Illuminated by:ReversedHipster

Chapter 1

It's always been questioned whether heaven exists or if it's just a story passed down through time to comfort people when their end is near. Well, the thing is, we aren't really meant to know until that time, our time. I learned that the hard way. I'm only 21, and have tried many, many times to end my own life. Yes, I am suicidal but I feel so worthless when I can't even commit to my own thoughts. I can't find it in myself to give in...I don't know what's wrong with me. I just know I'm not normal, I never have been. My name is Rodrick Harris, and I'm a patient in the Nightingale Psychiatric Hospital. I've been here for about 3 years..ever since the accident. I hate thinking about it but what can you do, you know?

Well anyways, I'm getting off track. I don't want to be here, but my doctors are convinced I'm schizophrenic, seeing things, hearing things but they're wrong. Everything I see and hear is real...it has to be. You see, I have a friend and he's honestly been my only source of happiness in this wretched place. No one else see's or hears him but me. His name is Alduin, and he's an angel. I never believed in God or heaven, and I'm still a bit skeptical because when he first appeared I thought my doctors were right. That I was insane, crazy even. But, here Alduin was...proving me wrong. That one night, on that bridge I thought my time had come. I was so ready to go, so ready to find the peace and quiet I had longed for all my short life. But, I guess my fate had another plan for me than I thought. When...when I fell, quickly accelerating, feeling the wind smack me in the face as hard as it could muster, hearing said wind howling in my ears until I could hear almost nothing, I felt time slowing down. I saw moments of my life flashing through my mind, almost making me regret my actions. Almost. And then, everything just stopped. The sound of the wind, the feeling of free fall, everything stilled. All I could hear was my heart pounding and trying to force itself beyond the rib cage keeping it put, the blood rushing like fire through my veins. It wasn't until all this, that I had noticed I wasn't anywhere near the bridge anymore. As I opened my strained eyes, I saw that I was hundreds of feet from said bridge and very far from the churning waters beneath. I cried then, wondering if I pictured everything in my mind and that I could never rid myself of this awful, malevolent world. As my tears, hot and heavy, stained my cheeks I also realized a form crouching in front of me as if it was praying. It wasn't, at least not to my knowledge as it was only crouching on one knee, grasping its face with its right hand. As if it felt my eyes on its glorious form, it started to rise to its feet. There it stood, at an intimidating twelve feet tall. I was only 6'5 feet then and I still am now. I didn't know what was going on, what it was, or why it was there but I felt calm in its presence..like I knew it could never hurt me. Slowly, the giant figure turned around to look at me with its piercing sapphire eyes, seeming to darken and pull me in like the tides. Then all of sudden, a voice so booming yet calm and stern filled my ears. "You know, it is not very polite to stare." The figure stated, but as I heard his voice, his lips never moved. I couldn't find a single thought to speak, to state my apologies. "It is alright,boy. No need to apologize." He said, once again his lips not moving at all. I then gave him a shocked look as I all but shouted "But..but how? How did you know what I was thinking? How are you speaking to me?! Your lips aren't even moving!"

"Quiet. There is no need to fret, Rodrick. All will be explained in due time. Now, come." He said, leaving no room for an argument, his tone serious. "...what the hell is going on?" I harshly whisper to myself.