Tom keeps his promise of life on the 'other side' after he leaves life on Earth. This is a true story.

I was in a computer class when my teacher approached me. The hospital had called and advised me to come see Tom soon as they didn’t expect him to last longer than the night. The hospital was next to the college so I didn’t have far to go. His family was there with tear-laden eyes but they greeted me warmly when I finally found his room. Tom had AIDS.

He’d been hospitalized in December, 1990 and struggled with the disease for seven months before it finally took him. The week before he left this world I’d spent the afternoon with him. We listened to music videos and talked of old times, so enjoyed lots of smiles on that visit. Knowing that he didn’t have long left, I approached the subject of death. I have always felt we live on when we pass from this world so I asked him if he’d send me some message when he crossed over to let me know he was still around and doing well. He laughed at my request but agreed he’d do what he could if he found himself still ‘living’ after he ‘died’.

On this fateful day in July, 1991 was one of the hardest days I’d faced. How does one say goodbye to someone who’s been a dear friend for six years? The family left the room so I could have some private time with Tom. He was in a great deal of pain and under a lot of medication. He said he wasn’t sleeping well and found himself hallucinating. Tom knew it was his last night and had told his family he wanted to go outside for a smoke before he went to sleep that night. How does one go to sleep, knowing they will probably not wake up in this world? Oh the questions that raced through my mind as I dealt with his leaving and how I would be feeling if I were in his place instead. I’d hugged him lightly before saying goodbye as his body was in too much pain to squeeze too hard. His family returned to the room and I went out into the hallway and cried for I don’t know how long. That was the last time I saw Tom as he did pass away during the night.

In September of that same year I adopted two kittens from a local farm. I’d always had cats and found them to be such a comfort and joy in my life. These two were as playful and mischievous as any kittens you’ll find. Each day they greeted me at the door as I came home from work. This is something all cats do with their owners. They miss you and love you and always want to tell you how much. I’d been enjoying my new friends for two months now and had grown used to their particular habits. But this day in November was different than all the other days.

I was working the afternoon shift at a local convenience store and when I was done at midnight I decided to drop in at the local bar to see if any of my friends were around. After spending an hour visiting with them, I decided I best get home and feed the cats. I opened the door to my apartment and there were no cats to be found anywhere. This was strangely peculiar as they always greeted me so I went through the apartment looking under beds, tables, behind dressers, etc. No cats. It was getting odder by the minute as I was the only one with a key to the apartment so knew nobody else would have been there while I was away at work.

As I double-checked everything a second time I began to replay my time before I went to work. Maybe they’d gotten into the clothes closet while I was getting dressed and I didn’t notice. I opened the closet door, and still no cats. There was a small sunroom off my bedroom but I always kept it closed as it was used for storage. The door was very hard to open and I knew I hadn’t been in there so there wasn’t any point in checking that room. I went on my search through the apartment again, totally baffled, and wondering where in the dickens my cats went.

Finally with no other option available I pulled hard on the sunroom door and two very yappy kittens came running out to greet me. I was in shock. However did they get in there? I didn’t have an answer but it nagged at me for the longest time. But an answer I did get, and it came when I least expected it.

There was a new psychic in town so I decided to go visit her. It was a good visit and I was amazed at all the stuff she knew about me. At the end she asked if I had any questions. I remembered my request to Tom and thought this might be the chance for him to get through to me. So I asked her if she had any messages from him and she began drawing on a tablet. I soon realized she was drawing a picture of the sunroom door as it had a window in it and a little curtain as well. I didn’t say a word and waited patiently. When she finished the drawing she said to me, “Tom wants you to know he put the kittens in the room. Do you understand this?” Did I ever! Then she continued, “He also wanted to tell you he really likes the cat ‘Boots’.” I was flabbergasted. I hadn’t named one of the cats Boots but he had four white paws and I’d just mentioned to another friend a couple of weeks prior that if a child owned him, he’d probably be called Boots. I’d finally got my answer.

One never knows how a message will get through from our loved ones who’ve crossed over and Tom surely found a secure way for me to believe he was still alive and doing well. It’s an experience I’ll always treasure and look forward to when we shall meet again and catch up. Tom does live on as do all those who leave this Earth and if you make a contract with someone before they pass, that promise is always sacred and kept. Tom made his promise and lived on to get his message back to me. It was never goodbye when I last saw him, but rather so long until we meet again.

©2001 Dallas Hodder Franklin