Songs and Fire

He was dying and he knew it. The pain of existence was slowly going away. He heard people going in and out of the room, but only as a distant sound. He heard her familiar voice, the daughter he raised was close at hand. He felt her nearby as he took a last breath.

In moments, he opened his eyes again, expecting to see her standing above him, but what he saw instead was an old forest on land he remembered as a child. It was solidified in his mind as his place of peace, his home. No longer was his body slowed by a damaged heart, he got up and gave a nod knowing this was right, this is where he was meant to be.

There were voices raised in song just over the ridge and he felt compelled to follow, knowing he needed to join their chorus. The old songs made him quicken his steps because he knew there would be food, drink and he knew his voice was needed.

As he got closer to the crowd, he saw there was a familiar bon fire in the middle of them. He saw the crowns of flowers and oak adorning the heads of those who gathered and smiled knowing this was right, this is where he was meant to be. His eyes focused on the faces and he was filled with happiness because they were his family and friends who had joined in the chorus before him. They cheered his name as he approached them and he boisterously greeted them back. He made his way around the fire and felt part of what his heart had always craved, a place for friends and family to gather.

He didn’t know how long he had sang, but he saw others in the distance, just coming over the ridge and he knew what had to be done. He went to gather more wood because the fire must be kept bright for others to see the crowd. “Some must sing, some must gather wood, there is more work to be done” he thought as he went about the task, “we cannot lose anyone, we must prepare for the others to come.”

He worked without pain and never tiring. And as he threw more wood on the fire and the flames shot up in the air, he knew this is what people needed. There was a joy that filled him knowing he was helping so no one got lost. And with the fire brightly shining he sang again, the pain of his last days forgotten, knowing he would see all those he left behind again and he would be the one helping guide them to where they needed to be. 

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