The Stranger

Many will say that when you die, the Grim Reaper comes. Either to take you away, or to lead you to the afterlife.

Some will say that you get taken to the Lord himself to be judged, or that, depending on how you lived your life, you will be sent to hell for eternity.

But, the truth is, after you die, the Stranger is who takes you.

He will hold out his hand; long-fingered and cold, lifeless but clearly living.

His deep red gaze will pierce your own, and read your soul in a matter of seconds.

His black cloak will flutter around the both of you, and block out everything but him.

You may look at his face, and you may try to analyze it, but you will find that you do not recognize anything about him.

All you will notice is that the Stranger is a gaunt, pale, and unique but also unremarkable man with a black cloak.

After that, the dark walls of the cloth will fall, and you will feel sand beneath your feet.

You will look around, and see that you are on a large island; with two majestic mountains, a river that beckons you to swim or dance in its waters, and a bridge, which connects the two sides that the river seperates.

He will tell you that this is the Land Far Between, a true paradise. There is no sickness, no disease. No poverty, no crime. There is no violence, and there is no wrongdoing. 

He will then motion towards the bridge, and you will see a collection of your family members on the other side. Perhaps your grandparents, maybe a historical figure you were related to.

If you cross, you will see beautiful lights, all the time. You will see happiness around every corner, and delightful surprises.

If you hesitate, the Stranger will simply offer you a reassuring smile and a calm wave of his hand; and then he will leave to bring the next person.

You will cross at some point, and you will live eternally with joy, love, and care.

For you are in the Land Far Between, the true and only paradise.