The Twin's Downfall | COMPLETED

Human World - John Smith

The weather was dreadful – perpetual rain and gloomy clouds as a funeral procession made their way to an open grave. It was one of the many painful moments of life – where a loved one passes away and you're left to ponder at the meaning of it - the severity and the sudden realisation that what you're facing currently can stop at any single time.

It was scary to think so.

As the funeral procession moves toward the grave, a solemn silence settled in the cemetery as it welcomes a new member. Amongst the crowd were relatives and old friends - shedding a tear or two as they watched the coffin being transported into the ground six feet under. They wonder - there will be no more lunches, no more birthday parties, no more hearing his laughter or seeing him smile. There would be no more.

As the sadness lay heavy in the sky, a clap of thunder interrupted their grieve momentarily - causing them to raise their heads to the sky - to watch as thunder ripped out from the sky to hit just a few yards away from them and honestly, some thought they were about to meet their Lord at how close the thunder was to them.

Surprisingly and thanking the Lord that they were spared from death today, nothing extraordinary happened to them lest for a stunning view of the crack of thunder and once the smoke finally dissipated, appeared a young man in a flowing black cloak that seemed ethereal in the light.

The young man seemed to be disoriented, pale with fright and kept looking around wearily as if he was expecting to be followed. The appearance of the young man did not alarm them, they thought he was just one of the many distraught humans who visits the cemetery. Only when he realised that he was safe and sound, he let out a sigh of relief and wiped at his face as he began the trudge back to his apartment.

Yes, that was John.

John was trying not cry – his chest had tightened and his throat hurt. He knew the tears were coming but he did not want to cry in public so he struggled to keep the waterworks in. It was a fact that Demeter has managed to send him home safely and he was so scared and so worried about her that he did not know what to do next.

However, he needed to know something urgently so he went home as quickly as his wobbly legs allowed him to.

John lived in a normal neighbourhood a few kilometres away from the cemetery - taking the public bus down and rented a place above a café which was owned by a friendly lady who gave him a discount on the rent because he was a priest-in-training and he was kind to help her unload her groceries from time to time.

When he saw the familiar oak door, he let out a shaky breath and unlocked the door. He was shaking like a leaf and it was a struggle to close the door to lock it.

"John, is that you?"

"Oh yes hi Mrs. Turner," he replied immediately. "It's me, John. Apologies for coming at a weird timing –"

He was interrupted from his rambling by her sudden embrace. His mouth stopped working and so did his arms. The elderly lady had dropped her groceries and swooped in for a tight embrace.

"I'm so glad you're safe," she sobbed. "I was so worried when you didn't come home for years!"

He felt his heart shatter into tiny pieces and it was hard to breathe.

Years?

.

John Smith was an ordinary man. All he wanted to do since he was a young child was to become a priest, so he could help the people that needed it. He liked to serve the people and to think that he could do it by being a priest, he was all for it.