Hereafter

Hereafter: Part III The Soul Stitchers, Chapter 36

Part III

The

SOUL

STITCHERS

36

LINGERING LEISURLY, SLOWLY sipping on my extra foamy latte, the citrus scent of moringa wafting through my senses, I tried to process through all the monumental changes that had just taken place. Being in heaven again felt like more a dream than my new reality, like the end of a gentle out-of-body experience when you're scrambling to return home. Especially so since I was completely unaware of my reason for being on Calidari until my last few proud moments when God explained to everyone in the square the deeper meaning of what had just happened.

Given the supposed significance of my Diva Deity mission, and considering how well everything went, there I sat, at my table, alone, no one really noticing me, no splash of news on the monitors, wondering why I wasn’t at some sort of reception or ceremony marking my accomplishment. Feeling confused and a little bit sorry for myself, I tipped my mug up to drain the last drop, then, realized I’d better hustle on to Mission Control for my debriefing. Hey, maybe I’d get some love and a few questions answered there.

APPROACHING THE DISTINGUISHED BUILDING, I was delighted and comforted to see the familiar striking form of the Space Shuttle Enterprise, circa late 20th Century Earth, which brought back so many memories of planning my mission with Antonio. The TRT pod, flitting from stop to stop, dropped me off a couple of blocks from the entrance. Walking along, I was joined by others heading in the same direction. We pressed on together, single-minded, like a school of spawning salmon. I knew some would be planning a new mission, and as I’d learned, not likely their first, just as I’d done a lifetime ago now. Perhaps there were others like me, here to report on what happened during their missions.

With my mind wandering, I looked up to see the lights on and activity in the corner forward office where new missions are planned—Antonio’s office!

How could I have forgotten? Racing back over what seemed now like a fairytale life on Calidari, I know Antonio was there, but who was he, and what happened to him—to us? Right as I was about to walk into the debriefing chamber, a broken promise struck me like lightning triggering a crushing bolt of disappointment. We never got married!

Walking under the ornate archway decorated with dignified relief sculpture impressions representing the galaxies and planets in the universe where missions take place. After walking by Antonio’s office to see if perhaps he was there, my heart charged with anticipation like the moments just before the Fourth of July fireworks being, I was greeted by a receptionist.

“Oh my . . . so you’re Fallon Ford . . . we’ve all been eagerly awaiting your arrival, especially the Masters. Step right this way.”

Well, that was at least some recognition to bolster my sagging ego, but walking to my seat I could see the mood in the chambers was anything but festive.

No Antonio, but that was understandable. Either he was still on Calidari or depending on when he died, like me he might be a new arrival and not settled yet.

 “Please sit down.”

I was directed to a row of chairs along the far wall. Instead of traditional framed paintings one would expect to see, the wall was a giant flat panel displaying a continuous slide show of captioned scenes from ongoing and past missions. I happened to catch glimpse of what must have been the image at the moment of my ascension to be with God and the Masters. More recognition, but my hopes for something of a celebration, with me being the guest of honor, quickly slipped into a dust bin of the somber reality in the chambers. As I suspected, the people sitting with me had all recently returned from galactic missions. Someone was already on the stand giving testimony.