If You Believe...

Forever

I don't know how many times I've stood here," The old lady said.

"My feet are on the edge of the finish line."

Her daughter grabs her hand reassuringly.

"You won't die, Mom," she says.

She doesn't know.

She won't know until it's too late.

Her mother grasps her hand and smiles.

"The Christian life is a marathon,

You should never sprint.

By the end of the race,

you should be so tired, yet content.

Content that you gave your all.

Winning isn't required to run,

But a winning effort is required.

Run like you'll win, even if you're in last.

God gives and takes away,

And I'm coming on the latter.

I will not burn in the fiery abyss,

I will reign in the perfect world.

Forever."

The hand went limp,

The heart monitor beeped a deadline.

Doctors rushed in, but the daughter told them to leave her be.

This is what she wanted.

She had cheated death too many times,

and her last words were absolutely beautiful,

just like what she wanted.

"Be in the perfect world.

Forever."

Forever.

That would be nice,

but her daughter didn't believe it.

She walked out of the room,

her heart slowing hurtling towards the end of its line.

Her soul getting closer to the fiery abyss.

Her eyes swollen and red.

For a few weeks.

For forever.