It was a fading memory. Strobing fluorescent lights, the rat-a-tat-tat of a sticking stretcher wheel, the hot sting of a needle piercing her skin, the cool rush of fluids pulsing through her veins, unfamiliar agitated voices and strange words; pleural cavity, intubate, pulse ox, edematous, code blue, call it.
“9:24 pm”, was the last thing she heard before a flash of light and a whoosh sent her drifting feather light above where her body lay. Through walls, upward, upward until she floated just above the clouds, dots of artificial light twinkling like stars from the sleepy city below.
She drifted there in the in-between for hours, maybe days, it’s hard to know. The inconsolable wails of loved ones breaking through the veil like whispers held her captive. She extended her hands toward them as if she could touch the sound waves, and so, touch them one last time.
But the light was calling to her. She felt its warmth on her back and turned her head slightly away from the fading gray for just a second. And then she was gone. Just like that, a fading memory.
~kat – 15 March 2017
For Jane Dougherty’s Sunday Strange Challenge based on this mysterious painting.
March 16th, 2017 at 12:57 am
Reblogged this on Pastor Michael Moore's Blog and commented:
Oh Lord… Kat, this takes me back to so many end of life pastoral care experiences… I “liked” it, but truthfully it tears at my very soul…
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March 16th, 2017 at 7:06 am
As with birth. I thought of how the story might play in reverse…passages from light to birth to light to death to light. Peace my friend.❤
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March 16th, 2017 at 1:22 am
Gosh, if we only knew….
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March 16th, 2017 at 6:32 am
To sleep, perchance to dream…❤
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March 16th, 2017 at 1:37 am
So gently done!
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March 16th, 2017 at 6:31 am
Thank you Willow. I like to hope that is how it might be.
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March 16th, 2017 at 8:27 am
That would be good💝
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March 16th, 2017 at 8:58 am
🙂
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March 16th, 2017 at 6:16 am
That’s good! I can really believe that it’s like that to die the kind of death slowed down and eased by medication.
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March 16th, 2017 at 6:26 am
Thank you Jane. It’s a thought. 😊
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March 16th, 2017 at 7:56 am
Very good!
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March 16th, 2017 at 9:07 am
Thank you! Peace and light to you. 🙂
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March 16th, 2017 at 10:01 am
Interesting interpretation of the fascinating image Kat – and very sensitively written.
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March 16th, 2017 at 11:34 am
Thank you Pat. Just saw your WOW challenge. Might give it a go! 😊
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March 16th, 2017 at 11:50 am
Oh, feel free to play along ….. it’s rather fun in an “out of the box” way …. and you can always play with any of the past prompts too – just make sure to “ping” me so I can read 🙂
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March 16th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Will do!
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March 16th, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Glorious! Marvelous! Excellent!
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March 16th, 2017 at 8:38 pm
Thank you Dorna!
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