A Stone's Throw

Reality

It is a beautiful day outside. The sun is shining high in the morning sky, England is beautiful in the summer. I awake to the sound of my wife bustling about in our rather large room. I am a wealthy man you see. I own a massive estate out on Morecambe Bay. I do love the smell of the fresh sea air.

I smile as I climb out of bed to greet my Emily. My beautiful wife. She is getting ready for the day, as should I. She is trying to decide what Sunday dress to wear, of course we must dress our best for church. I hug her from behind.

"Good morning darling, I hope you slept well." I say as she turns to hug me back.

"I did get a good night's sleep, thanks to you and the good lord. Today is going to be a gorgeous day, don't you think?" She says in the sweet voice of hers. I look out of the window and nod.

"Of course it will, I can just feel it"  I say as I too get dressed. I choose one of my nicest black suits, nothing less for a place of God.

We head downstairs, wake the kids and help them get dressed, and Emily gets breakfast started for us.

"Father, do we have to go to church today? It's sooo boring." Michael complains as he puts on his own suit. He is such a good boy, but sometimes he veers from the path, as do we all.

I hug my precious little boy. "We do my son, God needs to know how much we care for him and how much we accept him into our lives. As good christians, we uphold his plan." I say with a smile. He holds onto my every word, although reluctantly.

"I think church is fun! I get to sing!" Sarrah exclaims. She is the younger of my two angels. She is always so happy to show off her God given talent.

"Church is a place to feel loved, respected, wanted, and appreciated. It is good to have fun too. I say with a chuckle.

We go into the kitchen and the two children sit down to wait for our meal. I help Emily cook the rest of the breakfast. We go to church and as always, we receive a wonderful sermon. The priest speaks of the power, wisdom and love of God. He lets us all know that God will love and protect us all and that the plan is underway. These things we know to be true in our hearts.

As fate would have it.......tragedy befell my own family on our ride home. Bandits attacked and yelled many blasphemous words as they killed our horses, slayed our coach, and forced us out of the safety of our carriage.

"Give us all of what you got!" one of them yells while brandishing a sword like a barbarian. I quickly take off my gold cufflinks, and my silver tie pin. I held them out and prayed that that would satisfy them. My wife gives them all of her jewelry as well. They look disappointed at what we've given them.

"Anythin else you've got?" The bandit shouts at us. We had given all of the money we brought with us to the church. He looks furious at the moment.

"I apologize sir, but we've given our perish money to the church already-" I say, but the man is angry now. He stabs my wife and I move to stop him. But I am attacked from behind. My children fall soon after. God.......why? Is this your plan?

I wonder as I fade into unconsciousness. I then wake up in a hospital bed.

"Where am I!?" I ask with bewilderment as I sit up. A nurse walks into my room.

"You are at Fairfall Hospital, you were badly wounded when you were brought in. A traveling group of mercenaries found you and your family-" I immediately feel relief.

"They're alive!?" I asked hopefully. I hope they are, with every fiber of my being.

The nurse tears up a bit and looks at me. It is easy to tell just how difficult it is for her to utter the world shattering words that come from her innocent mouth.

"No sir, they died in the bandit attack.....I am so sorry." She says apologetically. Her voice shakes with sadness.

I feel every bit of my body go numb as my mind is lost by her words, my eyes can only see my family, and the realization crushes my very soul. I have lost my family. I let out a primal whale and cry like an infant for what seems to be an eternity. The kind nurse consoles me as I do so.

After a few more hours, I am allowed to leave the hospital. I take a carriage home and whallo in my own pain and suffering. I seek guidance from God and the church, but nothing can cure the sheer pain I feel. Weeks turn to months, then months turn into a year. I've regained my connection with God and feel.....a bit of comfort from his presence in my life.

Morning comes on the anniversary of my family's tragedy. It is a beautiful day.......just like the last one. A solid knock resounds from the large oak doors of my estate. I check to see who it is, but my butler gets there first as usual. He hands me a suitcase, an oddly ordinary looking one at that.

"It has a note addressed to you sir." He says while handing both the suitcase and the note to me.

I take them and thank Nathaniel. I read the note.

Dear, Daniel,

    In this suitcase you will find the answer that many have been looking for. The very thing that we all wonder, the questions that we've all been asking. A fruitless scientific endeavor, until a few months ago. Many sacrifices have gone into these findings and what we have found has truly changed the very reality that we all perceive to be real.

    I am in great need of a very intelligent man such as yourself. Your many accolades in paleontology and geology will be of immense benefit to the efforts that we are striving to achieve. I hope that you bring both your faith and your inquisitive mind to our dig site. I wish you well Daniel.

Sincerely,
Alexander

I look inside the case and find many documents and journals. I spend the better part of the week pouring over them. The more I read, the more lonely and terrified I become. The man claims to have found the stairway to heaven.....however, no one has ever come back after ascending it. Not a single man, nor woman, had made it back. Save for one. She said that it is as high as a mountain and.....is broken at the top. I must see this for myself.