Short Story

A gentle wind caused the branches of the ancient elm to shudder. Wisps of light from the full moon gave subtle illumination to the courtyard behind the chapel as a final few flakes of snow fell from the sky - mute testament to the blizzard that had begun a day before.

But now, only thin ghosts of the once dark clouds remained, and they danced solemnly to the music of the moon.

It was an unusually warm night - considering the snow on the ground, and a close look revealed two figures sitting opposite each other, cross-legged on the snow.

A gust of wind ripped through the trees, and Jennifer shuddered and hugged herself. She dropped her chin to her chest and let a tear roll down her cheek. Slowly, she lifted her head and gazed into the eyes of her companion.

Jen's deep brown eyes glowed from her passion and caring - she wanted some much for him to see. She didn't want him to fade out again. Already, he seemed to be growing dim.

Another tear began to fall as Jen brought her hand up to brush her lover's face. She missed so much having him near.

Someone was running across the courtyard. Quickly, she took his hand. "I love you, my darling," came the soft utterance. The words were more heart beats than sounds. He gently kissed her cheek. "I love you too." She felt his words deep within her soul.

"Jen!" someone called. It was Michelle. So she was the one who had been running. Jen clutched Colin's hand. He returned the grasp, and then suddenly her hand fell shut and dropped to her lap.

"Jen!!" Michelle was screaming now. "What are you doing?"

Jennifer was crying now. Between sobs, four words feel from her mouth. "I love you, Colin."

Michelle put her hand on Jen's shoulder and knelt beside her. "Jen, he's gone."

"No!!" Jen cried.

"Jenni... Poor girl... It must have really hurt - I mean to have been there..."

"Uh-huh..." Jennifer sobbed.

"Are you... Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine. 'Chelle, he was here again..."

"Jen, don't torture..."

"He was. Don't treat me like this. I was talking to him 'til you ran out here."

"I believe you." A part of her did.

"It doesn't matter if you do or don't. But he told me tonight that if it was really what I wanted he would come back."

"Jen, please come inside.

Reluctantly, Jen stood up and let her friend walk her to her room.

The moon smiled at her as she walked in...

Jen lay quietly in her bed. A wind rattled in her window, and she looked up. Colin sat at the foot of her bed.

"Is it truly what you want?" Colin asked her.

"Yes, my love."

"You cannot tell anyone - that will be the hardest part."

"No one would care - except Michelle - and she will know..."

"Then it is done... Take my hand."

Two souls left through the window, embracing as they danced toward the moon.

Michelle woke up, startled and bathed in sweat. She had heard a voice in her dreams. "I told you he would come for me, Michelle. I knew he would!"

Michelle ran to Jen's room and woke her. Jen sat up, and for a moment, Michelle thought it had been just a dream. But then she saw Jennifer's eyes. Colin had come. Michelle ran out to the courtyard. "I believe!" she shouted.

'Chelle fell to her knees, crying tears of joy. Jen meant a lot to her, and she knew how happy Jen was when she was with Colin. Now they were together again - forever. Death did not have to part.

The first lights of dawn had fallen into the courtyard. Wind rustled as three figures embraced in a joyous hug.

Jen's body walked on without her. A few people wondered why Jen and Michelle never talked anymore - some even criticized Michelle for letting down a friend in time of need. No one else realized that Jen was no longer Jen...

So that somewhere, my people will be real-
Caring not for themselves, but for their brothers and sisters
No shell to hide behind,
But open doors to let others see,
Let there be life
And let them learn...
to live

Sharon sat nervously in the waiting room. Her head hurt.

"Mrs. Reynolds?" asked a nurse.

"Yes!" said Sharon. "Are you ready for me?"

"Of course. Just step through this door and go straight down the hall. It's the third door on the left," she said, checking her clipboard.

***

Sharon picked up her purse and walked to the door. She pulled the door open and walked through. The door slammed shut behind her.

The hallway was dimly lit, but the end she was walking toward glowed brilliantly.

"My God," she thought aloud. Unknowingly she had addressed the only One who could hear. "There are no doors."

Sharon turned around. Even the door she had come through was gone.

Sharon ran toward the light.

"Where's the door?" she screamed. Her heart raced. Her head didn't hurt now.

***

The BMW was destroyed. The truck driver was being carried into the ambulance.

"I never saw her. She just pulled in front of me," he was saying. The alcohol on his breath was obvious ten feet away.

The rescue workers looked sadly on as their colleagues extracted the girl's body from the car. She had been only twenty-two.

***

Her footfalls echoed in the corridor -- each step a resounding thump. Her heart beat within her chest -- almost as loudly as her footsteps. Her chest heaved as she strained for air.

"I can't make it!" she cried. "It's too far."

***

The doctor greeted the bearded man with a somber smile. "I'm sorry this is how we had to be reunited, Tom."

"I s'pose I have to identify the body," Tom said questioningly -- he hadn't even heard his old friend's words.

"If you feel like it. She's burned bad. They said the car burst into flames when the truck hit it."

"Yeah, that's what they say." Tom's voice was unsure. He didn't want to be there. He didn't want the girl in the next room to be his daughter.

"Come on."

They walked into the room, and the doctor pulled back the sheet covering the girl's body. It was Tom's daughter.

"You'll have to sign the papers, Tom."

"Yeah," he said not listening to the doctor. He seemed not to realise anyone else was in the room with him. "You know, I don't think I ever told Sharon that I loved her."

***

"Daddy?" Sharon cried out. She'd not thought about him in months. She thought she'd heard his voice.

***

"I love you baby." They covered the body.

***

"I love you too, Daddy."

Sharon sat down in the floor and began to cry.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

There was no answer.

Sharon looked beside her on the floor. There was a key.

THE KEY TO THE THIRD DOOR

On the other side:

WALK TO YOUR LEFT

Sharon stood up and took a step to her left.

There was a door:

ABANDON HOPE, ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE

The door was standing part way open. She turned in fear and continued down the hall. She saw a second door.

The door had a glass window. Inside were thousands of people sitting at computer terminals, typing furiously. As she stood, she saw two uniformed men coming toward her. They were carrying someone. One of the men opened the door and walked down the hall to the first door. They didn't even notice her.

Sharon smiled as she walked to the last door:

ENTER HERE, ALL WHO HAVE BEEN WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

She saw ten or twelve people across the hall. They looked longingly at the door. Sharon inserted the key into the lock and opened the door. She hung the key on a rack beside the door as it swung shut. For the first time in her life, she felt at home. She looked for the door behind her. There was nothing where it had been.

She was finally home. And she would never have to leave.

A warm looking man stepped across the lawn and into the room where she stood.

"Hi, Sharon."

She walked to Him. He placed His arms around her and held her.

"Thank you," she said.