The grass stretches gallantly. Mario walks through to the other side after a big, confusing blaze and above the twisted metal on Earth. The highways called him and he came to its beckoning call. Riding high, riding free like a bird flying and flapping into the beautiful blue sky. Doves were released from the hands of his loved ones on September 12th, 2013.
There’s a quiet sense that envelops the place like a quiet calm after a storm. It’s so empty here but not in a spooky way. It’s empty like it was meant to be a private meeting place. It was put together with care and love. It was a place emptied out for a reason: a place for Mario to come home to and see his little sister. Here, they meet for what seems like the first time ever. Here, they hug for what seems like the first time ever. Here, they sit and stare into each other’s eyes because they missed each other.
There’s Mario’s favorite music hanging over the air – in the background. He listens quietly and wonders what this is all about. All of his life, he fought when needed and now he has found peace forever. He feels his sister’s hand and it is really her hand: his own sister, his own flesh and blood. He remembers all of the comings and goings on Earth and how he told his little sister that blood runs thicker than water. She sits patiently trying to make sense of his bewildered look. He has the look of a man who was interrupted from his life’s mission of building a family of his own. Tonight, he is with his little sister, sitting around, talking like old times.
Antoinette had her look that she had – her hair down to her shoulders, her eyes brown and unwavering. Her attention was zeroed in on her brother’s gaze. He has only been in heaven for a couple of weeks now having been lost on September 4th, 2013. His mind is still caught on earthly things. He misses the food, the sounds, the laughter, the jokes, the drama, and the stories. Antoinette caresses his arm and explains that heaven is a place to regain your senses after the trauma of life and before going back to Earth. She said this ruefully of course.
The trees lined up endlessly like the mountains in Maine. The sky blazed and cooled like the sky on Earth. God didn't create man or woman exactly in God’s image – God created heaven in the image of the Earth. To make it peaceful, God cut out the pain, hostility and jealousy. He made heaven shine like the Chicago skyline.
The place has pristine rugs lined through its halls. It is a mansion with seemingly endless couches lined up in preparation of a big celebration. The music comes from another room and sounds so crisp like a live band is going through its sheets of notes and playing. The thought came to them: they left everything behind and no one could ever get to them again, anymore. In heaven, there are no stars, no money, no more stares, and sneers, and jeers, and doubters and enemies. In heaven, there are only families and kinship. In heaven, there are legends and myths that have been restored. In heaven, ransacked museums are restored. In heaven, war-torn countries are put back together. In heaven, the ideal is living, vibrant, and tangible. In heaven, Martin Luther King Jr. is not murdered by a wicked man. In heaven, the Devil came and went taking with it, the system, and its kin.
Mario talks to his sister about the last few years that he spent away from her on Earth. He paused in front of the mirror stretched above the fireplace. He looks at his sister intently not believing what he sees. She is alive, and beautiful, and happy, and pensive, and alive with laughter in her eyes, giggling. He asks her where she has been all this time. He asks her if she finally did the things she wanted to do. He asks her what she misses most about him. He asks why she left him all alone, for all of those years to be without his baby sister. She told him that it just happens – some unfortunate event strikes at an inopportune time and like a blink, we’re gone. She pointed out that some suffer for years without relief. She pointed out that not all are welcomed in this mansion. She pointed out that some questions never get answered like some prayers on Earth.
Mario watches his sister walk away from him to check something in the other room. There was movement around her. The clothes she wore had beautiful colors. Her hair was straight and well taken care of like she spent days preparing for Mario’s ascent to heaven. She did. She knew from his gravestone that he would die on September 4th, 2013 and so she prepared for his ascent. The mansion was tidy and taken care of. The candles were lit. The life was restored in her cheeks. She looked wonderful and happy for she knew that Mario would be back in her life.
Mario and Antoinette sit down by a fire and make small talk, exchanging pleasantries. He calls her that name he called her growing up. She looks on in awe at her handsome brother. They joke and talk and stop to take a breath after laughing so hard. They sob and console each other until the sun comes up. He talks about cutting hair and driving his motorcycle. She listens intently. She speaks and her voice cascades down the hallway stirring the heavens and waking the dead. Antoinette meets her brother in heaven, and the night is complete.