I never lived

First and last breath

**UNEDITED**

All I know is I hear screaming. My cozy, serene, safe world is being disrupted. I hear people's voices, they're frantic and bothersome. (I can't tell you how I know they're people, as I've never seen them, but I'll call them people.) As the chaos proceeds I can feel my body being pulled, being ripped from the world I've known now for nine months. There's obnoxious buzzing and beeping now, and a piercing thing invading my home... I think it's called "light".

"Once more!" A gruff voice pleads.

"I can't, I can't!" A whispery voice whimpers out.

"Ma'am we need to do an emergency c section!" The gruff voice calls out again, panicked.

The beeping slows after a moment and forms a rhythmic melody of beeps. My home is once again at peace and I squirm about trying to find a comfortable place. As soon as I hunker down for some rest, I notice something is wrong, my home is pooling with blood and I can't breathe. I begin to panic and kick wildly, I know I need to escape and I need to do so now. I kick and punch with all my might, but it's of no use. My lungs are beginning to fill with blood, and to make it worse, the light has now permeated my home. Just as I try in vain to suck in my last breath, I'm ripped from my home and the light takes over. Everything turns white.

---

"Wake up Darlin', there's more to do" a voice coos to me, it's gentle and filled with humor.

I grumble and cough, not bothering to open my eyes yet. I'm focused on trying to find my voice in this new world, "I'm up." I try to say, but I comes out as a strangled grunting noise.

"It'll come to you in a moment, Darlin'. Have some patience and pay attention now." The voice chuckles to me again.

I just nod, as a sign for this mysterious voice to continue.

"You're here for a special reason, Darlin. You've been taken from your world of living mortals and brought here to the world beyond. The holy one believes you'll be fit to watch over others, but we'll get into that later. For now just know that I'm Lane. I'm your trainer and your guide in this new world." I can hear the kindness in his voice. I do hope I can respond this time.

"So I'm dead?" Relieved I've found my voice, I state what I believe is obvious.

He chuckles again and shrugs " in a way I suppose."

"You suppose?" I question. That's not good enough for me

"Darlin' you never lived" he chuckles deeply and slowly draws out a sigh, "welcome to the world of death and secrets."

"Huh... " that's all I can manage, given the circumstances.

" They told me you'd be unusual" Lane's voice turns more serious now.

I open my eyes now and adjust to this bright world. It's lush green and covered with a welcoming forest. The forest is speckled with tall grasses,mushrooms, various flowers, fallen branches and an occasional tree. The trees seem to reach toward the warmth of the sun, as if stretching to get closer to the golden orb above me. They only part enough to reveal a narrow dirt pathway that looks old and well traveled. There's a warm breeze that smells slightly of wildflowers and dust. Butterflies float lazily in the sweet breeze, fluttering in random directions now and again. I hear bees buzzing about, busy tending to their vast garden. Birds chirp and twit happily from the tree tops, making me wish I could sit with them and enjoy the forest with them.

I feel that I'm being observed as I ponder the forest ahead of me and I turn to look at lane for the first time. I'm surprised to see he towers over me. He has a solid look about him, although he's slender. He is wearing casual jeans and a navy t-shirt that hugs his body enough to show the soft muscle curves of his shoulders. My eyes travel to his face now, finding a soft smile on his lips, he has a slim baby face and kind, dark eyes. Eyes that are busy observing me just as closely. I immediately trust him. Lane radiates patience and goodness.

"How do I know how to talk?" A thought hits me. My body feels much larger than before and my mind contains a vast amount of information I did not previously know.

"When you come here you gain the knowledge you'd have as a woman in her prime, as well as the body. It's like you passed when you were a mortal in her twenties." Lane says slowly, as if this is important information.

"Is this heaven?" I ask, searching my mind for a clue as to where I am.

"Now, now, Darlin' you'll learn about this place soon enough, for now we need to find the holy one and make sure you're transitioned."

"Transitioned?" I ask, completely at a loss

"Sometimes a mortal isn't taken in time and their soul will fade away if they're not sent to their mortal bodies again." Lance explains hastily, he begins to fidget "we need to make sure you're staying here before I train you."

A sharp howl sound makes me jump, and I look at lance who shows worry now "should we go?" I feel the need to hide in the arms of the forest.

He nods and motions toward the path, "this way, Darlin."

I nod and follow lane, as the forest begins to swallow our retreating figures, I look back to where we were before. There's nothing, only the white that swallowed me before.