A shrieking crash sent the Volvo spinning. Even the safest car made is no match for a hummer exceeding the posted speed limit by 50mph. Anu screamed only to be muffled by the adjoining assault of air bags. Darkness overran the world.

Then there was light. It started as a blurry haze and slowly focused into blurry shapes and colors.

“Doctor, he’s coming around.”

“Don’t be foolish. We had to remove 10% of his brain. What’s left is swimming in spinal fluid. He won’t be coming around today or ever.”

But he was there. ‘I’m here. I’m alive!’ John tried to scream, a line of drool came out the side of his mouth. ‘Don’t go! Help me!’ His mouth wouldn’t move, tongue couldn’t move, he could barley keep his eyes focused on the same spot. ‘Someone please help me.’

12 years passed. John was moved from the hospital to a long term care facility. In the beginning, Anu came every day, then every week, then once a month. The last time she had come, she was with another man. Clarissa, his daughter, had called the man dad. 12 years and he had never seen more of his daughter than a blurry outline. His daughter, the words of possession hardly made sense any more.

There was a white flash of the door opening and a woman’s voice came through. “John!” She called out. The blurs shifted and he had the feeling of arms wrapped around him and the sound of a kiss by his cheek. “Don’t worry little brother. We won’t let them kill you. I’ve spoken to the Reverend, and the Lord is with us.”

‘Abigail’, he thought. This was the first time she had been here in ten years.

“John, I know you are in there and we just have to prove it.”

A lot of people came after that, people: poking, prodding, shining light in his eyes, asking questions, and giving directions. After some time they stopped coming.

Abigail was coming frequently now and was always accompanied by bright lights and human like shapes. “Don’t worry.” She always told him, as if he had anything to worry about. Then she would invoke words and names of power, names he had long since stopped believing in.

On the 24th of April, a buzzing cheer came from outside, followed by the white flash of the door opening. “John we did it!” Abigail shrieked. “I’ve been appointed guardianship over you.” Her voice sounded a bit dimmer, as if directed to another bearing. “I will protect him as long as he lives.” The air was full of bright lights and flashes. “Reverend, will you rebaptize him into the flock of the chosen?”

A man’s voice spoke up and out, chanting the words of power and evoking the names before the rampage of flashing. “I pronounce you, once and always of our lord and savior….”

Two weeks later Abigail and her glowing entourage were gone.

Anu was banned from seeing him, not that she really wanted to anyway.

Slowly the world just forgot he existed. Six months later he closed his eyes in finality.

John opened his eyes to find himself on a small wooden bench with green handles. Railway tracks sat entrenched before him. They stretched beyond the eye’s power in either direction. Above him the sun’s rays blasted down onto unshielded earth. John raised a hand to shield himself from the brilliant light. As it came down, a train appeared on the tracks. The door opened and a man in conductor’s uniform stepped out.

“Johnathon Philip Smith” the man spoke in a knowing voice.

“Where am I?” John replied in a less than knowing voice. “And how do you know my name?”

“You’re at the station and it’s my business to know things.” The man replied. The man held up a clip board with a large stack of paper on it. “I’m pretty sure you’ll be wanting the next train, but as per regulation I’m obliged to check.” He moved his pen down the sheet on top. “Well toot my horn, here you are. Well hurry up son. We’re on a deadline.” John rose and walked to the train. He had taken three steps before he realized he was walking, seeing, feeling. He almost jumped for joy as the conductor waved him forward.

He steeped onto the train and with a whoosh the doors shut and opened again almost instantly. “Here we are.” The conductor spoke. John turned to see a Hollywood after life: clouds, people in long flowing white robes, with golden rings over their heads.

“I’m in heav..” He started.

“Et, we don’t use the H word up here. Names in vain, all that you know. Ezikelial there will be your guide for the next day or so. I’m off, more pick ups and the like.” The doors whooshed closed and the train vanished.

“Good morrow, new comer.” A youngish looking, bearded man called out as he approached. “I’ll give you the rundown of things, but don’t worry, you’ll catch on fast. First things first, we need to get you changed.” And with a snap of his fingers, John’s suit was gone and white robes replaced it.

“I don’t think I’m supposed to be here.” John started. “I was a Bright.”

“We’re all bright here.” Ezikelial smiled. “And according to our records you were indoctrinated to us.”

“But..”

“No worries, you’ll find existence here exceptional. There are only two words you need to remember: worship and praise. You’ll be told when to do which and how. That’s all there is, bask in his glory and give thanks.”

“But I have so many questions. Isn’t this paradise?”

“Paradise is being able to worship eternally, but he may be around to answer your questions tomorrow.

“So when does tomorrow come?” John queried.

Ezikelial smiled, “Never.”