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An excerpt from Alex Cord's newest book --
YES
THE VIGIL
She was leaving. She had been on a long, slow journey through a bright expanse of white light where time and distance had no consequence.
Before her eyes, faint forms began to shape, emerging from within the light as if self-created, then and there. They soon became defined as people, faces that she knew. How pleased she was to be in the light as light itself. The cast iron weight of earthly pain, of grief, of guilt, the doubts and fears of human heritage had vanished as if they'd never been. Then there among the faceless shadows was her Grandmama, in her garden, wearing an apron, holding a trowel, a knuckle-track of earth smeared across her cheek, beside herself with joy at seeing her daughter's daughter. "But oh so young, my darling child . . ."
Moving slowly along the path of light she was still able to turn her head and look back and see Jesse on the bed, kneeling over her, begging her to stay. She could hear him saying, "I know you can hear me. Listen to my prayers. I know you're still in there. I know. I've seen the difference. I knew when Zack was gone. You're still there, I know you are. Don't leave me Holly. Turn around, come back. I need you to help me raise this Harley boy."
But, on she went, into the white becoming gold, until there in the El Dorado glow, she saw what she wanted more than anything, ever . . . her brother, Brad, with his chestnut hair askew, his lopsided grin around the brightest teeth, the Bassett family smile, that puts a glow on gloom. She stood before him. In life, they would have hugged with crushing force, but what existed here was far more intoxicating and complete than pressing flesh. Oh my, my, my, how very sweet it was to feel her spirit intertwine with his, become a thing unto itself. What ecstasy to feel again the mischief in his soul, to see it dancing in his eyes. He stepped a little to his right.
A shadow shape behind him soon revealed itself to be the boy of gold, the young man, Damien Zachary. He came forward and bowed in a way Holly appreciated, almost as if to kiss her hand. They now stood side by side, Damien and Brad. A soothing tide of peace and calm fought for all her life was now upon her. First, her brother spoke, then Damien. They told her she had to go back. That it wasn't yet her time. There were unfinished duties to perform. Raise a son, be a wife. She stood, a recalcitrant child, prepared to disobey. Her brother said, "We'll be here waiting for you. You can go back now, knowing we're alright and that we'll be together again. You need to love your son and husband. They need you. We'll be here to meet you and take you in." He smiled his wicked smile.
Jesse put his thumb to her eye and raised the lid. The light was gone. The eye had begun to dull. A fierce, dark and desperate rage possessed him as he felt his whole being collapsing in despair. He straightened and tilted his head to look at the ceiling. His eyes rolled up as if to examine the underside of his brain. He felt her hips between his knees, then gripped her shoulders, lifting her from the bed and shook her gently. His tears fell upon her cheeks. "Oh . . . God . . . Holly . . . come back . . don't go . . ." He placed her head back on the pillow and took her hand and brought it to his face. He put his lips to the back of her hand. And then from somewhere outside of what he thought was real, he felt her fingers tighten. His breath stopped in his throat as he squeezed her hand and felt her pressing back.
The sound of his voice rattled the windows as it echoed through the corridors bringing medical personnel, Bear, Ruby and Larry on the run.
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