42. Forty-Two

Forty-Two

I was dying.

I knew I was dying.

And though I had known it was inevitable when I traded myself to the devil, this was not how I had imagined it.

I had imagined being sent back to the Gods surrounded by family, holding Ata’s aged hand, wrinkled with the memories of chasing our children through open fields and planting our gardens by the stream.

I had imagined being held by my lover, relishing in his soft kisses as he recited blessings and our favorite memories to take with me to the Gods.

I prayed for release now, to be ushered out of this agony.

To finally return home, where I belonged.

The pain began to drain from my body, and as I opened my eyes, my prayers were answered.

The warm rays of sunlight caressed my golden brown skin, glistening like diamonds in its embrace. Somewhere in the distance, a bird sang a soulful, reverent melody as its wings, full of grace, glided through the air.

As the darkness started to descend upon me once again, I felt a sense of calm and love wash over me. And as I fully succumbed to my fate, I caught a glimpse of Ata’s radiant smile beaming down at me with eyes that were filled with love.