"Kevin…" A sad female voice cried.
"It's…okay…sis. I'm…going…home…"
The haze of the room, too blurry to describe, was first swallowed by darkness, and then, in its place, a soft, glowing white light began to swell. It was not a painful illumination but a warm and embracing one, drawing him in with a gentle tug. Voices began to echo all around—voices from a life that had now ended. They intertwined, as if his existence was passing before his eyes—a life he had once shared with a very special woman.
"Charlotte… think that's my name?"
"What the fuck are you?"
"Shoot me!"
"…healing process…"
"No killing…"
"Some demon, huh…"
"…you saved them…"
"We're sleeping here?"
"She worries about you…"
"Whoa, you don't eat the bones!"
"Missing child…"
"Fear excites you…"
"I'm not your demon bitch!"
"I promise, I won't mess up this time…"
The voices began to blend even more, becoming muddled and incoherent, but he held on tightly to the ones that mattered most: hers.
"We wasted so much time… Please hurt me some more… I've slept on us long enough… I trained my own partner… I should have fought harder for you… You'll go to Heaven… When I die… Kevin… I love you… Wait for me to come home."
The swirling voices dissipated until only the radiance enveloping him remained, and the pain of faded memories disappeared just as quickly. There was no feeling of fear, merely a tranquil surrender of the self. Suddenly, the luminescence resonated and blossomed—ethereal and radiant—into a golden orb. The sphere throbbed three times, then the lights and sounds gradually diminished, leaving him kneeling with his left hand resting on glassy golden tiles.
Motionless, he stayed this way for a moment as his senses slowly returned. When he finally lifted his head, his sharp brown eyes beheld a beautifully crafted golden gate—the very entrance to Heaven itself. Rising to his full 6'4" frame, he stretched, as if waking up from a long nap. Wiping his eyes, he adjusted his vision to the brightness, then focused on himself. White robes trimmed with gold at the sleeves and hem draped his body, cinched at the waist with a soft silk belt. White slippers that felt as soft as clouds wrapped his feet.
"Welcome to Heaven."
Blinking, he looked up in response to the voice coming from above. Behind a pulpit was what could only be described as…an angel? Soft light blue-hued wings fluttered behind the young-looking man, whose golden hair was topped with an almost translucent white halo. His gentle smile was calming, and as his serene aquamarine eyes fixed on him, he inquired, "Your name, please?"
"Uh." The new arrival paused. Scratching his three-day-old beard absentmindedly, he searched his mind.
Above him, the angel waited patiently, as if he had all the time in the world. After a few moments, a familiar name came to him.
Licking his lips, he tasted it out loud. "Kevin Angelus Collins?"
Nodding pleasantly, the angel scanned a large book on the pulpit, tracing down a line of names until he stopped. Looking up with surprise, eyes wide, he stuttered. "Y-you…" Pausing, he rechecked the book.
"Is there a problem?" Kevin inquired. At the same time, thinking, This is a dream, isn't it? I'm not dead, am I?
"No! No problem!" The angel laughed nervously. "It's just that there's a note here saying—"
"It's okay," a serene voice echoed from above, prompting both of them to glance upward at another celestial figure descending gracefully.
To Kevin, she appeared to be the most beautiful of all, elegantly draped in soft, flowing robes with pastel purple hues. Long, silver-gray hair cascaded down her back to her hips, layered over her delicate tawny skin. Her wide eyes showcased a mesmerizing blend of blue, gray, and white irises. Her pearl-white wings barely moved as she floated down effortlessly, stopping next to the pulpit and the smaller angel. "I can take it from here, Sir Peter."
Sir Peter nodded appreciatively, folded his hands, and closed his eyes.
Kevin felt overwhelmed by the magnificent being before him and bowed his head in respectful acknowledgment.
She inclined her head graciously, introducing herself, "Welcome to Heaven, Kevin Angelus Collins. My name is Sera, of the High Seraphim, and it is an honor to greet you."
"I'm really dead?" It was starting to sink in for him. "You're really angels?"
"You have passed," Sera agreed gently. "But it isn't the end of your existence, but rather the start of a whole new one. We have been anxiously awaiting your arrival."
He blinked. "Why?"
"The powers we speak for have granted you a special place in Heaven due to your exemplary—if not excessive—work on Earth."
Echoing her comment, he asked, "What do you mean, excessive?"
Her eyes were filled with sadness and sympathy. "They did not share with me all of the details of your existence on Earth. I only know you blamed yourself for a tragedy that was not your fault and took it upon yourself to save as many lives as possible, hoping in the end to find redemption for yourself. From what I was told, you succeeded in your quest before losing yourself to madness, and while your early passing saddens us, we are delighted to have you with us now."
"I made a promise to someone," he began, but then paused in confusion. Who was the someone to whom he had made a promise? Why could he not remember?
"When you enter Heaven," Sera appeared to respond to his unspoken question, "you will have forgotten your earthly memories, with the residual, stronger recollections fading soon after. This happens so you can spend eternity at peace, free from the burdens of earthly attachments."
"I don't like that." Kevin's tone chilled. "What good is Heaven if you can't recall what made your existence special to begin with?"
"You will retain the essence of your experiences, feelings, and what has shaped you into the man you are, but actual memories will be erased." She explained kindly, "By the time you take your place as a High Angel, all you will know are your duties, which are few, and your days filled with peace."
Closing his eyes, Kevin tried to hold on to the memories he still had. He remembered his sister Cassie and a girl. There was a girl, wasn't there? Someone he loved deeply? She was—wait, who was his sister again? Did he ever have a sister?
A few moments passed, and he opened his eyes. They held a calm yet vacant expression. "Thank you, Sera, for meeting me at the gates." Tilting his head, he prompted, "I believe you mentioned that I was being offered a position?"
"Indeed," she replied, fully aware that his memories had been purged, allowing him to find peace. "You will serve as an advisor to our courts and assist me and my protégé Emily in welcoming new souls into Heaven." Lifting her right arm, she indicated the vast city behind her. "When not attending to those duties, you will be free to enjoy quiet meditations, games, performances, and exquisite food and drink. Nothing of consequence shall trouble your soul again."
Despite this, his natural tendencies led him to ask, "There are courts in Heaven?"
"We occasionally have meetings and negotiations with Hell. When these occur, a select few are assigned to provide their opinions and insight."
"Hell." A nagging ping about the true nature of the underworld lingered in the back of his mind, but it was fleeting. "I understand. Are there any benefits associated with being a High Angel?"
She laughed heartily. "You'll be able to visit with some of our exorcist angels, who can guide you in using your new powers, if that is what you mean."
His instincts triggered again, and he raised his eyes. "Exorcists? Warriors? For what purpose?"
"Now, now, do not burden yourself with such things for now, Kevin Angelus Collins. Come, let me show you to our main concourse. Emily is organizing a welcome party for you. She has been excited to meet you since we learned of your impending arrival."
Her words conveyed a blend of suggestion and command, causing him to disperse his thoughts about his concerns. With no further debate, he bowed to her. "I'd be honored."
Sera motioned to Sir Peter, who pressed a button on his pulpit, and the gates opened before them. Stepping through, he could hardly believe the beauty of the metropolis laid out before him. It defied words, yet emotionally, it made perfect sense. They strolled for a short while, during which she pointed out places that he might find interesting.
Before long, they reached the main concourse, where another Seraphim was directing an assembly of angels in decoration, food arrangement, and a band that was tuning up on a stage in the corner. This one was smaller, perhaps half the height of the majestic Sera, and her skin and eyes had a lighter tone than those of her companion, yet there were obvious similarities. Her robes, adorned with bolder shades of purple, made her stand out among the other celestial beings in the concourse.
Upon seeing them arrive, the Seraphim squealed in excitement, making a sound like a squeaky rubber duck, which amused him.
She flew over and landed in front of the pair. "Kevin! Oh my, you're finally here!" The small Seraphim clasped his hands in hers, literally hopping up and down on the heels of her slippers. "I'm Emily! Or Em, Emmy… I will go by whatever you want! Welcome to Heaven!"
"Thank you, Emily." He smiled warmly, her infectious joy making him feel calmer. "But I'd prefer to address you by whatever you're most fond of. After all, it's your name, not mine."
She grinned with a smile a mile wide. "Wow! Well, of course! Please call me Emmy. I always liked it!"
"Emmy, it is. A pleasure to meet you, then!" Kevin proclaimed with a polite tilt of his head.
"It's my honor to meet you, too," Emily chirped, her eyes sparkling. "But what about your name? Is Kevin okay, or did you go by any other names?"
"Hmm." Her question sparked a fleeting, fading memory, and if he hadn't lost most of the others, he might have wondered more about why he could remember this specific detail. "I do remember using a version of my middle name most of the time." He paused briefly at the irony, grinned lightly, and revealed, "I was called Angel."
"Ooh, Angel!" She beamed at him excitedly. "That is such a fitting name for you! I think you should embrace it here."
He didn't quite recall why he'd used the name when he was alive, but whimsically, he liked the idea of it here and now. So he nodded to her and agreed. "Perhaps I will."
Looking at the setup, he whistled in appreciation. "I'm really honored. Especially this arrangement you've prepared for me? I don't believe I've ever been one for fanfare or attention, but since you've gone through so much, I look forward to what you've planned."
Emily squealed—again in her unique way—excitedly. "You'll love it! We've planned a musical performance, a feast, and a tour of your new home in one of our grandest resorts!"
"I shall leave you to entertain our new arrival, Emily," Sera spoke up, catching the attention of both of them. She addressed the smaller Seraphim directly. "When you have shown Angel his new home, join me in my quarters for a review of tomorrow's duties."
"Okay." Emily waved. "See you later, Sera."
Extending her wings, the great Seraphim took flight and soon was out of sight.
Once she was gone, Angel turned back to Emily. "I understand that my memories of Earth have faded, but if someone from my past makes it to Heaven, will I recognize them?"
"Of course!" She nodded firmly. "I'm sure Sera explained why your earthly ties are severed, but it wouldn't be Heaven if you couldn't reconnect with loved ones!"
"Then, are my grandparents here?"
Tilting her head in thought, she hummed. "If I'm to be honest, embarrassingly so, even I sometimes don't remember every soul that passes through our gates. You are welcome to visit Sir Peter later and give him their names. He will be able to direct you to them. I'm sure they are up here, though."
"I'm sure, too," Angel agreed. "And perhaps so is—" He paused, his eyes glazing over for a moment.
When he didn't continue, Emily gently poked his shoulder, "Are you okay?"
He blinked. "I'm sorry. For a moment, I thought I remembered someone. Someone special."
A flicker of concern passed behind Emily's eyes. His memories should be gone, she thought.
But she kept her expression cheerful and commented. "I'm sure you've had many special people in your life, Angel, and I'm confident that in time you will reconnect with all of them here in Heaven."
"Well, not too soon," he chuckled. "I hope so anyway."
"Come! Let me show you around!" Emily prompted, changing the topic.
Taking his hand in hers, she led Angel into the concourse and a celebration only Heaven could orchestrate—a celebration he relished thoroughly, with all earthly ties severed.
For now.