Life-After Read Online Free PDF Page A

mine locked away. That night, she was struck speechless. Almost falling out of her seat she wrapped her arms around me. Even watching the moment I could feel the warmth of her touch. Her kiss was like no other that night, it felt as if we had frozen that moment. Breaking the silence she whispered in my ear the word that changed my life forever.
    “ Yes.”
    I found myself crying. I had not shed a tear since the day the meteor fell. I lowered my head for a moment when I noticed everything around me was darkening. In a panic I began looking around, watching reality slowly fade into the darkness. I screamed out Clara’s name reaching out to her, but my hand passed right through her. It was just as I feared. I was nothing more than a ghost, witnessing my past. That chapter had come to an end and the darkness was the curtain fall. There was nothing I could do but stand there and embraced my return to the shadows.
    Surrounded once again in darkness I was not even allowed to grieve on the loss of my happiest memory. The darkness brought with it a chill that coursed through my body. I felt as if I was dying. I pondered if that memory was my gateway leading me to my afterlife. I asked myself if it was a dream to prepare me for what was to come next, but what I wanted to know was what dream would come. Would I be allowed to experience more pleasure or was pain all that remained for me?
    A bright sphere of light in the distance was the beginning of my answer. I could not move. All I could do was watch it expand out toward me. I felt like a deer caught in headlights except as the closer the light came toward me, the calmer I felt. The light washed away the darkness and bathed me in its warmth. Soon the light had completely surrounded me. It began as a soft white then slowly began to brighten until it blinded me.
    I felt a sensation come over me. It freed me allowing me to walk forward. No, it coaxed me forward like a shepherd leading a stray sheep back to the flock. As I walked forward I could smell something, it was faint at first, but as I continued forward it became clear. It was freshly cut grass and the warmth surrounded me became familiar, it was the sun. I could only think that I was entering heaven and then in the distance I saw my angel. She was shimmering white and though I could not make out her face I could feel it was her. I had stepped through the gate into paradise and been rewarded with the only person I wanted to see.
    “ Clara…” I gasped out afraid I could be wrong but praying I was right.
    “ Yes, David.” Clara said reaching out to me. “I’ve been waiting for you. Take my hand, you’re home now.”

 
     
    2
    While not the main reason, what came to be known as the global war began over resources. In the beginning it was energy, in time even food became scarce. The eastern union was formed because the larger countries stopped sending aid to the smaller ones. It was like being part of a big family versus being alone. These smaller countries had many differences, but when you cannot feed your people you become much more willing to make concessions.
    Once the eastern union was formed many other smaller countries around the planet banded together for survival. At first the larger nations paid them little mind; however, a thousand small cuts can kill and that is what the larger nations feared. They did not care that these small countries just wanted to survive. Their concern was their combined military strength and strategic importance.
    In the end the two largest nations absorbed the smaller unions fighting amongst each other for control. I came from one of those smaller nations. The parent nation, as it came to be known, was not always kind when taking over acquired territory. My nation did not want to be part of a union or a parent nation. We had been self-sufficient for centuries. We had no need for outside aid and had more than enough energy and natural resources for our people.
    When the alliance was