Church of Astryd

Chapter 49: A New Dawn

Death was not the end. Astryd awoke in a dazzlingly bright and expansive space, vastly different from anything she had known before. There was no solid ground beneath her, no sky above, just an omnipresent light and a sense of being that filled her entire self.

"Where... where am I?" she asked, her voice echoed throughout the vast space.

That's when she saw the figures who had guided her in life, the Heavenly Father and His Son. They were waiting for her, their shining, ethereal forms were both comforting and strangely terrifying.

"Welcome, Astryd," the Heavenly Father said, his voice was a symphony of perfect harmonies. "You are in the space between life and death, the realm where souls find their way after the earthly end."

Astryd looked around, still struggling to understand. "So, I'm... dead?" she asked.

"In an earthly sense, yes," His Son replied. "But your essence, your soul, lives on. Here, in this space, you will face your life in retrospect and the consequences of your decisions."

A sudden fear gripped Astryd. "Will I be judged? Will I be condemned for my suicide, for my doubts, for my failures?" she asked, her voice was trembling.

"Our purpose is not to judge, but to guide," the Heavenly Father assured. "Every soul carries with them the weight of their decisions, both good and bad. Here, you will have the opportunity to reflect on your life, learn from your mistakes, and grow from your experiences."

Astryd fell silent for a moment, considering their words. Then, with a sigh of resignation and renewed determination, she nodded. "Then, let's begin."

She was dead, but her journey, her search for answers and understanding, was far from over. Now, in this bright and expansive realm, she was ready to face her life in retrospect and whatever came next. Fear and uncertainty still assailed her, but there was also a spark of hope. Perhaps here, in this space between life and death, she would finally find the answers she so craved.