The Ash Lake- My Fiction Story
BY STEVE RAMSEY
Adam woke up one day near a lake the ash lake as people call it.
He was hearing this poem by St. Augustine whispered to his ears by an angelic woman voice.
“Love never disappears for death is a non-event.
I have merely retired to the room next door.
You and I are the same; what we were for each other, we still are.
Speak to me as you always have, do not use a different tone, and do not be sad.
Continue to laugh at what made us laugh.
Smile and think of me.
Life means what it has always meant.
The link is not severed.
Why should I be out of your soul if I am out of your sight?
I will wait for you; I am not here, but just on the other side of this path.
You see, all is well.”
Something seems not right, he can remember that he passed away at the hospital and he supposed to be dead. Why am I hearing? Adam was asking himself.
He Stood up and started walking around the Ash Lake.
While he was walking a warm hand touched his hand and hold his hand so tight, well hello Adam, Connie said.
Connie was his childhood love .He was so surprised and so happy to see her, Connie. Adam screams from pleasure.
What is happening to us? Adam asked Connie while touching his face and body. Where are we? Is this heaven? Adam said
We are in the Ash lake Adam; we are dead .I passed away 3 months before you.
Last time I remember I was at the hospital and then I can hear the doctor telling the nurse the time of my death. Adam said so sadly. I asked my family that my body to be cremated and my Ashes scattered in this lake, Adam told Connie.
I never thought I will see you hear. Adam told Connie while he loo deep into her beautiful eyes. When our anticipation takes root and grows over months or years of waiting — when real life pales in comparison to our fantasies. The more eager we grow, the more painful the experience is when it’s not what we wanted, Adam said while looking at the full moon in the sky.
So sorry Adam, My family asked me to marry someone else that he can provide for me and can help them to get rid of the family financial burden. They moved from our house without telling anybody where we are going .Connie said.
But I loved you dearly Connie, when I went to USA to Start on my carrier move job I was thinking of you and waiting for the right time to ask you to marry me .Adam said with sad voice.
We where young Adam and we both need it to find our future, you were not ready and my family was under so much pressure, we barely notice the difference between our expectations and reality, and we live our lives as if none of it mattered, Connie said.
He was older rich man, Director of human resources of his company but I had no choice. Connie sadly said to Adam while holding his hand so tight.
The family moved to Penticton, BC while you were in USA. I married him for 5 years and we drifted apart and i married second and third husband and we departed because my heart was belong to you Adam, Connie said.
My husband was very rich; I asked him to buy this land and this garden and make this manmade lake and allow the people who love each other to scatter their ashes here in this lake, as my family did with my ashes. Connie said while still holding Adam’s hand and crossing the small garden bridge where the water fountain sending a spray of water that goes throw their bodies without making them wet.
Adam holds Connie shoulder and stand and kissed her for the first time since 30 years. Why you didn’t run with me and married me Connie, Adam asked her again
My family call, my family satiation was in distress, but I paid for that mistake dearly. Connie said with tears falling on her cheek. Adam took a flower peddle and rubbed her tear with it.
Enough about me how about you Adam? Connie asked Adam.
I am dead, said Adam with a Lough. I waited so long for you and here we are both dead and still holding hands at last, Adam said. My heart was saddened and my soul was broken but I never forgot you. It was like a bad dream when I was told not buy you but by my sister, Adam said with sad voice.
I tried to call you so many times but your phone was changed to unlisted number , your family was moved and no one knows where, I tried but with no luck until my sister gave me your letter addressed to me , Adam said with his tears falling on his cheek. Connie took one rose puddle and wiped the tears from his cheek. And both hugged each other.
I was so sadden, I lived a struggling life until my heart failed me, my broken heart, Adam added.
I asked my sister the same thing, and that is to cremate my body and scatter my ashes in the river, but i guess she decided to put the ashes in this lake as her house is not far from here.
Its funny how things never really turn out the way you thought they would. Reality is different from our expectations, and most of the time that doesn’t really bother us. When the unexpected happens, Connie said to herself.
We expect more than we’re likely to get. We aim for perfection, but we discover that reality isn’t so different from the lives we’ve been living. Connie said.
Optimism is a wonderful thing until it blinds you. Adam replies back.
It’s important to be optimistic, but it’s just as important to be realistic. Connie said.
The more you accept that there is always a chance that things won’t go the way that you think they will, the less likely you are to be caught off-guard when that happens. Connie told Adam while rubbing her finger over his hand.
Unfortunately, I’ve come to learn that sometimes — no matter how aware you are that things may not work out — there is no such thing as sufficient mental preparation. Life and death is the same thing, different stages full with expectations, fear, and the unknown, Adam replies back to Connie.
Not all of your hopes and dreams are going to come true, and when one of them dies in front of your eyes, it hurts more than you could possibly imagine. Adam said to Connie while holding her waist.
My world was turned upside down hearing about the person I love married to someone else my heart was shattered when I heard the news. Adam said
I loved you Connie for so long, since we met, you were the one I always believed I’d end up with; Adam said with sad voice while they were still walking by the lake.
They sat on a marble bench, and they noticed a car pulled by at the park at the other side under the full moon two people took a jar of ash and started to scatter it in the lake. A spirit of a child hovers around the lake that only can be seen by Adam and Connie.
Poor little child, Connie said to herself.
What is going to happen to us Connie, are we bound to this lake? Adam asked Connie.
Is this it, is this heaven? Adam asked in a wondering voice.
No of course not Adam, Connie replied
This is like a shortstop, a place where the souls get ready to move on when they feel them re ready, Connie told Adam.
I was convinced that no matter how many times either of us screwed things up, we’d eventually come back to each other, but I never Imagined that it will afterlife. Adam said.
I tried loving others, but it never worked out. I guess that’s why it was so incredibly difficult to see you marrying another man. Adam told Connie.
I closed the door on a love affair, which changed my life and taught me more than anything else ever could. When I see the person I love fall in love with someone else, it breaks your heart and soul. Adam said.
NO, I was not in love with him, my family situation forced me to it, that’s why we drifted apart and I end up with two divorces. Connie Said while holding Adams’ both arms.
I felt lost without you Connie I had insomnia for so many months, I lost trust with women. Adam told Connie.
Love isn’t just about the emotions or my feeling. It’s about what you mean to me, you meant the world to me Connie. It’s about the place you have in my heart. Adam said
Connie kissed Adam’s cheek and said Thank you.
Adam was talking to Connie with sad voice again and said when I realize that you are gone, married with someone else, sleeping with him, my life I thought I’d have is no longer possible. Then I did my best to figure out how to cope with it. I missed you so much Connie. Adam said that with passion.
A part of me dies Connie and even I am dead now I feel the same. Adam said with sad voice.
That is why we are here David; we are talking because the only way to move into the light is by forgiving each other. Connie told Adam with a sad gesture.
I’ll no longer feel or look at the world in the same way. I’ll stop pursuing the same things. My life has just changed you have just changed Connie , I am learning to forgive you and forget the past you are with me now and that is all what I wanted I don’t care if we are dead , true loves never dies Connie. Adam said.
They kept walking around the Lake with silent , holding hands and every now and then they see a soul going to the light up to the sky.
Adam start talking with low tone voice and said d you know Connie that the hardest part was accepting my new self. It’s not that I’ve changed into a complete stranger; I still recognize myself. I just knew that I am now different. The problem is that I don’t want to be different. I don’t want to change. I don’t want a different life. All that I wanted is you, I wanted to turn back the time and figure out a way to make things work. But I couldn’t. I began to redefine myself. There is one positive outcome from this: I let go of the stress and worry of not knowing how things will turn out. Adam continue to talk in a trance
I learned to steer my thoughts away from your ex, and I discover that I have more time for other areas of MY life. The part of me that just died gave room for growth. Adam said
From the ashes of your love Connie rises a new me. I started to get a grasp on my life, my reality and my future. But now our ashes joint together in this Lake like we are destined to unite.
I wanted to be with you so bad Connie, to create a life together. I wanted to start a family. I wanted and was ready to be the man, partner and lover that you had always wanted. Why Connie why you left, Adam said with more sad voice.
I am here beside you Adam. Connie said putting her head on Adam’s shoulder.
Life’s greatest tragedies can be life’s greatest gifts I am so sorry Adam, so sorry, do you forgive me, Connie ask Adam.
Of course I forgive you, I forgave you long time ago but I never forgot you.
When Adam mentioned the word forgive, a shimmering white light start covering them both. They hold hands as their bodies started to float.
What is happening Connie, Adam scream
Don’t worry Adam; this is the power of forgiveness. The more you forgive the lighter you become, your soul will be set free to its maker. Connie said.
I forgive you my love I forgive you their bodies where now tangled together as one light while they kissed each other and ascending to heaven.
Steve Ramsey. Calgary- Alberta – Canada.