Life, death a little bit more Îáåùàþ ïåðåâåñòè íà

Part 1: The accident

- Faith, when are you coming home? – yelled her dad over the cell.
- I am coming, dad, will be home in less than 10 minutes, I am right now getting off the highway. Please stop yelling.
That’s happened so many times in the past, and it happened again, Faith & her dad didn’t get along very well, maybe because he wasn’t really her dad, but mom always wanted her to call him that.
Tonight’s been fun, just like the night before; Faith got her new car as a Birthday present & couldn’t stop but go on rides all over the area. That’s what her parents didn’t like, didn’t like it probably even more than her boyfriend. Today she went to the movies with Scott, they did spend most of the time kissing on the back row, so she didn’t even get the whole idea, but it was fun. Scott was a cool guy, the one all girls had a crush on, he was on the football team, and she was a cheerleader, that’s how they met. He asked her out after one of the games, well you know how that goes…
- Wow can’t believe we’ve been going out for a year now, she told Scott last week when it was their anniversary, it’s been a great year.
- I know, I am so happy I met you, I can’t imagine living my life without you in it.
Tonight’s been fun, faith was sort of in a dreamy mood until her step dad ruined it all for her… Whatever happened next was simply loosing control, the car flipping, everything going black…
- Oh dear Lord, - was her last thought.

The EMS arrived, pulled Faith out of the car, she was unconscious, she was bleeding, there was a chance her spinal cord has been damaged. Her mom couldn’t stop screaming, her step dad was standing aside looking at everything with eyes wide open, he didn’t want to think that he might have caused that & Faith decided to commit suicide. He was blaming himself even when the cops said that it was all about the car, he felt it was still his fault, because he didn’t pay that close of attention when choosing that car for Faith. They took her to the hospital, they did all kinds of tests, x-rayed her, checked for the broken bones, torn muscles, brain damages… She wasn’t going to make it… That’s what the doctors told her parents, that’s what appeared on the local news the next day. She was in a hospital, wires & tubes attached to her arms, in a coma, barely breathing, but she looked like she was sleeping, so that comforted her mother & gave her hope & faith, that her daughter will live & one day will open her eyes & tell her mom she loved her.





Part 2: Cancer

- This is impossible, you got the results all wrong, there has to be some mistake, I can’t have cancer. – screamed I
- Listen, Anne, said the doctor, we checked twice & our hospital has been known for the accuracy in this kind of tests. You do have cancer, unfortunately for us & your family.
- But no one in my family had cancer, how did I get it?
- Cancer cells tend to appear even if you didn’t have any relatives, who had the same disease, we still haven’t discovered why they appear & how many people will possibly get cancer & we don’t know if we ever discover the cure.
- Well I know, but I can still get cured, right, there is chemo & all that kind of stuff, I’ve read about it.
- Anne, there is something I haven’t told you yet, your cancer has been developing for the past 2 years, too bad we weren’t able to track it earlier, so it’s reached it’s last stage & now is basically destroying you from the inside.
Anne is crying
- I do advise you do what you wanted to do, say good bye to family & friends, fulfill your dreams…
- How much time do I have, doctor?
- About a month… I am sorry
- A month, that’s it? Some 30 days to do what I was hoping to do during my entire life?
- Anne, half of the time you’ll have to spend in the hospital, we’ll be running tests & examining you.
- Are you cutting my time? You have no right to do that, I am going to do what I got to do, what I want to do, I will live like I wanted to live, like no one has lived before. You can’t lock me up & run tests on me, I am not some stupid animal.
- It will be for your own benefit.
- Don’t tell me what I got to do & where were you 2 years ago when I was being examined & you didn’t discover those cancer cells, did you think of my benefit?
- I understand how you feel…
- No you don’t, do you have cancer? Did you just find out that you are going to die in a month? Are you the one who has all sorts of crazy ideas running through your head? No, I am the one, don’t say you understand me, don’t tell me you know how I feel, you don’t. Listen, I am leaving & I am not coming back, I don’t want to see you, your hospital & anything that associates with that. I despise you from the bottom of my heart & yes one day I will forgive you, and God will too, but don’t ever lie to people about your feelings, ever…
She slammed the door, leaving the doctor all alone in his office, she went to the cemetery to see her dad’s grave, to tell him that she was going to meet him soon…
She died in 34 days…
Part 3: When I die

When I die
I want you to be happy
I want you to rejoice
I ask you to play praise songs at my funeral
I ask you to show the best pictures of me you’ve got
I ask you to show the pictures where I am happy, where I am with the kids I ministered to in Russia or US, or wherever
I also want you to give out a lot of flowers that day
Please walk down the streets & give flowers away to women, children & anyone else, but make sure you give flowers away to children
When I die I’ll be happy, so I don’t want any of you to be sad
Please don’t cry for me unless they are tears of joy
If you want to bury me, it’s up to you, but I view grave as a symbol of sorrow, a cemetery as a place of grief
If you can, please cremate me…
And my ashes, well there are a number of places where you can take them
There are places that I loved, the Lake, the Hill, even the prairie, where Mitch & I took a walk once.
You’ll know what to do once you get there
The Spirit will move you
My death is only the beginning
Please let God touch your hearts and speak to you through this
One last thing I want you all to know
I love you all
May you find someone to love too
Daughter of the king, who is now with her Father
Signed,
Anne






(written at the age of 21)

Part 4: When impossible is possible

- Hello daughter Anne.
- Hello Father.
- How was your journey?
- Short & frustrating, Father…
- Why do you say that?
- There are things I haven’t been able to finish…
- Are you sad about them?
- Just one of them, the other ones were not that big of a deal…
- Well which one are you talking about then?
- But Father, I thought you knew everything…
- I do, but I want to hear it from you.
- I am talking about Alan, we were going to see if our relationship was going to work out, I was packing to go see him when the doctor broke the news to me.
- Yeah I know…
- Lord, why did it happen to me at a time like this?
- I wanted you here, I needed you.
- But I thought people on earth needed me, there were kids I didn’t want to leave, friends who weren’t Christians yet, a lot of things to do, help my mom raise my brothers go see Alan…
- I know, daughter Anne
- I came to ask for something…
- Alright
- Can I look at him from up here? I know there are a lot of things to do, but I just want to keep an eye on him & see how his life goes. I miss him & want to at least be able to see him every once in a while…
- I don’t know about that…
- But I can’t live without him, he is my everything, he is my best friend, my encourager, my joy, my love, I don’t know, I am so confused. I feel like there was so much more to be said & done & we didn’t do that. Lord, why did you take me away from him? Don’t I get another chance?
- Anne, you understand that once you are dead you are dead, you can’t go back to earth & be like: Hello everyone, I am back, from the grave, we don’t do that here.
- Oh Lord…
- There is one & only one way to do that, there was a girl named Faith, who was in a car accident, her soul has been with us for a while & she’s been deciding whether she wants to stay here or go back to earth, well I saw her before I saw you & she said she wants to stay here…
- Are you saying I can switch places with her?
- Hold on, let me finish, once you & her agree to switch, you won’t remember anything, you won’t be able to recognize your friends when you see them, you won’t even remember Alan…
- I will always remember him; he is in my heart…
- Anne, you will have to build a relationship with him from scratch, he won’t even know who you are, you won’t be Anne, you’ll be Faith, you’ll have a new family, new friends, even a new boyfriend, I don’t even know why I am letting you do all that, but I am sure you’ll figure it out… As for now, let’s go meet Faith

- Hello Faith, here is someone who wants to meet you
- Hello Father
- Faith, this is Anne, she wants to go back to earth
- Can she? What am I to do about that?
- She needs your body Faith, she will be you for the rest of your life.
- Lord, but I have no more life, my life is here, I don’t want to go live on earth anymore, I am sick of all the sins & people who are sinking deeper & deeper into hell
- Faith, this is why I brought Anne, she is going to ask for your permission to go back to earth & live in your body, because she no longer has hers.
- So you are Anne…
- Um, yes, hello…
- Why do you want to go back to earth, don’t you like it here?
- I haven’t finished what I wanted to finish…
- What do you mean?
- I am in love with a guy, we haven’t been given a chance really…
- Lord, are you going to give her that chance?
- Well, as long as she is willing, and as long as you are willing
- Alright, she can do it, I don’t mind
- Okay, how about you two have some time together, Anne needs to learn about her new family, her friends & that guy, Scott is it?
- Yes, Lord, I understand…
- Thank you
- Anne, remember I did this, because I love you & I am giving you another chance…

July 15 Faith woke up from her coma, it was pitch black in the room, she called for the nurse, but no one was coming, so she sat up, got out of bed & walked out of the room.
- Hey aren’t you that chicka in coma?
- Yeah I guess…
- Why are you walking around like that?
- Well what else am I supposed to do when no one answers the calls? I am thirsty too.
- I’ll get you some water, now will you please go lay back down, I’ll call for the doctor.
Part 5: Scott
- Hello mom.
- Scott how many times do I have to tell you I am not your mom?
- I know, okay okay, can I talk to Faith?
- Hold on
- Faith, honey, Scott wants to talk to you.
- I’ll pick it up in my room

- Hi Scott. What’s up?
- Hey Faith, how are you?
- I am fine, recovering from my coma, basically eating a lot, I lost like 20 pounds, thought I’ll become invisible…
- Haha, yeah no kidding, hey can we meet, I need to talk about something serious with you?
- Scott, if it’s about you & Emily, I am totally cool with it.
- You know?
- Yeah, my brother told me, remember he is best friends with Emily’s brother?
- Ohm yeah, so you are okay with it?
- Oh yeah, don’t worry, I can totally understand you, I was out for quite a while, not surprised you decided to find a new girlfriend
- Well everyone made it sound like you were gonna die
- I know, but I didn’t & Scott, it’s over… Have fun with Emily, she is great
Faith was sitting on her bed crying, not really knowing why she was crying about Scott, she didn’t have any feelings for him, maybe it was fear of staying alone again. When she just woke up in the hospital one of the doctors told her that there must have been some miracle that happened or God must have changed His mind & decided that she was to live. Faith didn’t want to listen to all the religious nonsense the doctor was telling her, she never went to church, but that night she felt as if something was moving her… Like some inner force…
- Hey mom
- Yes, sweetheart, is there a church service anywhere in the area?
- Well look who is asking? Yes, there is, I am actually about to leave for it, want to come along?
- Since when have you started going to church mom?
- Ever since that night when you were in an accident & look God has answered my prayer, he brought you back to me. There are actually quite a few people who want to meet you.
- Really? Well do I have to get all dressed up?
- No you are fine, there are a lot of people who dress like that & no one really cares what you look like, it’s the inner side that we want to pay attention to.
- Mom, it’s over between Scott & me.
- I know, I prayed for that too.
Part 6: The dream
One night Faith had a dream. It was something unusual, because she didn’t see dreams that often, or she didn’t remember them in the morning, this one she did & as soon as she woke up she called Melanie, her best friend since elementary school.
- Hey
- What’s up?
- I didn’t wake you up, did I?
- Faith, you are fine, you know that, so why ask?
- Alright, so I saw this dream last night…
- You did what? Wait Faith, you are one of those few people who don’t dream or don’t remember their dreams, and you saw a dream! Wow! I am impressed!
- Melanie, stop mocking me, it was really weird, I am all confused now.
- Well okay, tell me about it…
- So I was in this place, I’ve never been to before, with some people & I guess I was working for them, like babysitting or something, but there was no child.
- Weird…
- Wait that’s not it… Then I ask them where am I? well they tell me to guess. I was like, weird, okay, so I go outside & there is this corn field, some horses & the landscape is really flat, like fields all around. So I look at them & ask them if that’s Kansas, they say yes, you are in Kansas
- Oh jeez Faith…
- Wait that’s not even half of it. I see a tornado coming towards us & I am like oh way cool, I’ve never seen a tornado before you know. But as it is coming closer it is growing smaller & smaller & by the time it’s by my foot, it is so small, smaller than my hand, and then it dies. Well then I say something that is really confusing, I say Can I call Alan?
- Who is Alan?
- I have no heck of idea. That is so freakin’ confusing, I hate it…
- Well is this it then?
- Oh no, I forgot, I call Alan, he picks up & we talk like we know each other & he asks me where I am & I say that I am in Kansas & he says oh I feel like driving today.
- Wait he was gonna come see you?
- Yeah I guess so…
- Well what was his last name?
- Mel, I don’t remember, I didn’t ask, it was a dream…
- How about when you dialed his number?
- You mean in my dream?
- Yeah, was his number on your cell or on a piece of paper?
- My cell… Melanie…
- What? Are you alright?
- I have an Alan in my address book in my cell… I am psycho
- What? Hold on I’ll be right there.
Part 7: When in doubt, google it, or him
- So are you serious about this Alan guy? You really have his cell number in your phone?
- Yeah, here see for yourself…
- Wow, Alan Rogers, who the heck are you?
- And what are you doing in my phone?
- Well let’s call him…
- Melanie are you nuts, what if he is some serial killer or a bum in the street?
- Or a doctor or a lawyer? Or a guy of your dream? That Scott kid, never liked him…
- I know, but I don’t want to call…
- Well then lets Google him!
- What do you mean Google him?
- Here I’ll show you, you go on google.com, type in his name & see what the computer tells you, I saw that in my favorite show once…
- Which one?
- Oh, Sex & the City, you knew I watch that right?
- Actually I think this is some information that got lost while I was out…
- Haha, you are funny, anyways, Faith, let’s go do that…

- Nothing…
- What do you mean nothing?
- See for yourself, it doesn’t give any link to someone whose name is Alan Rogers, it finds those two names separately, which kind of sucks, let’s check facebook.
- What’s facebook?
- Jeez Faith, you weren’t out for that long, it’s like myspace…
- Oh I see, we should try myspace too afterwards
- Okay so there is an Alan Rogers on facebook, oh, there are 25 Alans on it & I can’t see their profiles, because they all are set to private, no I don’t want to be friends with you, bummer…
- Mel, try myspace, it’s not as secure as this one, maybe we’ll be able to check his profile there.
- Okay, well here, that’s better…
- Now which one is our Alan? Click on this one…
- What are you deciding by his profile pic?
- Well how else am I supposed to do that? I have never seen him, remember, just talked to him on the phone…
- In your dream.
- Yes, in my dream, Mel, I think I am loosing it…
- No, you are not, it’s just some weird coincidence, maybe someone else was using your phone while you were out.
- Yeah I think my brother was, I am not sure though, I’ll ask him when he is back… Oh dang it, he is gone for the next month…
- Where did he go?
- Boy scout trip or something like that…
- Can’t you still call him?
- No, they don’t let them bring cell phones, only their leader has one & it’s emergency only, so I am screwed…
- Haha, no you are not, it says right here that he works in a hospital in Willmar, we can go find out what he does & go see him.
- But what if it’s a wrong Alan Rogers?
- Let me see his number…
- Why?
- Well his cell number is on his myspace, besides he is the closest one to us, we don’t have to drive all that far… Yeah it’s the same guy… We got him.
- Melanie, I am scared…
- Of what? This guy?
- Yeah, well what are we gonna do when we see him? Come up & say, hello Alan, I talked to you in a dream last night & then your cell number was in my phone, can you please explain that?
- No, we’ll figure it out, I’ll come along, go change, we have to make a first good impression…

- You are fine, Faith.
- Then why do I feel like I am not, like I don’t look good enough or something?
- Stop it, who knows if he even works there anymore?
- Why are we going then?
- Because I think there is something supernatural in this whole story, I want to figure it out.
- You want to figure it out more than I do…
- Faith, you just never show your feelings, I know you want to solve this too, and this whole thing with you waking up, it was a miracle, your mom is right, even the doctors said you weren’t gonna make it & then one night you wake up & start wandering down the hallways looking for the pop machine & asking the nurse where you are.
- Melanie, you know I love you
- Yeah tell me that.
- So what are we gonna do when we get to the hospital?
- I don’t know yet, probably ask if he is even in today & then try & get you an appointment with him or something, I don’t know, depends on what kind of a doctor he is.
- Let’s hope he is only a physician…
- No kidding, and hopefully he is a good one & won’t make you see a psychiatrist…
- You never know, maybe one would do me only good right now…
- Oh Faith

Part 8: Anguish
- Our, Father in Heaven…
- God, why?
- Hallowed be your name…
- I don’t deserve that…
- Your kingdom come…
- She didn’t deserve that…
- Your will be done…
- Why did you let her die?
- On earth as it is in Heaven.
- Why did you take her away from me?
- Give us today our daily bread.
- I can’t live without her…
- Forgive us our debts…
- She was my everything, she was my love, the only love of my life…
- As we also have forgiven our debtors.
- I was about inches away from holding her in my arms again, she was almost here…
- And lead us not into temptation…
- We had everything planned, Lord, I thought you were blessing us, you have given us to each other, you helped us pursue our relationship in spite of distances, people, families, friends & everyone’s opinion…
- But deliver us from the evil one.
- I don’t want to live without her no more, please take my life away from me, why did you take her & left me? What am I supposed to do here without her? Anne, if you are looking down on me, I love you, Anne, I can’t live without you, can you go talk to God about taking me up there? I’d give anything to be with you, to hold you in my arms again, to look into your eyes, to run my fingers through your hair… oh Anne, my dear Anne, my lovely Anne. Remember we talked about how many kids we wanted? And what kind of dog we would have? And that you’ll play with my hair every night & that we’ll go snowmobiling in the winter & that I’ll take you to Montana? Oh I hope you remember all that. I am afraid you forgot all about me, that once you died I disappeared from your life, but I think of you everyday & I pray for you, I keep asking God why? Were you asking him that too? Anne, I will never forget you, I will always keep you in my heart, you are locked in there & I’ve lost the key…
- Amen
- Lord, please take good care of Anne. Amen






Part 9: De ja vu
- Hello is doctor Rogers in today?
- Yes he will be in from 2 to 6. Can I get you an appointment with him?
- Well it’s actually my friend, who needs one.
- Oh okay, well let me see what I can do… He doesn’t have anyone at 2, would you like to take that time?
- Oh yeah, for sure.
- Great, now just fill this out would you?
- Yeah, thanks.
- His office is on the 4th floor, second door to the left.
- Is he nice? Do you know? My friend is terrified of doctors.
- Oh yeah, he is very nice, just sad all the time, but that’s because his fianc;e died from cancer this July, I think it was right on her birthday, he’s been sad ever since, oh such a good guy & so sad, I hate to see him like that.
- Well here is the form, and thank you.
- Oh anytime girls…

- What did you get?
- I got you an appointment with Mr. Rogers himself, at 2 pm, which is in 10 minutes, so why don’t we get going & I’ll tell you something…
- Oh, Mel, what if this doesn’t work out?
- Faith, listen, he will just think that you are some weird college student, that’s it, nothing more… Okay so it’s turned out that his fianc;e died in July, from cancer & they were about to get married & he’s been so sad ever since, but he is a very nice doctor, so you shouldn’t worry…
- Crap, Mel, I don’t think he is the right guy then…
- Well, why not?
- I don’t know, he lost the one he loved & now I’ll be coming in telling him that hey you were gonna come visit me in Kansas in my dream, heck watch him kick me out of his office.
- Faith, stop it. Wow this elevator is slow, hope we don’t get stuck.
- Ha, nice try to change the subject. I am still freaking nervous, hate this feeling & what am I gonna tell him?
- Just say you want to be on the swim team or something & need him to fill out your papers for college, just a general check up you know.
- Swim team? Mel?
- Don’t worry, how old are you?
- 20, wait 21, that coma took too long, turned me into an old lady, anyways does that matter now?
- Just go, then you’ll have to tell me everything, alright?
- Fine

- Hello, you must be Faith?
- Ohm, yes, hello…
- Sit down for a sec, will you?
- Yeah

- So what’s the deal?
- I am thinking about joining the swim team, so I need a general check up…
- Swim team? Okay, no biggie, how old are you? 20, I mean 21…
- Any serious damages?
- Well I was in a car accident…
- Wait, you are that girl who was in a coma & nobody believed you would live & you did live, just woke up one night…
- Yes & started walking down the hallways looking for a pop machine. That’s me.
- Good to meet you, after I’ve read so much about your case.
- Really?
- Yeah, not a lot of people just wake up after coma… And you were unconscious for how long?
- About a year, that’s why I can never remember how old exactly I am.
- Well, here is your med form all filled out, have a good day.
- Thanks doctor, can I ask you something though?
- Sure…
- Have you ever felt like driving to Kansas?
- Excuse me?
- Oh never mind, bye.
- Faith, wait…
- Yes?
- Kansas, how do you know about Kansas?
- What do you mean?
- You asked me if I ever felt like driving to Kansas, people don’t ask that just because…
- Honestly?
- Please.
- I saw you in a dream last night & I called you on the phone, I was in Kansas & you told me you felt like driving to Kansas.
- …
- I am sorry, did I say something wrong?
- No, no… you are fine, you didn’t know…
- I didn’t know what?
- About Anne, did you?
- No, who’s Anne?
- She was my fianc;e, she died in July, July, 15, on her Birthday…
- Wait that was the day when I woke up, we celebrate it now with the family, it’s become my second Birthday.
- Well once Anne got stuck in an airport in Kansas & called me, I told her then I feel like driving to Kansas. Anyways, it’s just a coincidence, never mind. Have a good day Faith.

(Walking out of the office)
- What did he tell you?
- Well I asked him as I was leaving if he’s ever felt like driving to Kansas & he started talking about some Anne, told me that it’s what he told her once when she was stuck in an airport in Kansas. I guess I reminded him of her or something.
- Yeah maybe… wow, so what do you think?
- About what?
- About this guy?
- I don’t know, he is all into Anne & his work & he is not going to remember who I am the next day.
- Oh he will, trust me.
- But I kind of liked him, he is a really nice guy, asked me if I was that girl in a coma.
- Ha, who hasn’t asked you that?
- I don’t know, the president I guess.

(In the parking lot)
- Faith…
- Doctor Rogers?
- Faith, I am sorry, can I ask you something? Does name Anne tell you anything?
- No, sorry.
- That’s okay, sorry for interrupting…
- AAAAAAAAAAAA
- Mel, what is it?
- There is a snapping turtle right next to the car…
- Where? Let me see. Oh, Faith, it’s just a baby snapper, look how cute it is…
- Anne…
- Excuse me?
- You are Anne… I can’t believe that…
- No I am pretty sure I am Faith…
- But you are just like her…
- Just because I picked up a baby snapper & asked you about Kansas doesn’t mean that I am Anne…
- Faith, can we talk someplace else?
- What do you mean?
- You doing anything tonight?
- No
Part 10: Camp
- Faith, can I take you out?
- What do you mean? You don’t even know me!
- Not that kind of out, I want to show you one place?
- I am sorry I don’t think I’ll go with you, I don’t know you, and I don’t know what’s on your mind either, enough adventure for today, I shouldn’t have even gotten into this.
- Faith, everyone in town knows me, why are you all paranoid?
- Listen, Mr. Rogers, there is nothing I am afraid of or paranoid about, it’s just that forget about this whole day & act like nothing happened…
- No, I can’t do this, you reminded me of someone from my past, I can’t let her, I mean you go again… Please let me take you to a place that maybe you’ll recognize, oh just let me do that, I am not asking for anything else.
- Well fine, I’ll go with you, just tell me when.
- Can you do it now?
- I don’t know, can my friend come along?
- Actually, Faith, I have to be back home, I told my mom I’ll help her with dinner tonight & you know my aunt is coming to town, so if you are gonna go, go without me.
- Mel, are you serious? You can’t do this to me?
- What? He is not gonna hurt you, this guy is totally fine, he is pretty hot too, maybe something will happen between you two, you never know.
- Mel, I just can’t believe that…
- Faith, go have fun, I’ll call you tonight, okay?
- Fine…
- No offense, right?
- Right…
- Well Faith, are you coming then?
- Yeah I guess, if you drive me home afterwards.
- Oh I will, no big deal. Let me just go tell the nurses that I am gone for a few hours, maybe for the rest of the day.
- Okay I’ll wait for you right here.
- Well if you want you can go wait in the car.
- Alright…

- Okay, I am back!
- Great, you know, Mr. Rogers, I am still not sure about this…
- Faith, it’ll be okay, I’ll show you a place which is like a 20 minute drive, you’ll like it too, I am sure… And can I ask you something?
- What?
- Can you please call me Alan?
- Huh? Are you serious? You are like 30!
- Jeez thanks, I am 25.
- You are kidding me right?
- No, dead serious, it’s the beard isn’t it?
- Yeah that kinda threw me off, wow I thought you were way older.
- A lot of people think that…
- Is that the impression you want them to get?
- No, I look better with my beard, that’s it.
- I see…
- Umh, Faith…
- What?
- Can you promise me something?
- Hey I barely know you & you want me to promise you something?
- Well can you promise me that if you remember anything, anything that might seem weird to you, you’ll tell me, okay?
- Well, if you care to hear it.
- Thank you, oh here we are…
- Camp? You brought me to a summer camp?
- Have you ever been here?
- Not that I remember…
- Okay, well I’ll show you around, let’s just talk to the director real quick & make sure it’s okay if we wonder around.

- Hi, Dave!
- Hi, Alan!
- How are you?
- Oh I am good, just busy with stuff, we have a lot of reservations for the weekend, so I am figuring out where to place them all, you brought someone with you?
- Yeah, Dave this is Faith.
- Faith, this is Dave, the camp director.
- Nice to meet you, Mr.?
- Just Dave.
- Dave, can I show her around?
- Oh totally. Is she some relative of yours?
- No, I think she might be Anne…
- What? Alan, I was hoping you got back on track after she died, you know you show up with a girl, wait… isn’t this the girl who was in a coma for so long?
- Yes, she woke up on the day Anne died… I am thinking there is some connection between the two.
- Alan, well just don’t get your hopes up, okay?
- I won’t, I lost all the hope that day, remember?
- Yeah, well have a good walk.

- So this is where I met Anne for the first time in my life.
- Is this why you brought me here? To tell me about Anne?
- Faith, honestly I think you & Anne are connected somehow, I don’t know how, but you remind me of her so much.
- Okay, well you know I am all edgy about you talking to me about your fianc;e, but I guess you just need someone to talk to…
- Thank you for understanding, here I’ll take you down to the Lake, this is where Anne & I got married…
- Wait, I thought you guys weren’t married.
- No, but it was a big joke, we were standing right here, Anne was holding a big roll of duck tape in her hand, turned to me & asked: “Hey, Alan, wanna get married?” I said yes, though I’ve never done that kind of stuff, you know play wedding & all that kind of stuff, with Anne I just looked at her, and said yes… The next two days we kept looking at each others hands to see if the other still wore the ring, well Anne’s came off soon, so I got her a new one, it was funny & cute at the same time. Then she started having nightmares about her ex, she was really paranoid about him, he haunted her in her dreams. Because she was that stressed she got a knot in her shoulder & I told her I’ll help her get it out, she was scared about that too, she thought I’ll hurt her, but I never did, I told her she’ll just end up getting a massage… She liked that idea better. But we couldn’t do it on front of the campers, because our marriage was already a big thing & they all actually wanted to see us get divorced by the end of the week…
- You never did…
- No we never did. On Thursday night we decided to duck tape the bell with two other counselors, afterwards we decided I’d give her the massage, pop her shoulder you know. So we got the bell all done & then just sat on the roof looking at the stars & sharing our best memories of the summer. We also made duck tape bracelets on the roof, I still have mine actually...
- What happened next?
- You are really into the story, aren’t you?
- Just keep going, will you?
- Alright, but is there anything that sounded or looked familiar to you?
- Alan, how does the story go?
- It was really awkward popping Anne’s shoulder, I had to get really close to her, and she was so tiny, I could barely get my fingers under her shoulder blade… But I got it all done & she felt better, that same day I wrote her a note, telling her I liked her, that was something I didn’t expect from myself, because Anne was from far away, a different country actually, and I didn’t know if I was gonna see her ever again, but I thought what the heck?
- Sinking, spinning there weren’t you?
- How do you know?
- I don’t know, just came to mind…
- But that’s what I wrote to Anne in the note, that was like the first line… Tell me if you remember anything, will you?
- Only when you get all done, okay?
- But there is something, isn’t there?
- Alan…
- Alright, after I got done popping her shoulder, she thanked me & we were gonna leave, I didn’t know what to do, but I wanted to find out how she felt towards me, so I asked her if she liked my note, she said yes & hugged me, I was already hugging her, well it’s hard to explain, we were already close, but then I turned towards her, faced her, hugged her & told her that I was happy she felt something too…
- Did you kiss her?
- Well I wasn’t going for a kiss that night, but she looked up at me & I thought, wow she wants a kiss, so I asked her if it’d be okay, she said yes, and I kissed her…
- Owwww…
- Yeah, it was the best time of my life, she helped me overcome so much, after meeting her things started going better, I was really happy, for a week, then she had to leave…
- But she didn’t go home yet, did she?
- No, she went to Philly to visit a friend, there she got into a car accident, but was totally fine, she wrote in an email it was all thanks to St. Christopher that I gave her.
- What’s a St. Christopher?
- Here I’ll show you one… He is a saint, who protects travelers, and because Anne had to travel a lot, I wanted God to protect her.
- Nice…
- Well then she went home home…
- Was she ever gonna come back?
- Yes, she came back the next year, we spent a lot of time together & realized we couldn’t live without each other anymore, we decided to get married, she wore a promise ring I gave her for a while now, so people were expecting it, I guess…
- She went back home & there a couple days before her flight got diagnosed with cancer, so she wasn’t allowed to travel anywhere, they made her stay in the hospital, but she hated the place & her last month, her last 34 days she spent helping people, visiting orphans, talking to poor, giving out anything she could, giving out everything actually, she didn’t know why the Guy Upstairs decided to do it to her, but she was willing to accept everything… I was able to come see her, she was buried in her home town, I was hoping she’d be cremated, because I read her epitaph & I knew she wanted her ashes to be taken here, but her family said no, they never really understood her…
- She never felt she was a part of the family, did she? And they always told her why couldn’t she find a different guy, so that she didn’t have to move far away, but one thing she knew was that the Guy Upstairs had a plan for this guy, had a plan for her, and she trusted Him with that plan…
- Anne
- Alan
- I missed you so much
- I missed you too
- I am so glad you are back
- I couldn’t leave you here all by yourself
- Well how did you figure it out?
- Talked to real Faith, she loved it in Heaven & I loved you, and God, he was very understanding.
- I knew that
- But it seemed like forever since I’ve done something
- What?
- You know what!

(She pulls him close & kisses him, so that he looses his balance, then he picks her up, swings around & holds in his arms forever)