36

The soul appeared in a quiet, gentle place — the sky painted in soft pastels, like a sunset that never ended. Flowers swayed without wind, glowing faintly. The air felt warm and comforting, like a hug that never let go.

The Angel of Death arrived quietly, no grand entrance, just a calm presence. Their voice was soft. "Hey there. Don't be scared."

The soul blinked, small and unsure. "Am I... dead?"

The Angel nodded slowly. "Yes... you are. But you're not alone."

The soul looked down, confused. "I didn't do anything wrong. Why did this happen?"

The Angel knelt to meet the soul's eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong. Sometimes, the world isn't fair. Sometimes, good, innocent souls leave too soon."

The soul's voice wavered. "I wanted to stay... I wanted to grow up."

The Angel's heart ached, though they were not supposed to feel such things. "I know. And you deserved that. But where you're going now — it's warm, and safe, and peaceful. There's no more pain. Only kindness."

The soul's eyes glimmered with tears. "Will anyone remember me?"

The Angel smiled softly. "Oh, they'll remember you. They'll miss you every single day. They'll carry you in their hearts, and your love will stay with them, even if they can't see you anymore. You were loved. You still are."

The soul hesitated, then asked, "Will I see them again someday?"

The Angel nodded. "Yes. One day, they'll find you again. And it'll feel like no time passed at all."

The soul sniffled, then gave a small, brave nod. "Okay... I'm ready."

The Angel extended a hand, steady and comforting. "Let's go. There's a light waiting just for you."

The soul took the Angel's hand. And together, they walked toward the light — gentle, bright, and endlessly warm — where innocence would never be lost, only cherished forever.

---

The soul appeared in a vast meadow bathed in golden light, where the breeze carried the scent of blooming jasmine. The sky wasn't just blue — it shimmered, as though the very air was woven from light and warmth. The grass beneath was soft, like the earth itself wanted to offer comfort.

The Angel of Death arrived without sound, a quiet presence filled with reverence. This wasn't an ordinary soul — it was something rare. Untouched by malice or regret. Pure.

The soul, radiant and unburdened, looked around with wide, curious eyes. "Is this... heaven?"

The Angel shook their head gently. "Not quite. This is the space between. But for someone like you, heaven won't be far."

The soul tilted its head. "Why me? I wasn't anyone special."

The Angel smiled softly, sadness laced in their voice. "You were kind. Not because you had to be, but because it was who you were. You gave without asking anything back. You loved without condition. You forgave even when it hurt."

The soul blinked, surprised. "Isn't that what people are supposed to do?"

The Angel's smile faltered, bittersweet. "Maybe. But few truly do. Purity of heart is rare, and it often goes unnoticed. You may not have been a hero to the world — but to those who knew you, you were everything."

The soul looked down. "I wish I could've stayed longer. Helped more people."

The Angel stepped closer, voice warm and sure. "You helped more than you'll ever know. You left light behind — in smiles, in laughter, in the way people remember you. Even now, your kindness lingers. And that kind of light never goes out."

The soul took a shaky breath, though it didn't need to breathe anymore. "Will they be okay without me?"

The Angel nodded. "They'll hurt. They'll grieve. But your love will guide them, even when they don't realize it. And one day, when their time comes, they'll find you waiting."

The soul's expression softened. "I think... I'm ready now."

The Angel held out a hand, gentle and steady. "Then let's go. There's a place for you — peaceful, endless, and full of light. A place where only the purest souls belong."

The soul took the Angel's hand without hesitation. Together, they walked toward the horizon, where the light didn't burn, but embraced. Where purity found its eternal home.

---

The soul appeared in a quiet garden, where the wind hummed a soft, mournful tune. Roses, deep red and heavy with dew, lined the path, their petals falling like tears. The sky was a gentle gray, neither dark nor bright — as though the world itself couldn't decide whether to grieve or to let go.

The Angel of Death arrived without sound, standing a respectful distance away. There was no need for words yet. This soul had known loss far too well.

The soul looked down at her hands, the faintest trace of a wedding ring still visible, even in death. Her voice was quiet, almost broken. "Is it really over?"

The Angel stepped forward, voice low and comforting. "Yes. It's over now. No more pain. No more loneliness."

The soul's eyes filled with sadness. "I wasn't ready. I still waited for him. Every day, I hoped he'd come back to me, even though I knew he wouldn't."

The Angel's expression softened. "Love like yours doesn't end, even when life does. You carried his memory through every day, every night. That's not something death can take away."

The soul's voice trembled. "I loved him so much... but I was angry, too. Angry that he left me behind. That I had to wake up alone. Does that make me a bad person?"

The Angel shook their head. "It makes you human. Grief isn't a betrayal of love — it's proof of it. You held on because he mattered. Because you mattered to him."

The soul closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I miss him."

The Angel's voice was steady, though touched with sorrow. "I know. And he misses you too. But love — real love — doesn't vanish. It waits. Even now, it's waiting for you."

The soul's eyes widened, hope flickering through the grief. "Do you mean... I'll see him again?"

The Angel smiled softly, a warmth in their voice. "Yes. He's waiting for you, just beyond the light. He's been waiting all this time."

The soul stared for a moment, then nodded, her tears falling freely. "I'm ready now. Take me to him."

The Angel extended a hand, and she took it without hesitation. Together, they walked down the path of roses — the petals swirling gently around them — toward the light where a familiar silhouette stood, waiting with open arms.

---

Two souls appeared together, standing hand in hand. The world around them was quiet — a serene, endless field bathed in twilight, where the sky bled soft hues of purple and gold. A warm breeze rustled the grass, carrying with it the scent of lavender and memories.

The Angel of Death arrived silently, watching them for a moment. It wasn't often souls arrived together, still clinging to each other as if even death couldn't pull them apart.

The couple looked around, confused but calm. One spoke first, voice gentle. "Is this... the end?"

The Angel stepped forward, their voice steady yet soft. "It's not the end. It's just the next step."

The other soul glanced at their partner, worry flickering in their eyes. "Do we have to separate now?"

The Angel tilted their head thoughtfully, then smiled — a rare, bittersweet expression. "No. Not you two. Some bonds are too strong for even death to break."

The first soul's voice trembled. "We always promised... if one of us went, the other wouldn't be far behind. We didn't want to be apart."

The Angel nodded. "And you weren't. Even in those last moments, your hearts never let go. You held on, for each other. That kind of love doesn't go unnoticed."

The second soul swallowed hard, tears shimmering in their eyes. "We were supposed to grow old together."

"You did," the Angel said gently. "Growing old isn't about years. It's about the life you shared. The laughter. The arguments. The quiet moments where no words were needed. You loved fully — that's a lifetime in itself."

The couple squeezed each other's hands tighter. "What happens now?"

The Angel gestured toward the horizon, where a soft light glimmered like the first rays of dawn. "Now, you rest. Together. No more pain, no more fear. Just peace — and each other."

The two souls looked at one another, a silent conversation passing between them. Then, with quiet smiles and tears of relief, they nodded.

Hand in hand, they stepped forward — not afraid, not uncertain. The Angel watched them go, their forms growing smaller as they walked into the light, still holding on to each other, just as they always had.

Even death couldn't take that away.