Heavenly: Epilogue
Epilogue
60 years passed, 60 long and agonizing year after Shige’s death. NEWS waited for 60 years before they finally got to see Shige.
Shige
It’s been a slow day. I stopped watching Earth 20 years after my death. They’re all happy, they’re all married, except for Ryo. We really are meant to be, until death. Just that I died earlier. He’s happy, in a general kind of way. Like him, I am not truly happy. Yes, I’ve been reunited with my parents 30 years ago. It’s been a tearful reunion and now, they are living in their own heaven. I’m very happy for them. I can only wish I can be as happy as them.
Time passed so quickly. While watching people, I realized that time can never be enough. Time with family, friends and lover can never be enough. It’s an unending cycle of regrets that I hear from people, from souls. I never once regretted dying because it’s no use crying over spilled milk. “I should have. What if I had. I wanted to.” These are normal phrases that I hear from dead people.
I just wish I would see everyone soon.
Ryo
Where am I? I just died a while ago. Where is this? Heaven? Hell? Maybe Shige is here. Fuck, I think I’m lost. I would try walking around. Sigh. I wish I have a cigarette now. Wait. I look down to my hands and I see a cigarette. Cool. I can wish for stuff? It’s blank space anyway. I wish for a mansion. Then a mansion appeared in front of me. Whoa. Now that’s cool. I wish I can see Shige. Then a house, small, cozy and warm, appeared in front of me. There’s a gazebo in front of the house and a guy sitting. Shige.
“Shige!!!” I called out.
The guy turned around and I saw the love of my life, the reason I lived through 60 years of hell, the one I have been waiting to see all my living life. Right there, looking at me with stunned eyes, shining brightly just as I remembered 60 years ago. He stood up and started to walk toward me. When he’s in front of me, he touched my face.
“You look the same.” He said. Wait, what? The first time we see each other in 60 years and he told me I looked the same?
“Why are you telling me that? You’re supposed to give me a welcome kiss or something!” I yelled at him. How dare he not welcome the Sexy Osaka Man in heaven properly!
“It’s just that I expected you to look older. I’m not complaining anyway.” Then he proceeded to kiss me, on the lips, softly at first then it turned passionate. It’s a kiss telling me how he missed me, how he still loves me after all this time. And I responded with as much fervor. I really did miss him.
We broke away for air and he looked me straight in the eyes.
“Welcome to heaven. I can be your heavenly adviser. I have been here for 60 years.” He told me.
“Heavenly Adviser?” I asked him.
He was about to answer me when 2 girls called his name. He has a girlfriend? I looked at Shige and he is smiling, like those 2 girls. When they reached us, one girl stared and one girl looked at me with questioning eyes. I just pulled Shige closer.
“He’s your boyfriend? The one you’ve been watching, thinking of, and just about long for?” The girl who looked about 17 asked Shige. If she knows, then I don’t have to worry.
“Yeah, he is. Ryo, this is Mika, my heavenly adviser. And this is Sara, a friend. She’s a fangirl, actually. Both of them died of a car accident. Mika is 17 and Sara is 20. Mika came to heaven 10 years prior to me and Sara came a year after me. And girls, this is Nishikido Ryo, my boyfriend from Earth.” He introduced us. I nod in acknowledgement.
“We have to go home. Me and him have so much to talk about. I will see you tomorrow. Okay?” Shige told them. We have to go home?
Before I knew it, he’s dragging me to the small, cozy and warm house. He looked at the mansion and the mansion disappeared. I tried to tell him that he couldn’t wish for it away. It’s my house.
“You’ll live with me from now on. Is that alright with you?” He asked me.
I am stunned. Shige is the first one to ask. In Earth, when I asked him to move in with me, he was very hesitant. And now, he is the one who asked me.
“Yes. Very much okay.” I am smiling now.
“We’ll be fine now. I’m now truly happy.” He hugged me tight and I can feel happiness emanating from him. I feel the same. And I hugged him closer. This is the first time in 60 years that I felt true happiness.”