Don't Cry For Me

Declan sat by idly, watching the days go by, wondering if it all had a meaning. What would happen after he died? Would he go to hell? Heaven? Did either of those places even exist? Or would the miserable cycle of life restart? Either way, he had no idea what to expect, especially when he died.

Where am I? What happened? What's going on? Who am I? My mind was whirring with questions, and I didn't know any of the answers. I opened my eyes, or I think I did... Nothing changed. Everything was pitch black around me, no light or sound around. I think I opened my mouth, but nothing came out...

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash above my head, and then I got the sensation of being sucked through a straw (what is a straw?) and into the light. In no more time at all, I was amidst human beings in a big... city. That's the word... And my name... Declan, that's right. I was a student in... New York, studying crime scenes and criminology! Yes! But... What happened to me? Where was I? And why was it so dark?

“DECLAN! NOOOOO!” A bone-chilling scream pierced my ear-drums, and I swung around to find the source of it. But there was no one there... The voice, it sounded really familiar. Suddenly, I was once again being sucked in a direction. With a loud whoosh I was in a green park... Cemetery. At the base of the headstone I was gazing at were a bundle of white carnations. Looking up at whose it was, I gasped. 

“R.I.P. Declan Steele

Beloved son, friend.

Your time was so brief, but you would make the most of it. 

We love you sweetheart.”

I was... Dead? What?! NO! How? How can this be? I heard a sound behind me, and turned to see what it was. My mother, dressed in a black skirt and crisp white blouse was walking almost silently towards my headstone... My grave. Tears were streaming down her make-up free face, something that was a rarity in the house.  She was crying harder as she dropped heavily to her knees and placed her hands on my headstone. 

Suddenly, she tilted her head back and screamed for me. “Declan, oh my baby boy! Please, please come back to me! Please!” On her second plea, her voice cracked and rose to a higher pitch. I wanted to reach out and comfort her, to tell her everything was fine, that I was right here, and to stop crying. I reached out to her, and just before my hand made contact with her shoulder, she turned her head to me. Her glossy eyes widened, and I got the instinctive feeling she knew I was there.

“Declan, baby? Is that you? Oh hunny, we miss you so much! Please take care of yourself.” My mom sniffled, and I bent down to her, putting my lips to her cheek.

“Mamma, I know. I'll miss you too. I'm so sorry. But please, stop crying Mamma. Don't be sad for me. I'll be ok.” The change in my mother's appearance is immediate. She stops crying, and reaches up to wipe her face with the back of her hand. While it still shines from the water, it's drying quickly. She pulls a small smile onto her lips, and she looks much better. There's still a cavern of sadness in the depths of her eyes, but they were much lighter. She knew I'd be fine. After all, she's the one who raised me.