A New Soul In Heaven, Part 2
By Vaughn Romero
I entered Heaven in much the same way I had entered the world eighty-
five years before: naked, scared, and crying. Tears of desperation,
joy, and relief ran from my eyes and reduced my world to a watery
blur, masking the multitude of kind hands that guided me deeper into
my new home.
"Welcome to Heaven, blessed one," I formed the words again and again
in my mind, switching between the language of my former life and the
music of the angel's song. More of the musical tongue rolled over me
like a wave, asking if I was alright, asking me my name, asking what I
would like to do and see.
I closed my eyes to squeeze the tears from my eyes and felt the drops
fall from my cheek taking the weight of my doubt with it. I had
entered Heaven. I had not been cast out. I had not been damned
for my lack of faith in God.
"What do I do now?" I asked to no one in particular.
"That is entirely up to you, Mason" said a rich male voice in English.
I opened my eyes to look at the source of the voice. Before me stood
what had to be an angel: a handsome man in robes with white wings
visibly folded behind his back and a golden white halo over his head.
The angel was watching me, holding out his left hand and offering me a
handkerchief. I suddenly felt very foolish blubbering in the street
with an angel watching over me.
"I suppose I'm a bit surprised to be here," I said as I took the
handkerchief and wiped the tears from my eyes. "I wasn't sure I'd pass
the test," my voice cracked with a weak laugh.
The angel gave me a knowing grin like he heard this same line a
thousand times before.
"We get all those who achieve their destiny - it is our mission - and
your being here is no mistake. As hard as it may be for you to believe
it, you have earned your place in Heaven." The angel's words resonated
with an authority of truth I had never heard on Earth.
"But how did I get here? What did I do to achieve my ... destiny?"
Somehow the word felt new to me here, as if I had never really known
the meaning of the word until this moment.
"I do not know the particulars of your destiny. If it is important to
you, I can take you to an angel at the Library who can answer your
question. It is not far from where we are now."
I looked around the street searching for something to make sense. A
library. Somewhere here there was a library with an angel who could
tell me how my doubting soul had earned eternal paradise.
"I would like that very much... angel?" I looked at the angel
awkwardly hoping I was not offending him with the title.
"You may call me Dabiel. The Library is but a short flight from here.
If you will permit me to carry you, we can arrive there in minutes."
My mind slowly pieced together the implications of the words flight
and carry. On Earth I had always been afraid of heights, but I had
nonetheless managed to enjoy flying in airplanes. Dabiel's proposition
was at once thrilling and terrifying.
"I don't mind a walk. It's not like I'm in any rush..."
Dabiel gave me another knowing grin that told me he had heard this
particular protest many times before.
"You are in Heaven now, Mason, and no longer mortal. You have nothing
to fear from flying, and I will not let you fall." Dabiel extended his
left hand to me and winked. "Trust me, the view is like nothing you
have ever seen in your life."
My eyes drifted upward and I counted the numerous flying things in the
sky. To my surprise, not all of the things had wings.
"Let's do it."
The city of Heaven defied all earthly explanation. In appearance it
stretched as far as the eye could see, a seemingly endless supply of
avenues, plazas, parks, bazaars, and churches stretched out before me
in every direction. Yet unlike a city on Earth, none of these wonders
were crowded together and despite the incredible scale of some of
them, it never took more than moments to pass what should have taken
hours.
My mind struggled to reconcile the inconsistency of our movement and
our progress. Dabiel's wings beat almost lazily, yet we were obviously
moving quickly. Stranger still was the utter lack of discomfort I
felt. My weight did not seem to burden Dabiel at all, nor did I ever
feel the grip of gravity trying to pull me down or the sudden pull of
momentum tug at my stomach.
"How do we move like this?" I called up to Dabiel with a voice louder
than I had intended. There was no rush of air to pull my words of
away.
"We're not in Kansas anymore, Todo." Dabiel's voice was playful. "Just
try to enjoy the ride. You will not always have an angel to taxi you
about."
As we raised higher into the air I could see more of the Heavenly
city. No matter where I looked parts of it stretched to the horizon.
Straining to see the limits of the city, I had a sudden thought:
everything is so clear here - there must be no smog in Heaven. On its
heel's another thought followed: if Heaven has a horizon, then it must
not be flat. At least something around here was familiar.
The angels standing before the doors of the Library had black wings
like those I had seen over the Gates. Up close I could now see that
each of them wore a set of necklaces about their necks. As I examined
the angels, the pair sang a greeting to Dabiel and then eyed me
quickly assessing something.
"You should not leave him unattended so early, Dabiel. Perhaps a
Guardian would be in order?" The singing language of the angels was
a mystery. How could I understand it?
"I will see that one of our brothers watches him, Virtue. His soul
burns with questions that only the Library can answer."
"A guardian?" I inquired of Dabiel.
"A title for one of our choirs, Mason. A Guardian is an angel whose
purpose is to watch over and protect the things that Heaven values.
You have nothing to fear, it is a quite common for new souls to have a
Cherub attune to them." Dabiel led me within the Library as he talked.
"A Cherub? One of the babies with wings?"
Dabiel shook his head with laughter. Several angels sitting around
tables must have also heard my question for they too smiled with
amusement. "Some things are lost in the translation between Heaven and
Earth and the popular image of Cherubim is most certainly one of them.
No, Mason, A Cherub is something quite different. You will see for
yourself in a moment."
Still laughing under his breath, Dabiel led me deeper into the
Library. Walking through the book-lined walls was both familiar and
comforting. We climbed a set of stairs to a higher level and then
walked to what looked very much like an Information desk.
"Friend of Sages, this soul has need to consult the book of Destiny."
Dabiel addressed his song to the winged serpent hovering behind the
desk. Two of six eyes lifted from reading a book and looked at
Dabiel and then me.
Returning his gaze to my guide, the serpent addressed Dabiel "Is that
wise Friend of Man? Humans are not always pleased to learn of paths
missed and choices unmade." The serpent's song was hushed but easily
heard in the serenity of the Library.
"I think it would put this soul at ease to know that his beliefs have
value in Heaven."
"Ah yes, another human struggling with the divine religions. Has he no
family or friends to guide him?" The serpent's question awakened
powerful memories. Faces lost and forgotten suddenly flashed within my
mind.
"I do not know, Most Holy." I addressed the serpent directly using the
title I had heard the alien-angel use at the Gate.
The serpent lifted all six eyes to look at me, his gaze searching for
and finding some hidden message in my words. "You doubted your own
worthiness, and now extend this doubt to those you love. Yours is a
common and regrettable human condition. Dabiel may be right, perhaps
the truth of your destiny will allow you to accept your place here and
seek those you hold dear. I shall return with the necessary
information. Wait here." The serpent silently glided into the air and
flew deep within the stacks leaving me to ponder its disturbingly
accurate analysis.
After several silent moments Dabiel interrupted my thoughts, "Mason,
When the Seraph returns, I shall go and find you a suitable Guardian.
You have much to learn in the time ahead, but my duties will soon take
me elsewhere. Should you have need of me, you may inquire with any
angel of the Library and word will reach me."
"Thank you, Dabiel. You have been most kind to me." My angelic care-
taker nodded in acknowledgement, and perhaps sensing my mood stepped
back to give me some space to myself.
In the silence of the Library my thoughts drifted back to those I had
known throughout my life. Would my family be waiting for me somewhere?
How many of my friends were here for me to find? How had they handled
this new world that at once confirmed and denied much of what I had
held as truth? Had they too wished desperately that this place came
with an instruction manual? Some movement brought me back to see the
Seraph-serpent returning with a scroll floating before him.
"I have copied the details of your destiny to this scroll. May you
find what you are looking for, blessed one."
The feeling that came over me then was one that I had not felt since I
was a child. It had been countless ages ago since I'd had a report
card, but this one was a long time coming and carried with it so many
answers - and questions. Opening the scroll I scanned the contents
expecting the worst, bracing myself for a near failing grade. I was
surprised.
"Well, I guess I could say I got a few A's, but I don't suppose
there's a retest?"
Dabiel smiled. His brother angel the Seraph gave me what I later
learned was a who-can-ever-understand-humans? look. I treasure the
memory of both reactions to this very day.
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