Life - Message From The Past

18-Mexico

Jeremy landed in Cabo San Lucas just after midnight with the sticky humid air hanging thick. A summer storm delayed landing at the tourist destination and the man seeking answers had no time to waste.

He grabbed his backpack and quickly set off for the terminal rushing to make a connecting flight that may have already left without him. Though the same weather system grounded all outgoing flights leaving Jeremy stranded in the airport until the storm passes.

There were mostly locals gathered for the late-night flight to Oaxaca city though a few tourists braved the summer heat and humidity. Jeremy paced for the first hour just trying to keep his body from seizing up after the long flight.

When he decided to sit, his mind was consumed by the message hidden away for years in his grandparent's bible. Reading and rereading the message, his next step forward remained unclear. His cellphone dinged several times.

Jeremy mumbled. "Maddie? Just can't leave me in peace." He opened a text.

Pete's in Mexico looking for you!

Don't be so damn stubborn!

Let me know where you are. Oh and Gwen's doing much better, you know? The woman you love?

"Why Pete? Geezus!" Jeremy turned his phone off again and fell asleep thinking of his mortality.

Miguel and the Promised Land

"Hey Gringo, you made it to Mexico!" Miguel laughed. "You believe! I knew you would believe, man!" The apparition pointed to Jeremy.

"Oh God, you again?" Jeremy got up and walked away from Miguel. "Geezus, I feel as though this is leading me nowhere!"

"No no no, Gringo. You are in the promised land, mi amigo." Miguel placed his hand over his heart. "I swear!"

"Look, amigo!"

"Miguel!"

"Look Miguel, that note is not a recipe for healing!" Jeremy shook his head. "It's a recipe for disaster!"

"Hey, hey, hey, you need to believe. Life is all about believing." Miguel stepped in front of Jeremy and his eyes grew. "I need you to believe!"

"I think I am going crazy!" Jeremy reached out and his hand went right through Miguel. "You see! You are not even real!"

Miguel rolled his big brown eyes."Gringo, you know I am dead and this is a dream but everything else is...well everything else is real!"

"You don't even know what the note said. Do you?" Jeremy turned his back on Miguel.

"It is a recipe for health! I know this!" Miguel responded.

Jeremy unfolded the note and held it up for Miguel to read. Tell me you see something there that says it can save me or Gwen, the woman I love!"

Miguel stepped back. "Gringo? You love my girl?!"

"It just happened...I mean one minute I was alone, I had noone and the next I was in love!" Jeremy shrugged. "I guess when there is only so much time left I opened my eyes and Gwen was there. She was always there. Hell everything I did around the house was to impress her. The freshly painted fence, the flower garden, the weed-free grass. Stupid, huh?"

Miguel raised his finger as if to tell Jeremy to leave Gwen alone but then the apparition smiled.

"Why the hell are you smiling?" Jeremy didn't get it.

"You love her? For real, man?" Miguel wanted to know. "Gwen. You love my Gwen?"

"Ah, well...yeah." Jeremy found this part of the conversation awkward. "It just happened, Miguel!"