The Styles Brothers

Chapter Twenty Five: Let Go

I pulled my eyes open, instantly shocked at the brilliance of my surroundings.

It was nature at its peak. Before the touch of man, before the taint of pollution. Grass was as green as the sky was blue, and a pristine river flowed down the valley I stood in. Artfully beautiful flowers sprouted in patches, breathtaking in simplicity.

I looked down at the little girl tugging on my arm, and gaped at myself. Gone were the slashes across my body. My skin was milky; smooth. Free of battle scars.

I was dressed in my favorite pair of jeans, and oddly enough, my beloved Ramones shirt. The blessed gold plate I wore around my neck was intact, as was the sister airplane pendant to the one Harry wore as well.

I felt normal. Better than normal.

The grass tickled my toes. "Mister," the little girl said again. Though I tried, I couldn't seem to speak just yet. The words would not come.

The child's hair was dark, small body slender. Big, brown eyes fluttered pleadingly up at me, and a white dress reached her ankles before stopping above tiny, bare feet.

"Wh-where am I?" I finally asked, my voice soft.

The little girl smiled, heart-shaped face beaming as she giggled. "Heaven."

For some odd reason, I felt no dying remorse. I felt nothing. No pain, nor regret. It was as if all the stress and anguish of my previous life had been washed away. I squatted down to the child's height, a smile on my face. "I'm James."

"I know," she said nonchalantly, tapping her chubby fingers together. "I watched you."

I was confused. "Watched me what?"

"Die."

I was in shock. How casually this little girl spoke of death, as if she'd-

Then I realized. She was also dead. And if she had been watching me, it could only mean one thing.

"My name is Serra," her musical voice trilled. "I'm your guardian angel."

Serra hummed a tune while she bent down, picking a dainty pink wildflower from the ground. Righting herself, she pulled my hand slightly so I bent to her height. Small fingers slowly pushed the curls back from my forehead, tucking the flower behind my ear.

"I tried to keep you safe," she whispered, her tiny hand trailing over my face. "But you didn't let me keep you safe. Why?"

I looked down. "I had to. I had to save.. a girl."

"Is she your girlfriend?" Serra asked in a teasing voice as children often do. I chuckled, standing to my full height. The child took my hand and began walking, tugging me easily along.

"I loved her very much."

"I know," Serra chirped, skipping along.

"What do you mean?"

"Look." Serra led me to the river that flowed by our feet. In the reflection of the stream, I saw a picture, like watching a television. I leaned curiously closer to make out what was happening, and gasped.

I saw my body, torn and bloody on the floor. Two people, a man and a woman, wept over me, but a girl lay quietly off to the side, body still in slumber. Another man sat adjacent to her. Although the image of my death was in plain sight, my eyes kept unconsciously straying to the sleeping girl. Her copper hair.

"What is her name?" I pointed. She was so familiar, yet I couldn't seem to draw up a name or place to her.

"You're not allowed to know," Serra replied with a shrug, playing with the petals of another flower that grew on the banks.

"Why?"

She looked me in the eye. "You're her guardian angel, mister. Her name doesn't matter. You just protect her."

I jerked my vision back to the river, but it was clear and blue. The image was gone.

"Is that why I'm here?"

Serra giggled, standing up. The little girl threw her arms out wide and spun in circles, long black hair flying. I couldn't help but smile, despite my confusion.

"This is Heaven, mister. Why do you think you're here?"

"Well, I died."

"We all do," Serra shrugged. She was quite philosophical for how young she was, I noted. "But why do you think you're here?" she asked again.

"I don't know," I sighed, exasperated with her misleading questions.

"I was sent here to help you," Serra eyeballed me seriously. "But I can only help you if you let me."

So I did.

This child would teach me what I needed to know. To protect this human girl, whom I already felt a strange protection for. To protect her like Serra had protected me.

I'd forgotten all my living memories; as if my brain had been wiped clean. Serra told me angels did that so our brains were pure when we came here.

"Thank you," I said quietly, as the child put a blade of grass between her thumbs and blew, a shrill whistling emanating that echoed through the valley. My gaze followed the sound waves, looking out into the sapphire sky as Serra curiously gazed at me. We sat on the soft grass, yet the plants did not scratch me. Our bare feet dangled in the icy river, yet I felt no chill.

"Thank you for what, James?"

I turned to lock eyes with the little girl. "For protecting me."

Serra shrugged, but a smile was on her face. "You're welcome."

As my vision traveled, I took in the sense of being in Heaven. My chest was lighter than it had ever felt, my head clearer, vision sharper. Everything had been magnified to appreciate the beauty of this place.

Since then, I have embraced the feeling like a blanket. It is a feeling of love, I am no longer hindered by worldly things.

I am happy.

Limitless.

Free.