Thank God I'm alive.
Sarah pulled herself from the wreckage. Just moments before, she felt her life ebbing away, unknowingly ending her mortal existence with just one wrong turn. Pushing her long, blonde hair out of her face, she looked down at her bloodstained blouse. My husband will be mortified to see me like this.
Both sides of the road were littered with shattered glass and twisted metal. She picked up her step and ambled over to the open field in hopes of catching someone's attention. Surely someone witnessed the car careening over the edge.
Out of thin air, men and women gathered around the smoking carcass of steel. She could hear them whispering. She sensed a connection with them as they peered at her. A hand touched her shoulder. She gasped.
Sarah turned around and stared into the face of a kind young woman, identical to the one who frequented her nightly dreams. "I know you, don't I?"
The young woman nodded. "Don't be frightened," she said. "I'm Iro, your spiritual guide."
The young woman held out her hand and motioned for Sarah to follow her. She's almost floating, Sarah thought as she gazed at the strange young woman who possessed an eerie likeness to someone with whom she had seen before.
She followed the apparition to the front of the car. The woman pointed to a body lying motionless amongst the twisted metal. A cry of terror broke from Sarah's lips. "No!" she cried, looking very pale. "Is that me? It can't be!"
Iro brushed away the young girl's tears and pointed to a light so bright, it blinded her with its overwhelming beauty and splendor.
"This is the light you must enter now," she explained. "It is hard for you to understand, but the time has come to leave this earthly plane and enter a new life and a new beginning. This is the ending of this life to which you have become accustomed for the last twenty-two years."
Sarah looked at the bright beam of light directed at her. It pulled her ever so gently. "Yes," she said faintly, tears flowing down her cheeks, "I see it."
"I know this must be difficult for you, my child," the woman softly whispered, "but don't worry. You are in good hands now and I will do everything I can to help you. You must not be afraid."
"But, what about my husband?" she cried. "He will miss me terribly."
"He will be fine," said Iro, "for when he needs you, you can go to him."
"He won't understand," she cried.
"No," said the woman, "he won't understand, but in time he will learn, he needs to go on. More importantly, you need to go on."
Sarah nervously fingered the delicate locket trimmed in gold, which he gave her on her last birthday. Another present to win my affections when all along it was his love I craved.
Sarah's spiritual guide walked over to her and held her tear-stained face in her hands.
"I know what you are thinking, my dear," she said. "You are saddened. Perhaps it would help if I told you, you have an alternative."
The bewildered girl looked up into the warm, sea-blue eyes of the spiritual guide.
"An alternative?" she asked. "An alternative to what?"
Iro sighed and looked directly into Sarah's eyes. "An alternative to the hereafter."
Puzzled, Sarah wanted her to go on, yet felt uneasy in her doing so.
"My child," Iro continued, "there is a world you are not familiar with yet, although you have crossed its paths many times and in many lifetimes."
"The first rule to follow," she continued, "is to never enter the light until you are ready to do so."
Iro looked to the heavens and spoke very low, "This is the Light of Eternity.
You are an angel now," she continued. "Your destiny was mapped out many, many years ago. You have to understand, you have many lives. And in each life, you are to learn important lessons in order to advance into the next realm. In order to do this, you must finish unfinished business on this plane."
"So you are saying there is more work here to be done?" Sarah asked. "What do I have to do?"
"I cannot tell you," smiled Iro. "This you have to learn for yourself."
Iro crept closer to her and whispered softly, "You will remain on this plane for however long it takes you to complete your soul's journey. When you are done and ready to enter the light, I will come for you."
"Will you continue to guide me when I complete my soul's journey?"
"My mission is to stay by your side forever. I have been with you since you were created and will continue to light your path with love and guidance in this lifetime and every lifetime, which shall follow. It is the path I chose when I crossed over into the light myself many, many years ago."
"I think I understand now."
"My love, there's a lot you don't understand. There are many, many lessons to be learned as you go through your life's journey. The child which was in your womb was in your past life and shall be in your many lives thereafter."
"How did you know about my baby?" the young girl asked.
"I have told you enough for now," Iro continued. "You will find the answers as you continue your soul's journey. If your existence on the spiritual level is to progress, you must confront each detour and learn to overcome it. Just as in the mortal world, so be it in the spiritual world."
The young girl smiled hesitantly.
"I will leave you now to fulfill your destiny and when it is done, I will take you to the light to be with your son forever."
Iro vanished, leaving Sarah to begin her spiritual journey.
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