The Journey Back - EN Heim (books to read for 12 year olds .TXT) 📗

The Journey Back

The darkness left. A young boy sat at his mother’s bed and admired her once beauty. Even in her sleep she was disturbed; you could see it in her expression, tight and troubled. It wasn’t too long before she woke and saw him. He was dressed in white. An even white glow glistened around him. The mother, at first, was startled from seeing him. She wiped her tearful eyes and took another look. The boy raised his hand and said, “Mother, please do not be alarmed. For it is me, your beloved son Rokki.”

The mother didn’t know what to say. At first, she gasped for air. After she calmed down, she took another breath and said, “But, my son, you are dead.”

Rokki answered, “No mother. I am not dead. I just returned from a long journey to ease your sorrow.”
“But you fell off the mountain three days ago, and died just this morning in the hospital.”
“Mother, I am alive. Believe me.”

That Saturday morning, three boys trekked to the near by cliffs for their last adventure before going into the military. Rokki, Rikkard and Rupert had finished their schooling and passed their exams, and wanted to have a last adventure before going into the mandatory eighteen month service. They tramped three in single file along the hillside path. The sun shown brightly making the dew on the grass glistened like diamonds in the morning sun. A cool breeze rustled the golden and red maple leaves above them. It was mid autumn, and the three boys went to climb the cliffs along the river gorge. It was a joyous moment. They sang school songs, reminisced about their past, and talked about their future.

The three arrived at the spot where they would ascend to the top of the cliff. It was a familiar place to all three. The ascent would be easy. They knew every nook and cranny, every pothole, every bulge. Rokki went first, since he was the most experienced climber, and then the other two followed. They didn’t have climbing gear, only their surefooted feet and strong fingers to pull them up the side. Gear was not needed, since they had climbed that cliff many times over.

The cliff wasn’t that shear, it was an easy climb, about one-hundred and fifty meters at an eighty degree ascent—along jagged grooved limestone cliffs—nothing for an advanced climber, not even difficult for a novice. These three boys had experience.

Rokki was the most skilled; his father was a professional climber and had climbed U2 in the Himalayans and other famous mountains throughout Europe. And over the years while Rokki grew up, his father taught him all the skills of a professional. It also became his sport and hobby. Rokki taught Rikk and Rupert the skills of climbing too. The three boys were the best of friends—chums for life.
Rokki took the lead. Rupert followed and Rikk trailed behind. Halfway up Rokki saw a fogbank coming. The top of the ascent became shrouded in a sudden murky swathe. The other two boys grabbed the familiar outcroppings and stepped on known footings. Rokki pull upward faster than the other two boys did.

Rokki yelled down, “Hurry, let’s get to the top before we can’t see anymore.”

Rikk and Rupert didn’t say anything, they just kept climbing as confident as they could. The ascent was getting steeper and fewer places to grasp onto, and a good footing to secure their climb.

The fog engulfed the three boys. It now was impossible to see forward, downward and along the sides. The cloud wrapped them in its moist vapor causing the limestone to become unsafe.

Not knowing where to step, not knowing where to grab, Rokki felt around for a sure footing. Nothing could be felt. The cliff became wetter. Rivulets dribbled down the side as if it were in a cold sweat. Then, he placed his foot on a bulge. Press down hard to secure his foot and ascend to the next level. And then, the bulge broke lose, and the two boys heard Rokki scream pass them. The two boys stood fast. It was dangerous to proceed.

It wasn’t until twenty minutes later the two boys, Rikk and Rupert could descend. The fog lifted, and the view of the surrounding panorama lay in a gray somber mist. At the bottom of the cliff, the two boys could see Rokki lay still, not moving. The two boys descended cautiously and find Rokki breathing, but unconscious. Rupert hurried down the path to the nearest house to call emergency. Rikkard did what he could until help arrived.

Three hours later Rokki opened his eyes, looked around, and saw the white walls, the white ceiling, the white sheets covering him. He knew what had happened. He tried to speak, but only gasps of air could be made. It felt like he had no body; he couldn’t feel anything. The only thing he was aware of was his mind, and the things he saw before him. He couldn’t move, and tried to wriggle his finger, his toes, but couldn’t. I am paralyzed, went through his mind. The army is out. Medical school is out. The priesthood will never come. My life is over.

For two days, Rokki’s mother cried at his bedside. She did not eat. She did not sleep. She did not speak in all that time. The tears flowed like water. The tears would not stop. She was told he would not recover; at best, he would be an invalid for the rest of his life. And how long said the doctor; that was uncertain? The paralysis took his entire body. He had no feeling. He could not move. He could not blink; his eyes were fixed until a nurse or doctor closed his eyelids. He could not speak. His breathing was supported by a respirator and an oxygen tub inserted into his throat. At best, the only sound he made was the rasping of his breathing. His mother’s dream child was dying. And on that day, her life died too. On the third day at three o’clock, Rokki succumbed to his weak frail body.

Rokki’s mother hadn’t slept in three days. She finally went to bed and cried until her sorrow exhausted her. Early that morning she sensed something was in the room. She woke. Her gaze was unbelieving. Her eyes filled with tears, she blinked to focus to see the shimmering object before her.

“I am alive Mother…believe me,” said Rokki. “Do not be afraid. I am with you. I will always be with you.”

She sat up in bed, turned toward the image. It was gone. She shook her head, tears streamed down her cheeks. Was it real? Was it a dream?

That next day she walked around in a daze, not knowing what to think of the visitation. She made breakfast, nibbled at it; she could not finish it. The whole day her thoughts were on Rokki. Was she a good mother? Did she raise him properly? The good times they had together filled her mind. The unpleasant experiences filled her mind too. Did she do the right thing? Or was she a miserable failure as a mother. That night she cried herself to sleep again.

Again, early that next morning, she felt something in the room. She sensed something strange. Was it Rokki? Or was it a figment of her imagination playing tricks on her once more? She turned and opened her eyes. The image of a young boy shimmered next to her.

“Hello Mother. It is I again. Do not be alarmed.”
Rokki’s mother wiped her eyes to get a better sight of him. He was as clear as crystal before her. Her tears gushed. And with every glance of Rokki, he became clearer than the last.

“It is alright Mother. I am alive.”

“But, how can you be?” she answered. “You died the other day.”

“There is no death Mother…only a passing.”

“A passing?” she queried with uncertainty of what Rokki was saying.

“Yes only a passing Mother. I will come again in another time. But until then, I will be with you, protect you, and wait for your passing. Do not be afraid. I will always be with you.”

“But how can you be here?”

“Life is eternal. Death does not exist. The physical is a dimension of life. My experience, and it will be yours too, is the adventure that life holds for all. Do not worry, we will travel forever together. It is a long journey, but at the same time, it is short.”

“I don’t understand,” she said.

“You will in time. My journey will be short, for it is a moment in my dimension. You will travel it soon. But first, live this journey to the fullest and you’ll be rewarded.”

The rest of the morning, they reminisced on their experiences, their joys, their sorrows. When the dawn broke the night, Rokki faded into the morning twilight.

That next night, Rokki came to bid his mother farewell. He had to go and prepare for the next moment in his dimension. And told her not be afraid of life, for life should not be wasted on uncertainties and fears.

Everyday now, his mother comes to the grave site and lays flowers of love. Everyday she comes to pull the weeds around the headstone. Everyday, she comes to replace and prepare the next season’s plantings. Everyday, she comes to weep. And everyday, Rokki helps her prepare for the next.

Publication Date: 11-25-2009

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