Beyond the Stars

Special Chapter

I woke up in an unfamiliar place again. At first, I thought I was still in the river, but when I opened my eyes fully, I realized I was lying on something soft and cool. It was white and fluffy, but not like a bed—no, it was something far stranger. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. This couldn't be possible. I was lying on top of the clouds.

I slowly sat up, half-expecting I would fall through, but I didn't. The surface was springy, like cotton, but firm enough to hold me. I stood, wobbling at first, and looked around. The air was crisp, pure, almost sparkling. The light around me wasn't coming from a sun, but from everywhere, as if the whole place was glowing.

Then I noticed something else—movement. A group of unicorns with silver manes and shining horns galloped across the clouds in the distance. Every step they took left behind streaks of shimmering light that curved upward and blossomed into rainbows. Laughter followed—the laughter of children. Little children with halos over their heads and feathery white wings fluttered through the air. They swooped down to catch the rainbows in jars, brushes, and bowls, then began painting the skies with them. They painted shapes, flowers, even entire murals across the clouds. The world above the clouds was alive.

I pressed my hand against my chest. My heart was beating fast. "A-are they...angels?" I whispered. The sight was so beautiful, so otherworldly, I almost forgot to breathe. Was this heaven? Had I died?

"Arf!"

I froze. That bark—I knew that bark. I spun around, my eyes wide, and when I saw her, my knees almost buckled.

"Snow?"

It was her. My Snow. My little white dog who left me years ago. Her fur shone brighter than it ever did when she was alive, and her eyes sparkled with life. She wagged her tail and barked again, leaping toward me.

"Snow!" I cried, dropping to my knees and opening my arms. She jumped right into me, licking my face as if no time had passed. I laughed through my tears, hugging her tightly. She felt so warm, so real. "It's been so long. Look at you—you're healthy again. No more weak legs, no more pain. Are you eating well here? Are you behaving?" I teased, scratching her head.

She barked happily, wagging her tail so fast I thought it might fly off. My laughter echoed through the clouds. I had dreamed of this reunion so many times. When Snow had gotten sick, when we made that terrible decision to put her down, I thought I'd never see her again. But here she was, alive, vibrant, and in front of me.

Then, suddenly, she barked once more and ran off, glancing back as if telling me to follow.

"Wait, Snow!" I called, getting up to chase her. My heart pounded, but this time, it wasn't fear. It was excitement.

She darted across the clouds, swift as lightning. For a moment, I remembered how she used to run whenever bath time came—her little legs carrying her all over the yard while I tried to catch her. I would get so irritated back then. Now, chasing her here, I couldn't stop laughing. The sound was freeing, like my heart had been chained and was only now learning to breathe again.

We ran until the scenery shifted. The rainbow fields gave way to a grand, open space that looked like an airport. But instead of planes, the place was full of people with halos and wings, some soaring off into the skies, others returning with trails of light. It was like a terminal between worlds.

I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting wings to have sprouted from me, but when I checked—nothing. No halo, no wings. Just me. I was the odd one out.

Snow stopped running and barked loudly. I slowed down, my breathing heavy, and lowered my gaze. That's when I noticed them.

Two pairs of feet stood before me. My chest tightened. I knew those shoes. I knew those stances. My eyes traveled upward, and my breath caught.