Nede

An empty, mystical Nothingness reigned around her. A sad and dark Nothingness, an alluring Nothingness. Arlena stood within It and looked around for some kind of brightness. Unfortunately, for some time now, she hadn't seen anything. She hadn't felt anything, not even the ground beneath her feet. She simply was. She existed in the darkness, shrouded in mystery, impenetrable to the human mind. She didn't wonder who she was, where she came from... She wanted to exist in this emptiness, wanted to feel it for as long as possible, wanted the Nothingness to fill her... It was such a fascinating feeling...

Her head was filled with strange thoughts, unfamiliar phrases and images. How could she know this? How had it found its way into her mind? After all, standing here, she knew only emptiness. She thought only of It, felt only It...

But more and more often, new meanings and words appeared in her mind. She stopped thinking about the Nothingness. She began to ponder the terms, the colors, and the images that, after all, she didn't recognize in the Void. Where did they come from? What were they? Why had the word "time" suddenly begun to puzzle her?

Yes, it was "time" that preoccupied her most, that was what she thought about most. She began to "count" it. How long had she been thinking about "time"? How many definitions had she assigned to it? Where did these definitions come from? "Time" appeared in her mind as digits, figures, and strange shields, as strong and impenetrable "forces," as something that was always... Always... She no longer wondered what Time was; a statement had taken root in her mind that seemed to explain it to her. Time is Nothingness, existing and endless. Time is her thought that has departed and will not return. Time is powerful, and it imposes all her images and associations.

Then, when she no longer wondered about Time, she wanted to gaze into Nothingness again. But it was gone. There was no Nothingness, no Void, not even Darkness... It was as if a hostile Grayness was retreating from her. That was trying to retreat. The grayness seemed filled with something stifling and oppressive. Something that made her wonder, "How did I get here? I'm alien to the Grayness." Something that forced her to once again detach herself from the force surrounding her, forcing her to reconsider her thoughts.

"Existence, Existence, Existence... What are you?" She focused her thoughts on this, her Time in the Grayness. "Existence" was easier for her than Time. She focused her thoughts, so she was; being meant that she Existed, so Existence was her and her thoughts. How logical this was compared to Time.

She looked around. It was like an awakening. She didn't need to remember or grasp the meaning; it was enough that she was there, and finally, she saw. She saw the gate. Tall and oak, with an arched vault, set in a wall also made of oak. Around the gate grew... Oak trees. Beautiful and strong. Strong as... Time. Majestic, like Existence. They displayed the entire essence of Life. Life, but not Earthly. Not the Life Arlena remembered as she stood before the gate. Life that was yet to begin.

Now that she clearly understood what had happened—all of Death, Life, Emptiness, Grayness... These successive stages of reaching the gate... The stage of Earthly Life, necessary to prepare for Death, which leads us into Nothingness, from which, through our own strength, we reach Grayness. And from Grayness, only a short step to reach the gate, to become aware of everything. Here, in the oak forest that surrounded the gate, it was so good. So banally joyful. She knew she had to pass through the gate, but she held back. For her, it was so beautiful here...

... He emerged, pale and dressed in white, adorned in the image of an Angel, with folded wings, and the glow surrounding Him glowed with a pale blue light. He emerged from the gate and stood before her. It was impossible not to follow Him. For now was her Time...

They passed through the gate. And once again they found themselves in the beautiful oak corner. But this one was full of energy, not so chaotic.

He said to her, "This is where you will wait your turn. Beyond the gate remain those who will never know pure Being in Eden. Your turn will come when Time creates a suitable field for you, then everyone who pleases Him will be granted pure energy." He left.

So she sat and waited. Everyone waited. We are all waiting. Soon.