Beyond Death Read Online Free PDF Page B

hair, trying to console her. She felt real to him but both of them knew that this was some sort of illusion and that their physical bodies no longer existed. It didn’t matter as long as they could pretend.
    Thinking of the whole death experience it had not been what she’d expected to say the least. There hadn’t been a tunnel, a white light or any of her dead relatives beckoning her or steering her in the right direction. The last was a disappointment. If she had to be dead the least that could be done was to reconnect her with her adored grandmother who had died more than two years before. She still felt as if she had a body and felt as if she could open and close her eyes yawn and stretch but yet, when she tried to look at herself, all she saw was a hovering light. It was all very weird and Claire wasn’t yet used to her new status and situation.
    The mood was broken by an interruption shortly after and they turned, looking in the direction where they’d heard a whoosh. A bright golden light appeared and both squinted as if the sun were blinding them. The light slowly began to take form and a female appeared in front of them. The light had made them feel wonderful and Claire and Ron instantly forgot their conversation as they surveyed the angel before them. Over six feet tall and dark as a moonless night, with long black tresses that were blowing over her face. Must have been a windy journey thought Claire, smiling. She was dressed in a gown and there were two large wings on her back but unlike any pictures that Claire had seen of angels, these wings were black and the feathers black, shiny and exquisite.
    Her hair calmed and she smiled and Claire felt as if they were friends already.
    ‘I’m Gabriella and as you might have guessed, I’m an angel. To simplify matters for you both, think of me as an Admin Angel and your guide and mentor. I have many tasks to complete so I need you to pay attention and to listen without interruption.’ Gabriella lifted her hand and caught two notebooks, which had appeared out of nowhere. Claire and Ron were mesmerized, as if watching a magician.
    ‘Get comfortable and I’ll begin.’
    Lovely as the angel was, Claire had many questions.
    ‘Hang on a minute, I need to...’
    ‘All will become clear, dear Claire.’ She opened one of the books, scanning a page. Closing it she looked at Claire.
    ‘Hmm... As I thought, impatience is one of your flaws. You will need to listen to the wisdom of others, Claire if you want to progress...’
    ‘But I...’
    ‘Just listen for a minute, love,’ said Ron and Claire didn’t say a word but leaned her head to one side, raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips while looking at Gabriella.
    ‘You are not a child, Claire, though we are all children of the Chairman,’ said Gabriella, and Claire’s good feelings towards her were beginning to waiver.
    ‘Neither are you a teenager and you should not expect all your own way.’ She lifted her hand containing the book into the air and waved it.
    Learning that her anger wouldn’t get her anywhere with the angel, Claire tried to calm down.
    ‘Shall we carry on or shall I come back at a later date?’
    ‘Please carry on,’ said Ron and Claire nodded, not trusting herself to comment.
    ‘For every one of you that arrives, a decision has to be made whether to recommend you to upstairs or to downstairs, for eternity. We take into consideration a number of factors such as your behaviour before arrival and the circumstances of your journey to us.’
    It seemed pretty clear to Claire and Ron so far, though neither had imagined that this was how it would be.
    ‘As you can imagine, we are very busy and the more souls we have to deal with at any given time the longer it takes to come to a decision. I’m afraid I have something very distressing to show you.’
    Claire doubted that anything could be more distressing than having her life cut short in the way that she had but had no choice other than to