PLAY DEAD
by Aria Veil
I didn't die, I know that.
Warm blood trickled down my cheek as I lay beneath a man shot dead. Many others were down on the cobblestoned street. I remember the smell of gunpowder and the sweet scent of roses. It was hot that day at the plaza. Shots were fired and people scrambled about while I lay there, watching the cherubim atop the fountain bathe in crimson.
For a time, everyone had thought me dead until I shocked the medical world when I woke from the embalming table. My body had been in a coma for a month for unclear reasons and declared dead after I flatlined. But lo and behold, I'm alive! News of a zombie demon quickly became a popular talk with the youth. I was invited to interviews and harassed at my doorstep. I didn't feel like talking about what I had seen and of what limbo had been like.
Lily Gaia.
All that I am was consumed with only her. Had I just imagined her?
I laid the wildflowers on the grass as I imagine her body underneath the ground. I don't feel closer to her. This can't be real.
"Li..." I said. My voice cracked and felt my throat hurt. It's been the first time I've tried to talk since waking up. "I want to go back."
I fell silent as tears welled-up and poured. Moments when I held her flashed in my head. There was only the slightest feeling of relief for having said what I'd come to say.
I was never meant to meet her, but I did. I'm glad I met her, even if it was in limbo.
Maybe it would have been better if I hadn't played dead and died with her.
"Should we pass through the gates?" she had asked me.
"But I'm not really dead yet," I replied.
"I'm sure you will once we pass through it anyway."
"Where will we go? I haven't really been all that good. What if I don't end up in heaven?"
"Well, okay. Let's just stay here then."
"Thanks Li. I'm glad the dude from the limbo department messed up. Or else I wouldn't have had the chance to meet you."
That laugh she made. I remember that laugh like a bell ringing through me and it hurts.
Maybe there's a way we could communicate.
I purchased a uija board and sat on an empty bench.
I opened the box and stared at the board for a long time. What would happen to her if I tried to summon her here? Would it hurt? Would it get her stuck here? The thought of it daunted me.
I panic, realising that I'd been wasting time. What if she's waiting for me? It would be like an eternity for her. If I kill myself, I'd be with her, but that would jeopardise our chances of being together when we pass through the gates. I should find a way to die and still go to heaven. Better scour for the most heroic deeds out there that's bound to kill me. One that's a sure ticket to heaven.
I checked the news channel to see if there were any fire outbreaks that were still ongoing.
It's no use. I switched off the tv. None.
I didn't get any sleep either, but I did manage to write down a list of how I would go about it.
Finally, at the public swimming pool, I managed to save a drowning child. It felt good, all except for one thing. I didn't die.
I went to church after that. I don't really know why I came. I just remember feeling exhausted and had found someplace quiet to sit.
A couple of pews near me sat an old man with a checkered beret. He smiled. I don't know what's up with him, but he sat next to me and started rambling. Are all old people like this?
"I don't see fellers like you here much," he said.
"Ummm... I guess it's coz' I'm not really meant to be here in the first place," I replied.
"Why is that?"
"I saved a little boy from drowning today, but all I'm thinking about is how I could get to heaven."
"Ahhh yes. I've been there once," he said patting my back as he gripped his cane and rose to his feet. "You should have faith. No one can bribe God, mind you. Ye'll only be fooling yerself."
Have I really been bribing God into salvation? Am I really that awful? If only Li were here, she'd know what to do.
As I headed for the door, I see a familiar face. Our eyes locked as he came out of the confession booth.
I had that dreadful feeling, like that of smelling gunpowder and of sweet roses.
He must have been the gunman, I'm sure of it. If it weren't for him, Li and I could have met that day, we'd have a happy life together. Have kids, a home, a life well-lived.
He killed my Li. It would only be fair if we both die. How could I? How could I let him live on?
I followed him until he got to a shady part of town.
It made me sweat when all of a sudden he turned around and started to walk straight toward me. I scrambled to grab an empty bottle on the side of the road. It was the nearest weapon I could find.
"What is it you want?" he said as he came up to me. "I've already given you what you asked for."
"Excuse me?"
"It was her time, not yours. But she's your soulmate, so I decided to give you two some time. Now go home."
"Who are you?"
"I'm the guy from the limbo department. And for your info, I didn't mess up."
"You're not the gunman?"
"No. But I was there to collect all of you."
"How can I go back?" I plead, grabbing him by his arms, "I need to get back to Li! Tell me how. Please. I need to know." My legs collapsed onto the pavement.
"Just believe. There's nothing you can really do about it."
"I just don't want her to wait in limbo for me. Could you tell her. Tell her to go to heaven and I promise, I'll meet her there."
The man smiled and nodded, "will do."
by Aria Veil
I didn't die, I know that.
Warm blood trickled down my cheek as I lay beneath a man shot dead. Many others were down on the cobblestoned street. I remember the smell of gunpowder and the sweet scent of roses. It was hot that day at the plaza. Shots were fired and people scrambled about while I lay there, watching the cherubim atop the fountain bathe in crimson.
For a time, everyone had thought me dead until I shocked the medical world when I woke from the embalming table. My body had been in a coma for a month for unclear reasons and declared dead after I flatlined. But lo and behold, I'm alive! News of a zombie demon quickly became a popular talk with the youth. I was invited to interviews and harassed at my doorstep. I didn't feel like talking about what I had seen and of what limbo had been like.
Lily Gaia.
All that I am was consumed with only her. Had I just imagined her?
I laid the wildflowers on the grass as I imagine her body underneath the ground. I don't feel closer to her. This can't be real.
"Li..." I said. My voice cracked and felt my throat hurt. It's been the first time I've tried to talk since waking up. "I want to go back."
I fell silent as tears welled-up and poured. Moments when I held her flashed in my head. There was only the slightest feeling of relief for having said what I'd come to say.
I was never meant to meet her, but I did. I'm glad I met her, even if it was in limbo.
Maybe it would have been better if I hadn't played dead and died with her.
"Should we pass through the gates?" she had asked me.
"But I'm not really dead yet," I replied.
"I'm sure you will once we pass through it anyway."
"Where will we go? I haven't really been all that good. What if I don't end up in heaven?"
"Well, okay. Let's just stay here then."
"Thanks Li. I'm glad the dude from the limbo department messed up. Or else I wouldn't have had the chance to meet you."
That laugh she made. I remember that laugh like a bell ringing through me and it hurts.
Maybe there's a way we could communicate.
I purchased a uija board and sat on an empty bench.
I opened the box and stared at the board for a long time. What would happen to her if I tried to summon her here? Would it hurt? Would it get her stuck here? The thought of it daunted me.
I panic, realising that I'd been wasting time. What if she's waiting for me? It would be like an eternity for her. If I kill myself, I'd be with her, but that would jeopardise our chances of being together when we pass through the gates. I should find a way to die and still go to heaven. Better scour for the most heroic deeds out there that's bound to kill me. One that's a sure ticket to heaven.
I checked the news channel to see if there were any fire outbreaks that were still ongoing.
It's no use. I switched off the tv. None.
I didn't get any sleep either, but I did manage to write down a list of how I would go about it.
Finally, at the public swimming pool, I managed to save a drowning child. It felt good, all except for one thing. I didn't die.
I went to church after that. I don't really know why I came. I just remember feeling exhausted and had found someplace quiet to sit.
A couple of pews near me sat an old man with a checkered beret. He smiled. I don't know what's up with him, but he sat next to me and started rambling. Are all old people like this?
"I don't see fellers like you here much," he said.
"Ummm... I guess it's coz' I'm not really meant to be here in the first place," I replied.
"Why is that?"
"I saved a little boy from drowning today, but all I'm thinking about is how I could get to heaven."
"Ahhh yes. I've been there once," he said patting my back as he gripped his cane and rose to his feet. "You should have faith. No one can bribe God, mind you. Ye'll only be fooling yerself."
Have I really been bribing God into salvation? Am I really that awful? If only Li were here, she'd know what to do.
As I headed for the door, I see a familiar face. Our eyes locked as he came out of the confession booth.
I had that dreadful feeling, like that of smelling gunpowder and of sweet roses.
He must have been the gunman, I'm sure of it. If it weren't for him, Li and I could have met that day, we'd have a happy life together. Have kids, a home, a life well-lived.
He killed my Li. It would only be fair if we both die. How could I? How could I let him live on?
I followed him until he got to a shady part of town.
It made me sweat when all of a sudden he turned around and started to walk straight toward me. I scrambled to grab an empty bottle on the side of the road. It was the nearest weapon I could find.
"What is it you want?" he said as he came up to me. "I've already given you what you asked for."
"Excuse me?"
"It was her time, not yours. But she's your soulmate, so I decided to give you two some time. Now go home."
"Who are you?"
"I'm the guy from the limbo department. And for your info, I didn't mess up."
"You're not the gunman?"
"No. But I was there to collect all of you."
"How can I go back?" I plead, grabbing him by his arms, "I need to get back to Li! Tell me how. Please. I need to know." My legs collapsed onto the pavement.
"Just believe. There's nothing you can really do about it."
"I just don't want her to wait in limbo for me. Could you tell her. Tell her to go to heaven and I promise, I'll meet her there."
The man smiled and nodded, "will do."
