In Lieu of flowers

          This story is composed directly from volume 7 of Elias’s own handwritten diary.

                                                                     Introduction

           In the year of our Lord, roughly the early 1800’s. A young, vibrant, and enthusiastic Elias was nested into a world of hate and confusion, far removed from his Godly influence. It seemed the only way to combat the futility of it all was to get a part-time job, which he did working as a carpenter’s apprentice. After that, he needed to pursue and fall in love with his one and only kindred soul mate, someone who could fulfill all his wants and needs!

           Elias: A spiritual man, one of a few who were hand-picked by God to pacify the torments of death, and befriend the dying, collect their spirits, and return them to paradise. Of course, there were a few church members, including the clergy who labeled Elias a nut case. But I guess we truly won’t know until the final trumpet sounds on that great and direful day.

          Loral: When Elias first laid eyes on Loral he was smitten. He crashed like a pallet of cut stone falling from a toppled scaffolding. With her green-hazel eyes, dusty blonde hair, strait-laced posture, and soft-spoken tone… also the way she would trace his every move in and amongst the throng of parishioners drew in a young Elias like a fly to honey.

Loral enhanced his life by one hundred-fold, and whenever they were together everything and everyone just faded into the background. Yes, Elias was truly in love! There was absolutely nothing that he couldn’t accomplish or an evil he couldn’t conquer if Loral was enthralled in his life.

           Elias recalls, how he proclaimed his love for Loral on a cloudy mid-summer night on top of cemetery look-out… walking hand-in-hand as globules of rain splattered on their faces, enhancing an angelic glow on Loral’s countenance, induced by flickering gas lamps lighting their path. He blurts out, “Loral dear, I love you…” a moment of silence, then a hesitant reply, “I don’t know if I feel the same way,” cut like a knife to his jugular… the earth stopped revolving,  time and space meant nothing; he returned her back home to her parents. Elias was hurt and rejected beyond measure! Replaying every word ever spoken between them over in his mind, analyzing, always wondering and overthinking of just what it was that he did to repel her and make her hate him.

Fifty years later 

Diary notes:       

         Today a folded note was tucked under my front door, I unfolded it, my hands shaking with trepidation, perceiving that a note slid under my door sill was not a good omen. Reading; Sadly, Loral passed away in her sleep two nights ago, age sixty-eight. It was signed by her daughter, Fran. Wow, that is the same exact night Loral returned to me in a dream!  The note also stated, Elias, there will be a memorial service at the old stone cathedral where you and Loral first met. Please join us.  PS. Bring flowers.

       While in the throughs of prayer that night, I beseeched the Lord God on my behalf for a divine miracle, Please God, let me raise Loral back to life, kindly intervene for your humble servant. Suddenly, my good friend Michael the arc angel appeared, sitting in my vibrating chair. He stated, “I am sent to help you. But on one condition… you must give all the glory to God!”

I will, of course. I will do anything you ask! I replied.

The night of the funeral:

In advance of this special night, I prepared a meal of mutton and bitter herbs, fit for my queen at our home, I also invited Michael, of course.

       It has been a long time since I favored this old stone and leaded glass cathedral with my presence. As I approached the open coffin, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful Loral looked as she slept. Not a hair out of place, still beautiful!  I expected a few more friends and parishioners; but no matter. The cathedral possessed an eerie chill, nevertheless, I raised my hands toward heaven… I prayed uninhibited, loudly proclaiming the living word of God- to breathe his spirit back into Loral. I noticed out of the corner of one eye, Michael sitting above me on the large gold crucifix giving a thumbs up. All mourners were stunned and stone-faced, they turned into pillars of doubt, same as Lot’s wife. Suddenly, movement! Loral sat up, I felt life surge throughout her body and grasped her warming hands!!!  Elias is that you?

Yes, my love!

Elias, what have you done, where am I?

My dear Loral, I alone have given you renewed life… I love you!!  A moment of silence ensued… an agonizing groan from above was distinct…

Loral:  I’m not sure how I feel about all this!

I was stunned, I looked up, just as a tear globule smacked my face; Loral slumped, pulling her hands away, falling into an eternal sleep.

The end