A Glimpse Of Paradise!!

As Amara stared at the gift wrapped in elegant paper, her mind raced with various questions. Who could have left it for her?

Perhaps any of her colleagues?

Not a chance, they would have given her directly if so, wouldn't they?

She couldn't shake off the feeling of intrigue mixed with curiosity as she carefully picked up the parcel, her fingers tracing the smooth surface of the wrapping.

The sky echoed in thunders again, reminding her of her state, with no other thoughts, she just went in, shutting the door, letting a creaking shutting sound escape that soon blended with the rhythm of raindrops.

Her house that emerged in darkness till now getting lit by her act of switching on lights!

Amara straight ahead went to her room, throwing all her stuff on her bed, deciding to clean herself first!

Even after providing herself with a warm bath, she couldn't stop the sneezes and the open window didn't help much! She shut them as well, drawing in the curtains, feeling still cold!

She soon found herself in the living room, warming herself sitting by the hearth, her hands rubbing her arms constantly.

Amara's thoughts soon rushed towards the person again, his eyes an unsolved mystery.

Daniel Richardson, the adopted son. And what about his real parents? Were they.....dead?!

She let that thought fly away, even if they were, he got a new family, a caring one valuing him according to him getting appointed as CEO, no need to sympathise!

Yet, she felt happy for him unknowingly, soon feeling a sting of disappointment, the loneliness she was living with from 2years, an evidence to the misery and the grief the tragedy caused, her eyes threatening her to shed the held back tears.

Amara a twenty-one year old woman, wanting to become a doctor inspired by her parents, chooses the medical course in a big University. Her parents being very motivating and supportive, giving her the right to choose what she wants.

Yet Amara chooses to be a doctor, her parents' profession, her father being a great surgeon, and her mother an anesthesiologist, inspiring her to become one as well.

Her parent's shared a love that always made her look up at love. And the way they always helped others by their talent, sometimes treating without taking fee and doing charity works, she couldn't help but to dream of herself becoming like them once she grows up.

However, after losing them in the accident, she felt detached to everything that existed as a reminder of her parents death. Leaving behind her passion and dreams, she took up a random job of journalism in one of her uncle's company.

Her life seems pretty well now, yet the suppressed feelings often visit her like an unwelcomed yet expected guest.

Her one decision of letting her parents celebrate their anniversary at her uncle's house unlike in the past, being her forever regret!!

If only had she not suffered an infectious fever, and gone along with them, she wouldn't be suffering alone now, would she?!

Fate indeed plays a cruel game!

She felt herself sinking deep in the ocean of grief as she dozed off, leaning against the sofa, completely ignorant to the chilling floor that cooled her body furthermore.

************

Amara found herself in a vast greenland, completely contrast to the living room she was in! Her vision as far as it reached could see nothing but grass land, no evidence of human presence!

She couldn't help but wonder where she ended up suddenly. As she began to walk, taking in the view, the beauty of nature embraced her, with trees everywhere, birds humming, and the mysterious yet mesmerizing fragrance that swayed around stunned her. Feeling a sense of the mixture of smells, of the waterfalls and tress, beaches and oceans, forests and wildlife, what not?! It's the evidence of peace and purity of nature! The air giving her a sense of newness. In distance, she saw a swing that hung to a tree, decorated with beautiful flowers!

Her heart immediately responded, urging her to experience it!

However, the confusion still stayed while her sight took in the view of a beautiful door decorated with leaves and flowers in distance.

It looked stunning, she thought!

Amara found herself walking towards it, as if the door casted a spell on her. Her hand settling on the door knob, she hesitated for a second before opening it, only to see the unbelievable!

Amara witnessed unicorns, beautiful butterflies flying in the sky, and a small pond a far from her but good enough to be visible. Tiny yet beautiful fishes swimming in it, few frogs jumping, feasting on flies!

Along with trees this time, she could feel more of the presence of living! Wildlife creatures roaming around, an enchanting peacock seeking her attention!

"Where am I?" Amara questioned herself, with a smile that represented her joy within to be here.

Suddenly two shadows appeared, approaching her from behind, Amara immediately sensing the act turned back in a mixture of fear and curiosity!

The alertness soon was washed away by the sight of finding familiar faces, the longed persons standing ahead!

Amara stepped back in shock, "How... come?!" she mumbled.

"Mom...Dad...!" tears swirled in her eyes, cascading down her cheeks.

"Oh my dear!" her mother spoke, her voice a tug of affection, love and longing.

"Amara, my pretty girl! How are you?" her father caressed her hair as he questioned.

Her father's touch felt like a sting at her heart, their teary eyes portraying the agony the clash of misery and reunion provided.

"Is....Is this all true? Is it my.... hallucination? Mom, Dad, it's...it's you right?!" Amara questioned, more tears streaming down her eyes, her voice breaking down.

Tears were nothing new for her however, this time, they represented her happiness!

Isobel and Harry provided her with a weak nod, assuring her in silence.

Amara completely broke down as she embraced her parents almost immediately, them reciprocating her hug.

The breakdown was a mixture of sobs, sorrow and happiness of reunion.

She didn't know if this was real or a dream! And even if it was, indeed a dream, she didn't wish for it to end, gladly willingly to be trapped in it for eternity!

As they departed, Harry caressed her hair again, an act which she longed for from past two years, "Seeing you here, with us, is our contentment, Amara!"

Isobel agreed, "After a long time!!"

Amara smiled through tears, a sudden wonderment striking her, "He...here?!"

"Where...are we?!"

Isobel smiled, "Heaven, dear!" she replied.

She was struck by the revelation, heaven?! She gazed at them in confusion, looking at her father for clarification, for which the man nodded with a smile.

"We missed you so much Amara. We can't explain in words that how much we were longing to see you." her mother expressed, wiping away her tears.

Her father again, nodded in agreement and turned to her with a smile and tears in his eyes.

"You guys have no idea how much I missed you both!! Why did you even leave me? Do you know how much alone was I feeling? I missed you..." Amara sobbed, hugging them all over again. Her grip around them tightening, as if afraid to lose them all over again while their gentle caresses over her head, and strokes on her back, consoled her in silence.

Amara's head completely hidden in the embrace, taking shelter on her father's chest.

"It's okay dear. Everything will be alright!" Her mother patting her shoulders smoothly, assured her, wiping her tears, again.

They let Amara cry as long as she wanted, their presence alone consoling her.

"It's okay my dear! Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Just wait for the things to get on in the right place! And we will be back to you!" Her father reassured her with a big smile.

Amara was taken aback to hear that, pulling herself away from them briefly, staring at them in confusion, "What do you mean?!"

"We will be back dear! " her mother clarified, more of as a reassurance which still, went beyond her understanding.

Isobel and Harry gazed her with a deep longing that clearly settled in their eyes, their smiles which Amara always cherished, sealing her gaze.

" How..... is that...." before even she could complete her question, she witnessed their smiles fading, their appearance glitching along with her surroundings.

In instance, her parents began departing from her. The environment soon taking the shelter of darkness, she finding herself all of a sudden in a dark tunnel and the only vision she could have is her parents at the end of the darkness, who were now fading too, ready to blend themselves in the dark!

Yet, their smiles remained, as if been thrown in reality, she began to respond, trying to reach them, however they were distancing themselves as much as she ran, slowly even the decorated door was also closed!

Wait, they can't leave her like this all over again! She kept running despite having no specific vision, screaming out of her lungs, urging them to come back, tears constantly streaming down her face! She kept running and running and running until.....

************

Amara shot her eyes open with a gasp, her body sweating again, her gaze wavered as her heart pumped faster and faster!

Once she realised her presence in her house and it was just a dream that she had seen, her heartbeat stabilized.

She leaned forward, pushing herself away from the sofa, the fire was long gone, sun rays hitting her face passing through the window!

With a sigh, she fell back against the sofa again, her fingers unintentionally playing with the bedsheet.

It was, just a dream!!

She relaxed herself by thinking so, however the sudden thought wondered her; how did she end up with a bedsheet?!