Journey's End

She knew from the doctors that she likely had less than a day. She took deep breaths, trying to time them with the heart monitor to make sure they were even. She had to muster up all her strength to make sure her last impression was a good one. Annie Smith was on her deathbed.

"Mom! We came as soon as we heard the news!"

Annie Smith looked at her daughter, smiling as she saw the woman's eyes again for the first time in months. It was a wonderful break from the sterile whites and washed blues of the hospital. She started to inhale to speak, feeling her chest shaking as she did. To bridge the gap between her reaction and her words, she lifted her hand and felt the warmth of her child's stronger hands envelop hers.

"Madeline, dear... I'm so glad you came... Ah, I see you brought the little ones, too?" Annie chuckled as she saw her grandchildren, still so young and bright but their faces warped with grief. "Oh, I'm not dead yet. Smile for me, dearies."

Annie saw that even Madeline's husband, Brad, was starting to tear up. She knew that it would be like this in her last moments, and she knew they were to come very soon. She was ready for this, and so she gave a smile of her own. She took another shaking breath, wondering how much of the air she breathed was from her own body's efforts in comparison to the machines she was hooked to.

"Well, this may be the last time you see me, but I'll be watching over each and every one of you." Annie said, trying to find it in her to spare words of wisdom once more. "Don't be sad for too long, or I'll be sad too, you hear?"

"No, grandma," Liam said through a sob, "I don't want you to leave yet!"

Annie gave him a big grin. She took another labored breath. "Oh, Liam... You were always so energetic, weren't you? I remember buying that trampoline for you, and you even helped me put it in the backyard... Oh, I do hope you enjoy that trampoline. It's yours now, after all."

Liam's eyes widened for a second, his kid mind reeling from the thought of owning a whole trampoline. "Really? I can have the whole trampoline?"

"Oh course, dear. Who else would jump on it as much as you would?"

"That's awesome! When do I get it?" he said, jumping in place. "I wanna go jump on it now!" 
He turned to run out of the room, but was stopped by his mother's hand on his shoulder.

"Liam," Madeline said in her reprimanding voice, but Annie cut her off.

"Oh, hush dear," she said with a weak chuckle, "better this than crying like a maniac."

"I... I guess so," Madeline said with a sigh. "But, mom, what am I gonna do without you? You were the only reason I got through college, and raising them without you around, I... What would I do? I-I don't have somebody else to watch the kids, o-or bake them cookies, or visit on the weekends, or-"

Annie chuckled again, having to take a deep breath afterwards just to break even on air. It felt like an eternity-long pause, almost worrying Madeline that Annie was gone suddenly, but she eventually started to speak again. "And here I thought Liam was being a tad selfish."

"What? -You know that's not what I meant, mom!" Madeline said, a smile breaking through her tear-streaked face.

"I know, I know... But Bethany, just down the street. She would be quite fond of your children."

"You mean the cat lady?" Madeline asked, a bit stunned. "Are you sure?"

"Well, I can't exactly double check, now, can I, dear?" Annie said, suppressing her chuckle as she turned to Brad.

"O-Oh, what is it, Miss Smith?" Brad said, being awfully polite and formal.

"I told you to stop calling me that," she said, unable to stop herself from laughing a bit. She once again had to pause to breathe before speaking again. "But, that's neither here nor there... Just make sure Little Miss Madeline here doesn't cry too long. I know you make her happy, so you better not stop now."

"Oh! Yes ma'am!" he said with a goofy salute. Madeline herself couldn't stop from laughing as she saw her husband striking the pose, and Brad soon followed suit. Annie smiled as she saw the pain disappear from their faces, if even for a moment. What she wouldn't give to have a picture of that moment to live in forever.

But she wouldn't live forever. And her lungs were slowly taking in less and less air with each breath. She had to choose her words carefully, no more jokes. She inhaled deeply once more, the air leaking out like a balloon with a hole in it.

"Listen closely, now. Nobody lives forever. We all try to leave behind something we love. Madeline, I love you. Brad, I love you. Liam, Tennison, and Hillary... I love you all."

And with that, Annie Smith fell silent. She wasn't dead quite yet, but she knew she didn't have too much longer. She also didn't have anything better to say as her last words. As everybody else began to cry, Granny simply nodded and closed her eyes. It wouldn't be much longer now....

Annie Smith was pronounced dead 3 minutes later. She was no longer breathing, and her heart had stopped. Surrounded by her loved ones, she couldn't have asked for a better way to go. However, when she opened her eyes after passing, she didn't see pearly gates or a fiery abyss. Instead, she saw what looked to be a breath-taking starscape. She turned her head slowly, only to find that it turned just like normal. She looked at her hands and saw not lumps of saggy skin, but well-maintained and rather beautiful hands. She turned them, then raised her arms. She gasped, not feeling any pain in her back or hips. Not even her shoulder was bothering her.

"Where am I?" she asked, "if this is heaven, then I'd at least like a bit of visual diversity."

"This is not your traditional heaven, ma'am," said a kindly young woman's voice from behind her.
Annie turned towards the voice and saw a very young woman with ankle-length, bright green hair. A glowing halo behind her head and an outfit that would make a belly dancer blush.

"Goodness me, dear, what on earth are you wearing?" Annie yelped, covering her eyes.

"My apologies, Annie Smith, but that is not a pressing matter," the stranger replied in a deadpan tone.

"I beg to differ! Goodness, are there no wardrobes here?"

The young woman sighed and waved a hand, draping herself in a robe to cover herself. "Very well, is this more suitable?"

"Ah, yes. Pardon my manners," Annie said as she gave a bow to test her body's condition. Feeling no pain, she suppressed a smile and continued. "You appear to already know me, but I am Annie Smith. What is your name?"

"I am Aramasa Andele, goddess of a world overtaken by darkness. Annie Smith, your soul is pure and kindly. I must ask... Will you help me in freeing the world I failed to save?"