Drifting along for years, it seems. Cracked lips chapped beyond repair, all hope of rescue lost at sea. Too weak to shield eyes from the sun’s final stare. Night now stalks and eardrums echo as the waves lap. Fingers melt to salt, skin drags the depths. Fading rays of hope eclipse. No moon to guide safe passage. Tonight will drown all sorrow.
All are gone, claimed by the sea of time or rage of windswept fury. Fretful furious faces forced away forever. Sea swirls to sweep swimmers of soulful grief. Swept into oblivion, never more to be seen.
A final prayer is whispered into the wind: “Tried but failed.” Eyelids flutter, strength falls, body flops. As the horizon suffocates, a glimpse of the next life blinks on. A light more precious than gold radiates above the surface. Its glow empowers, breaching the divide, pulling at death’s firm grasp. Yanked up to life, the ray of hope shines bright. It is a lifebuoy, a white ring of vigor, pulling to safety all those who see and believe.
Then it is gone and night returns. Cast into the shadow of death again. A cruel twist to a sorry tale. Anger flares like a firework. Why give a glimpse of salvation only to pluck out an eye? Cut off the hand too and be done with it.
Determined now, body sinks and no final breath is taken. As the murky depths invade the mocking light returns. It transforms the darkness to day and with it a vision of heaven once held dear. Streets of gold wide enough for two, pearly mansions fit for four. A radiance only a polished smile could extol. This house of lights rises into the sky alive with beings oh so precious. Angels hold hand-in-hand the promise of eternal bliss. Their voices ring a sweet song to feed the spirits within.
One spies a lost soul in desperation. She leaves the sacred sanctuary to offer salvation. Wings pierce the watery tomb and gently scoop the corpse within, drawing it back to life and light. The warm embrace evaporates night’s chill and loving eyes look down in peace.
Enraptured to be redeemed again. Mind, body, soul unite. A living being once more ready to return to the house of lights. But the beam twists like a knife and shines on another place. The angel vanishes, the house moves on, and gravity jerks. Crashing back to death, a body slaps against the cruel wet tombstone. It breaks, this time for good.
The house of lights has sailed and now only the abyss remains.