Free Eternity by Laury Falter Page B

parchment paper and concrete benches were strategically placed the length of the hall. Despite its beauty, the hall was vacant, filled with a quiet serenity.
    It was daylight as it always was here.
    I sat up, familiar to this place, which I knew as the Hall of Records. I’d been coming here every night for as far back as I could remember. Unlike others who brush their teeth, wash their face, and slip into bed for a solid nights rest, I spend my time here – awake in the afterlife.
    A soft, warm breeze rustled my clothes – the same ones I’d been wearing when Campion had put me to sleep. The frustration I felt towards him for sending me in to a narcoleptic state had carried with me here but was quickly dissolving. I understood. He was simply following orders. I briefly wondered whether there was any way of preventing him from doing it again but I knew that would be a practice in futility. I couldn’t deny Eran so how could I ask anyone else to?
    I stood and considered what I could do to keep my mind off Eran for the time I would be spending here. Unlike others who exist in the afterlife permanently, my fears didn’t diminish in this place and an active part of my mind was still worrying about Eran. I intentionally restrained horrid thoughts of different scenarios he may encounter that kept rising up from my subconscious but it was challenging. Those thoughts were accompanied with the aggravation in knowing that he was doing this for me – putting himself at risk to protect me - something I would end eternally if he’d allow it. Knowing this would happen and knowing I never slept, I figured he must have sent me here for a reason.
    Ordinarily I would deliver messages for my customers, who visited me in The Square, but it was during the school week and I didn’t work during the week. That left me with the challenge of finding something to fill my time.
    Then I drew in a contented sigh, realizing what a precious gift Eran had given me…He’d intended me to make a visit to the only person who could keep my emotions steady.
    I stood and walked down the hall to a specific pocket, pulling the parchment from within it. It unraveled on its own, flowing to the ground, resembling the movement of liquid paper, and piling at my feet. I found the name I was looking for and softly moved my finger over it. This was the same process I followed when I sought to find the recipients of messages that I delivered for my customers in The Square. This time, however, I’d be visiting a friend of mine.
    As my finger finished tracing the name the world around me seemingly disintegrated, rapidly turning to dust, and fell away. My feet left the floor and I was suddenly being carried through the air, the ground below me moving along at neck breaking speed. On these journeys I always tried to catch a glimpse of what was below me. They were other people’s heavens, designed to fit their interests and needs and it was as if I could peek in to other’s desires without needing to disrupt them. Entire cities, remote tropical islands, even planetary clusters had been built by individuals. However, I was taken to an area known for gathering as a community.
    I landed at the open doorway of a building resembling a Greek temple and glanced around. Groups of people from all cultures mingled around the colossal Doric columns and sat on the steps lined with decorative stonework. Behind me, down the hillside and across a vast gorge, a few of the winged populace congregated casually in the sky. From inside and across the cavernous meeting area, I found him.
    Dressed in a toga, Gershom leaned against a column, his expression reflective. While he still looked about my age I knew that he, like everyone else here, had the ability to change their appearance. Evidently, he felt most comfortable at the age of seventeen.
    After seeing me approach, he lithely stood and took broad, eager steps towards me.
    “Maggie,” he said, beaming. “It has been weeks…in your