The Branches Of Fate

'Enjoy The Journey, Because The Destination Is A Mirage.' ~ Steven Furtick

Life Is A Mystery, An Enigma. People Have Tried Various Methods To Provide A Definition, To Provide A Meaning Behind The Origins Of Life. Some Believe In The Existence Of God. Others Believe In Evolution. Some Believe We Are Nothing More Than A Simulation. Different People Display Different Behaviours, And These Behavioural Patterns Heavily Affect Their Beliefs.

But What Happens If Someone Happens To Shift The Paradigm? Will Life As We Know It Dramatically Change, Or Will We Vanish From Existence Altogether?

I Smile In Peace As I Stare At The Book I Am Reading. 'On The Origin Of Species', By Charles Darwin. The Book Itself Explains The Fundamental Laws That Govern Life Itself, And How Adaptation Is The Key To Survival.

As I Am Pondering Over My Existence, The Sound Of The Doorbell Brings Me Back To My Senses. I Quickly Run Towards The Door And Peep Outside, Only To See Stephanie Waiting For Me.

"Hi Faith!" She Grabs Me Into A Tight Hug. "Happy Birthday! You Absolute Queen!" She Laughs As She Removes Her Coat And Hands Me A Bag.

"What's This?" I Stare At The Bag.

"Open It." She Smiles As She Removes Her Boots And Makes Herself Comfortable On My Couch.

I Quickly Rummage Through The Bag, Only To Find A Box Inside. As I Open It, I Gasp In Disbelief.

Its A Crystal Pendant That I Have Always Wanted. I Never Attempted To Buy It, Because It Was Very Expensive.

"How Did You Buy This!?" I Look At Her In Disbelief. "Wasn't This Quite Expensive?"

She Laughs And Pats My Hand. "It Was." She Smiles. "But I Saved Up For You. Because You Deserve It." She Pats My Cheek.

My Eyes Fill Up. I Am Not Used To Recieving So Much Love. Its Just Not What Usually Happens With Me. I Smile Broadly As I Try It On, Hiding My Tears.

"Thank You For Your Gift Stephanie." I Smile As I Hug Her Gently.

"Its Alright. You Are Welcome! Now Stop Being So Squishy On Me." She Laughs. "Come, Let Me Make Some Soup For You Right Away. And Happy Birthday!" She Giggles As She Races Off Into The Kitchen.

I Tie My Hair In A Ponytail As I Look Into The Mirror. The Pendant Is Beautiful, It Appears To Glow With A Beautiful Blue Hue As Light Falls On It. Its The Only Gift I Have Ever Recieved, Over The Past Few Years.

As I Lie Down On My Bed, Stephanie Returns With A Bowl Of Soup. "Here You Go." She Smiles. "Careful, Its Really Hot! So Drink Carefully." She Smiles.

"Okay Mom, Thanks." I Mumble Sarcastically, As Stephanie Bursts Out Laughing. She Has Given It Her All In Taking Care Of Me Over The Past Few Months, And Has Been Instrumental In My Recovery.

I Sip The Soup Carefully, As My Hand Trembles Lightly. The Trauma Hasn't Left Me, And It Probably Never Will. I Was Advised Psychological Therapy, To Help Recover, But I Never Really Cared Enough To Visit A Shrink.

"Faith." Stephanie Breaks The Silence. "Why Didn't You Go To The Psychologist?" She Asks Me , In A Hushed Tone.

"Because I Didn't Want To." I Sigh. "Its A Big Waste Of Time."

She Sighs. "But Isn't It Nesecarry That You Get Better Soon?"

"It Is." I Reply Barely Speaking As I Finish My Soup. "Maybe I Will Pay Them A Visit Tommorow." I Mumble.

"Yes Please Do." Stephanie Smiles. "Now I Will Go And Get The Kids Ready, And I Will See You Here Again In A While. And Then We Enjoy Girls Night!" She Smiles Broadly As I Nod. She Leaves Quickly, As I Place The Empty Soup Bowl On My Desk.

I Open The Window, As The Afternoon Rays Of The Gentle Spring Sun Hit My Face. I Stare Down Into The Ground Below, Where In Just A While I Will Be Lying Face Down...Dead.

Thats Right. I Never Gave Up On My Goal. I Had Been Counting Down To This Very Day After All. The Day I Join My Mother And Father, In The Cradle Of Afterlife.

If At All, It Exists.

I Clutch The Pendant Stephanie Gave Me, Just A While Back, As I Slowly Step Outside The Window, And Stand On The Ledge. The Wind Tries To Throw Me Off Balance, But I Keep My Feet Firmly Planted To The Ledge.

As I Stare Down, Memories Of My Life Flash Before My Eyes Yet Again. But This Time I Am At Peace, Because I Have Accepted My Fate. I Can't Take It Anymore. I Need Eternal Rest.

I Close My Eyes And Free Fall Towards The Ground Below. The Memories Continue To Rapidly Flash Before My Eyes Warning Me Of Things To Come, And Things I Am Leaving Behind. But Perhaps The Very Essence Of Life Is The Mystery Behind It.

As I Land With A Loud Thud, Everything Quickly Goes Silent, As My Body Goes Into Shock. My Vision Begins To Fade As I See Blurred Silhouettes Of People Rushing To Help Me. Somewhere Far Far Away, I Hear A Distant Scream, Calling Out My Name.

"Faith!!"

Stephanie. She Must Be The One Calling Me.

This Time However, My Vision Receeds Into The Void Completely. I Feel Nothing, As If All My Five Senses Have Been Muted. I Feel Isolated And Shut Out.

And Just Then, In The Pitch Black Darkness, Someone Grabs My Hand.

I Slowly Feel My Senses Returning To Me. As My Vision Adjusts, I See That I Am In A Room. A Dimly Lit Room, With Stacks Of Books All Around. The Light Emanates From A Fireplace, As The Embers Flicker, Almost As If The Flames Are Dancing. A Shadow Appears Just In Front Of Me, As The Silhouette Removes His Top Hat.

"Good Afternoon Faith Clair." I Hear A Familiar Voice. "Welcome To Purgatory. Let Us Begin Your Trial."

No. Impossible.

He Followed Me In My Life, Knew About Me. And Even In Death, His Amber Eyes Continue To Haunt Me.

The Man In The Brown Overcoat. He Is Back.