The Opening

Excerpt from the book:

The whiteness is all around me again. Glowing. Shining. Shimmering.

Music whispers and sighs. Notes caress each cell, each corpuscle.

I’m falling, floating. I’m dying.

“Joe.” A woman’s voice. A voice I know.

“Who’s there?”

I hold up my hand to shield my eyes from the blinding light as crystals or diamonds or some kind of something I don’t know what, cling to me.

“Look over here. Do you see me?”

“No! Help me, I’m falling. I can’t see. It’s too bright.”

“Let go. Just surrender to it. You’ll be okay. Let yourself fall. It’s okay. Give yourself time to adjust to the light.”

“I’m breaking apart. I’m blinking on and off. Where are you—oh, please, can you help?”

“Let go. Let the light absorb you. Let yourself fall.”

“What’s happening to me? I’m breaking apart. Am I dying?”

I grab my wrist to make sure it’s still solid, to make sure I’m still here. But I’m nothing but a bundle of light.

“You’re going to be okay. I’m here now. Can you see me?”

“I can see a little better now.”

“Be calm. Look over here.”

I turn my head toward the sound of her voice. Out of the light, a solid image forms. First indistinctly, then it takes the shape of a woman. Her eyes are golden-brown, her skin is a light olive, her hair is almost black, and it curls softly to her shoulders.

“Maria, is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me. There’s not much time. I learned you were here so I asked to see you. I don’t have long. Listen to me Joe. Do you know what’s happening to you?”

Maria’s image fades in and out.

“I’m not sure. I think I’m dying. Is this part of it?”

“Yes, you’re between life and death, Joe. And the time for your decision is drawing near.