Beyond the Veil

Chapter 2

I can only describe it as an ocean, a never ending push and pull that held me in place as the waves crashed against me, pulling me under the waves, but then pushing me right back up.

I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe as the salty water filled me mouth and made me eyes burn. I wanted to give up, give into the waves and let them do as they would, but I couldn’t, I wouldn’t give up. I didn’t know what would happen if I did but I didn’t want to give up, I wanted to get out of the water, or at the very least swim.

These intense desires swirled around my brain like a vortex, overtaking every other fiber of my being.

I want to live…

I want to live!

I opened my mouth to scream this at the ocean and water poured into my lungs and pulled me back under. Coughing, I came back up.

Salt water making me eyes and throat burn, I screamed at the ocean, putting all of my regrets and fears into that single sound. It flooded my senses and suddenly the ocean was gone, I was standing in my old home again, my husband was eating leftovers from the night before and watching television.

He laughed at the black and white image, oblivious to my presence. This was nothing new; it truly wasn’t, when he watched television he wasn’t to be bothered. Instead I took the time to open the attic and visit.

Looking around me I saw that the trunks were still sitting up there from the previous owners and those mice had been chewing on the pages of the old books and newspapers.

The corner… Why did I want to see the corner? There was nothing over there, nothing at…

Suddenly memories came at me in a rush, filling my head and heart to the point of agony. I fell to my knees clutching my head, as the images came unbidden. Of my husband slamming me against the wall, of him leaving me up here.

I froze, leaving me to die.

I stood my legs protesting each step, as if they feared the same thing I did. Pushing aside boxes and trunks, I came to the corner, and the corner I lay with my arms cushioned under my head as a pillow. A single streak of blood, gleaming black in the moonlight, ran over my cheek to pool under my head. My ribs no longer rose, no longer took in air, no longer would.

I was dead.