Chapter 69

When I thought of death, or even of heaven, I thought that a light in a long tunnel awaited us after passing from this life to the next. What I didn't expect was excruciating pain, pulsing fear, and finally, a strange sense of helplessness. I felt like a million hammers were hitting my entire body.

I was expecting the hallelujah chorus or something. But I saw only darkness, watered by a dim light.

Maybe my mind was vaguely aware of the beeps, the screams, and the people calling my name. I could see a stain that looked like someone asking me to keep my eyes open.

But no matter how hard I tried to do it, I couldn't. My eyes felt like they had a ton on them. Then they fell of their own accord and a sigh escaped my lips as my body finally shut itself off completely.

***

I wanted air. Darkness surrounded me. It was like I was underwater, and I couldn't breathe. But at the same time, I wanted to keep sleeping. A shock woke me, jolting me. My body seemed to levitate, as if I