe her.

I want to, I really do, but that is easier said than done with a complete and total stranger. I watch as she smiles even bigger while nodding at me. This look makes me want to give in, just as the curiosity that is quickly building within me makes me want to do the same. What is the beginning on the other side of that door? What is this place? My eyes ping back and forth until they land on her nodding head. Before I even realize what is happening, I instinctively nod my head as I take a step forward, still holding onto her arm tight, bringing her with me.

I don't know if she meant what she said about going with me, but I'm making her stick to her word whether she likes it or not. I keep walking until I went through the doorway with her, until I feel her slowly letting go of my arm but still following right behind me. "Where am I supposed to go, it's so dark?" I ask with her right on my heels. "Just a little further.. You see that light that is slowly appearing in front of you? Just head in that direction.. Go to it.. It's calling for you and only you, so I will stay right here, still close to you though." She declares as I freeze.

I stare out at the blazingly bright ball of light that is floating out on its own. A part of me wants to check for strings and the other part of me knows this could be a trick or trap. I take a couple of steps closer, seeing that the light calms down the closer I get. When I am besides it, I can see that it is radiating a soft white light that is not blinding but enough of a light to be a beacon that really is calling to me by the soft voice within it that's continuously singing my name.

"It's saying my name." I declare with surprise in my tone as she giggles from behind me. "I told you it was calling to you.. It was no lie. I would never do that to you." I nod as I take another step forward, but this time there is confidence in my steps. I'm addressing this head-on. I don't know what it will lead to, but I have the urge within me to find out. This urge is singing to me, telling me loudly in my head to touch the orb. I don't think I want to resist any longer.

I get to the ball, with my hand extended but only hovering over it, not brave enough to touch it yet. I watch my hand tremble above it with a fear that says this could be the worst or maybe the best thing I have ever done.. But which is it? I guess I won't know until I try. But even with these thoughts, my hand still trembles uncontrollably the closer it gets to the light. "It's okay," says the nice woman who has somehow been my strength and confidence in this whole baffling ordeal. I glance back to her, seeing she is still nodding vigorously, I nod again with her before glancing back to the orb at hand.

"I am too scared.. I don't think I can do this." I say feeling weak, but before I can tear myself down, I feel her soft but warm hand gripping mine. I glanced to my side, seeing her smiling at me. "You can do this. You're much stronger than you know, that is why you're here, my friend. You can do this." She encourages me as I feel the breath I was holding in, leaving my lips as I lock my eyes on the light.

The fear of the unknown is overwhelming me as I quickly shut my eyes before I lean my hand in, instantly gripping the orb into my hand as I feel a pull to my entire body. My hands tighten as I hold onto her hand and the orb with a death grip, I won't be letting either one go. That is until a strong momentum of stopping instantly takes over, so I'm thrown to the ground. I tuck and roll until I come to a stop just to see my escort is landing on her feet but not on her own. It's with the help of two elegant pink feathered wings attached to her back.

I groan out from the fall as I do a double take at those beautiful wings, wondering if I hit the ground far too hard that I am seeing things now. She walks over to me, leaning down and extending her hand to help me up. As I stand to my feet, I realize my eyes are glued to the soft and feathery wings. Just so I can get an up-close look at the wings I never knew were there. "What are you.. An angel?" I blurted out in shock. "Oh no, not even, but that's sweet.. My name is Annalee and I'm.."

"Thank you Anna.. You have done wonderfully.. Thank you.. You may go." I heard from behind us as I flipped around to seeing a full room of people. They are sitting in rows staring at us, with one woman directly in the middle sitting behind a black and white desk. "No.. Please.. I.. I want her to stay with me if that is alright. Please. I'm scared, and she makes me feel much better," I declared, as the woman behind the desk is looking like a judge of sorts. I wonder if this is where I figure out where I go after death?

Her eyes squint as she waves her hand to try to tell the woman to go away. "You will be fine here on your own." She states this in a demanding tone, but I honestly don't feel that way. "No, please.. Can she stay? She is the only reason I came, so if you want me here, then just let her stay." I demand, as the woman nods, then leans her head to the side. I look over at Annalee who is smiling but just stepping to the side a couple feet away from me before stopping. But still staying with me, which I appreciate.

"Thanks." I say to the woman behind the desk as she sends me a small smile before she starts. "Don't worry about it, I never wanted to scare you, but this sight affects everyone differently. You're not the first, and you won't be the last if that helps at all." she explains as I nod looking over at the angel or I guess Annalee, as she continues to smile at me. "Alright Louise.. Let's get this started.. You have been a radiantly positive person within your life.. Having a positive outlook when it is so negative at times.. While still helping your fellow people around you." She says looking through papers with a pair of glasses sitting on the tip of her nose.

I hear light golf clapping from all around me as I turn around to see that there is even more people around. I am surrounded by people with wings listening in on whatever this is. "Ok.. Thank you.. That is good to hear.. But I am confused as to why I am here. Is this how I am determined to go to heaven or hell?" I bluntly ask, just letting the words fall from my lips with nothing holding them back.

The main woman in the middle smiles at me as she says. "Well sweet girl.. This is not exactly that sort of place but.. You're dead. So you do have that part right." She declares as my mouth drops open in shock, finally getting that confirmation hurts so much worse than when I was speculating about it. Before I have time to object, as if she may be wrong, she waves her hand showing me in a cloud directly in front of me.

In this image, I am back on that street from before when I was walking home, but I am lying face first in the puddle of mud out on the street. I take a step forward, reaching out to touch the image before she snaps her fingers and the image of me disappears in that instant. "No, I can't be.. What happened? I was just walking home. I had a couple of drinks but nothing that would have impacted me that badly. There was so much I wanted to do!" I say panicking as my hand lies on my chest gripping my cloth from my dress tight.

I start breathing hard as I feel my body going into full panic mode. I watch as her hands fly up into the air. "Hold on.. Don't panic.. You did die.. By electrocution. A lightning strike got you.. And I am sorry about that.. But you wished for this right before you died.. Technically with your last words. Making this all possible for yourself." She says to me as I shake my head over and over again. This action is showing everyone how hard this is for me to process, but maybe that was the same for themselves.

I look up at her with widened eyes, but before I can say anything else, she adds on. "You said you wished for something more than that life you were living.. And you got it. That's why we're here to see if you're a good fit." she says as her hands go out, signifying the people surrounding the both of us. I started to pace around the room thinking about what she just said and how unbelievable this is.. And yet here I am, in this magical-looking place surrounded by angels or whatever they are.