Increase the Medication

One Heavenly Virtue

I followed Gerard's Soul for what felt like hours through the forest.

"How long have we been walking?" I groaned, scratching my arm in impatience.

"Time does not exist, Faith. Clocks do. In Purgatory, we have absolutely no concept of time, whatsoever," the Soul responded. His voice still gave me the chills.

If there was no concept of time, how did they know anything? I mean, Gerard's Soul was the only one I had happened upon here. I didn't know if there was a 'they'. Maybe it was because I knew him?

"How come I can't see the other Souls?" I asked, stooping to avoid running into tree branches.

"They don't want to communicate with you, that's all. It's nothing personal. The Souls in Purgatory just aren't overly fond of visitors."

"Is my dad here?"

"No. Like I have tried explaining several times before, this place is for Souls who are neither alive nor dead. Your father is dead, and has passed to the Beyond. And before you annoy me further with that voice of yours, Heaven and Hell do not exist like most humans believe. The Beyond is where the purely dead Souls go. It's sort of like the way they explain Heaven; it's infinite, but only as far your memories go. So, technically, it's finite, but to the Soul, it doesn't seem that way. That's where your father is."

"Can I go to see him?"

"Absolutely not! It's hard enough trying to get you back to the Now. I mean, yes, a trip to the Beyond is possible, but you would die if you went there. Resuscitation is possible, but much too difficult to bother trying on someone like you."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" I demanded. This Soul was pissing me off now.

"You are selfish and petty and unintelligent. It's a wonder Gerard loves you. My point is, you're not worth bringing back to life once you died," the Soul laughed, clearly amused with my anger.

I gave up trying to talk to him. There was a clearing in the distance, where the forest opened into something more. When we neared the clearing, there was a cliff and a drop. Across from the drop was a fuzzy picture of what was happening in my life right now. I could barely make out my mom crying next to a very bruised me in a hospital bed.

"It's different for everyone, what you see over there," the Soul said quietly. For once, he wasn't acting like a dick.

"What do you see?" I asked softly.

"Gerard. He's on his way to the hospital to see you. If you make it back in time, you might be able to catch him when he gets there."

"How do I get to the Now, Gerard?" I questioned, clasping my hands and holding them tight to my body. I feared the worst, but hoped for the best. I had a feeling regaining my body wouldn't be an easy thing to do.

"You have to leave a part of yourself behind."

"How?"

"You know of the seven deadly sins? I don't take you as a Catholic, so I'm not sure you're familiar with the seven heavenly virtues. Prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope, and love. Choose one and you can return to the Now."

"Why haven't you left?"

"There will be a day when he wants me back, I am just waiting for it. So, what do you choose, sugar?"

"Faith." If I couldn't give up my name, I'd at least give up the virtue.

A black staircase slowly formed from the drop to the picture. I could already feel something missing from my heart.

"I'll be seeing you, Faith," Gerard's Soul chuckled evilly, giving me a wink.

I have him one last glance and made my way up the staircase, pushing my way into the picture.