THE AUTHOR (COMPLETED)

EPILOGUE

Fifty two years later...

Lying on the bed, I felt my strength leave me slowly as I found it hard for me to breathe. For a second, I stared at my hands on my chest, which were withered from old age. I had lived a good life with no regrets. My wife, Grace, had already passed away and I was looking forward to seeing her again.

"Gran-gran."  murmured Luisa, my youngest granddaughter, who has always stuck with me. Weakly, I tilted my head in her direction and sighed softly. Her eyes had a hint of a teardrop forming, but she obviously tried her best to hold in her tears.

"Luisa, I might be seeing your Granny now." I replied slowly, reaching to her face and touching her plump cheeks.

"Will you be happy to see Granny again?" Luisa innocently asked.

"I would be so happy to see your Granny and even Jesus!" I replied as I remembered the great times I had with Jesus. I had always shared my amazing story to my children and then, my grandchildren. Everyone never believed me at first, but since Adie was a witness for me, they never questioned me again. But I knew deep in my heart that for Luisa, all I had said was true.

"Gran-gran! Then I pray that you'll see them soon." Luisa answered back forcing a smile on her face while she caressed my hand with her thin left hand. Her parents began to weep while everyone around the room remained silent after what they had heard. Everyone in the room knew that I would die soon, but that I was just going to another place - something better and more beautiful than where I am right now. When I felt my spirit being forcibly snatched from my body, from everything I am, I relaxed and slowly closed my eyes. With that, I took my last breath of life on Earth - I died.

*

I stood in the middle of a sea of people from every culture. My youth was miraculously restored and I was clothed in white. Everyone remained silent and our attention was caught by the person who sat on a throne. He was clothed in full splendor and in front of him was a big book, which was called the Book of Life, where the names of those who went to Heaven were written. A person's name would be called and after the person was able to present himself, an angel would approach Jesus and hand him a smaller book, which I believed to be the Book of Acts. Jesus opened the book and everyone was able to watch what kind of life the person standing in front had. After that, the Book of Life opened and if he had his name written on it, he would approach the door on Jesus' right side and enter it. If not, the person would instead approach the left door where the lake of fire was and screams were heard constantly.

"Jake Thomas!" shouted an angel who was buff and looked more like a Black-American boxer. His features were fierce and warrior-like. The crowd gave way and I easily walked in front of everyone. I roamed my eyes around and saw that the crowd of people was beyond imagination. I couldn't see where the line ended, at all.

"Jake Thomas!" Jesus stated and so I focused my eyes on him. He really looked different now. I couldn't even see the entirety of his face since he was shining in splendor. He really is a king!

"Yes, my majesty!" I replied bowing my head slightly as a sign of respect, which everyone had done when it was their turn in front.

"You have lived your life and right now you are to be judged!" Jesus opened his palm and then Gabriel approached Jesus and gave him my Book of Acts. Just seeing that brown book made me reminisce over all the things that happened on my life on earth. Jesus then opened it and like how I experienced it before, everything about my life came out like a movie film but right now everyone was watching it. I did still made mistakes after my encounter with Jesus back then but I was able to find my way back. After my whole life was exposed, Jesus then opened the Book of Life and scanned his fingers on the pages while I waited anxiously.

"Hmm... like what I expected." Jesus uttered touching his chin while his eyes glinted as he stared at me. I swallowed deeply as I couldn't wait to hear my verdict.

"Jake, your name has always been written inside my heart and it is also written in the Book of Life! You may now enter my Kingdom!" Jesus shouted and there was great rejoicing among the crowds. Angels blew their horns and everyone cheered, unlike when someone was sent to the left door, where it was just deafening silence and only the voice of the shouting person is heard as he is dragged by angels to enter the left door. I excitedly walked to the right door and when I was near Jesus, he lowered his head and whispered, "Jake, I will tour you around Eden after I'm finished with this." Jesus murmured excitedly while I couldn't believe that he remembered what he promised me back then. I grinned and continued approaching the right door, turning the golden knob slightly.

*

Just like what Jesus had promised me, he did tour me around Eden and this time I was with everyone who had their names written in the Book of Life. We wandered around Eden for a while until we stopped in front of a sparkling white tree. It's trunk was luminous producing hues of colors as light strike through it while its leaves were like crystals that sparkled and its fruit were round and appeared to be made of glass.

"This is the Tree of Life." Jesus murmured turning around. "Whoever eats from the fruit of this tree shall have eternal life!" Everyone gasped and couldn't hide their excitement of receiving eternal life. Some cheered, others clapped, while others cried.

"Whoa! That's a treasure!" Adie commented shoving some of the guys who stood in front of him.

"You're right Adie. That's why it has been guarded tightly so that not just anyone can eat from it, but right now I am letting everyone of you eat from it!" Jesus replied outstretching his arms as wide as possible.

"But its fruits are not enough for all of us?" I asked looking around and the fact that I couldn't count how many people were present just emphasized the fact that not everyone would be able to eat from the tree.

"Do not worry." Jesus replied and reached out for a fruit, which he easily detached from the tree. As soon as he picked a fruit, another fruit began to bloom out slowly from the exact area he took the fruit from and I understood why it wouldn’t be problem. The fruits were passed out until the very last person in the back received a fruit from the tree of life.

"My sons and daughters, you may now take your reward of eternal life!" Jesus proclaimed and so I slowly took a bite and everyone followed suit. We received eternal life! Everyone cheered shouts of joy and some leaped with the gift of eternal life that they had received. I, on the other hand, couldn't hide the joy in me knowing that I would live the rest of my days by God's side. I remembered my journey with my brown book and how God made a way for me to receive his salvation. I stared at Jesus and just mouthed the words "Thank you" to him and he only smiled in return.

I was glad I found my way...

THE END