THE ROAD HOME

Chapter 17

"It's cloudy today. Feels like it's going to rain soon."

"Yeah."

They sat on one of the worn out benches in the prison yard, just the two of them.

"Sean?"
"Yeah?"

"It's tomorrow"

Silence.

"Tisha, please don't say it"
"I'm going to die tomorrow"

Sean put his head in his palms and sighed. Her execution was by noon the next day in the yard extension, a little bit far away from the prison. He felt her hand on his shoulder and looked up. She was smiling warmly.

"Are you alright?"

He shook his head and laughed bitterly. She was asking if he was okay. Her execution was tomorrow and she was asking him if he was okay.

"I don't want you to die Tisha. It's not in my hands but I don't want you to die" he said.

"I don't want to die either Sean. I prayed for God to change my fate. I was so scared, I still am...a bit. But he showed me where I was going, and now dying is not so scary anymore" she said.

"He showed you where you were going?"

"I went to heaven Sean"

Sean raised his eyebrows a little. "You saw heaven?"

She nodded. "There's something I should have told you but I didn't remember till a few days ago."

"Okay. Is it something bad?"

"No, no it's not. Three months ago I had this weird dream. In this dream, I was with a lot of people in front of this really huge gate. There was a man there who didn't let us enter. I asked him why and he said none of us were qualified. I woke up."

Sean saw the spark in her eyes as she spoke. It wasn't strong but it was there, budding with life, growing beautifully. God had given her some measure of peace.

That's why she was smiling. Somewhere in there, there was a little fear but she was okay.

"You're a strong woman Tisha. God help me, you're one of the strongest women I have ever met" he said.

"I don't feel so strong Sean but thank you. I just...now I know that I am going to a better place, and I have seen it. I know my granny told you this when you were with her at the hospital.
After my dad died and my mum and my brother went...off, I didn't just lose my faith. I totally abandoned it and I forgot a lot of things about God and everything regarding Christianity. It was so bad that I thought heaven and hell were myths, folklore, local legends. But after what I saw, I know it's real, I know God loves me and I know I'm going to a place where I can watch over my mother and my brother and Drey...and you" she said.

Her face was close.

So close.

He touched her cheek, smiling at the way she rested her face on his palm.

"Tisha"

"Yeah?"

"You know, I'm sure I'm in love with you."

Her eyes got watery real fast.

"That's very sad Sean. Because I'm in love with you too, but I won't be around to enjoy it."

Sean...tread carefully.

"I wish we had more time" he said.

"Me too"

My son, be careful.

"Sean I have another favour to ask. It's not an easy one."

"Anything, name it."