An Angel appeared in the room. Lyudmila, sitting by her body on the edge of the bed, involuntarily smiled.
Wow! So, do angels exist?! Have you come to take me away?
Hello, my soul! In fact, everything exists, both real and once imagined by humans. Now you will be taken to the intensive care unit and returned to your body.
Oh, no! exclaimed Lyudmila. I feel great here! I see no reason to return! No one needs me on Earth, and Im completely un-adapted to life! Everything fell out of hand! I was always approaching some goal, step by step, and bang! at the last moment! the world used to collapse!
Every soul has its own mission on Earth. If you dont complete it, you wont be able to continue your journey in Heaven.
And which one is mine?
Just to serve God and people.
To serve? What do you mean? Lyudmila asked, having understood nothing.
One day you will be a famous nun. Right because you are un-adapted to live as common people.
Me? A nun?! Lyudmila cringed at the mere thought of it. Are you saying that I am not destined to find earthly love? If you promised me now that I would become the happiest woman in the world, I might return! But to become a nun?!
A Demon showed up in the room.
Lets go! he smiled, holding out his furry paw to Lyudmila.
Where? the girl involuntarily moved closer to the Angel.
Where? On Earth, of course!
Have you both agreed beforehand?! Ive already told that Im not going back to my body to become a nun!
No, no! Come on! Not to your body! And Im not about a nun! the Demon chuckled. Lets move into a bum!
A homeless bum?! Lyudmila cried out, mentally picturing herself freezing in the slushy mud on the street outside the grocery shop.
Where? On Earth, of course!
Have you both agreed beforehand?! Ive already told that Im not going back to my body to become a nun!
No, no! Come on! Not to your body! And Im not about a nun! the Demon chuckled. Lets move into a bum!
A homeless bum?! Lyudmila cried out, mentally picturing herself freezing in the slushy mud on the street outside the grocery shop.
But you dont want to be a nun! the Demon laughed.
The resuscitators rushed into the room and took away Lyudmilas body, while her soul with the Angel and the Demon followed the body to the intensive care unit to continue the conversation there.
Listen, Valentina, Galina turned to her neighbor, our unbeliever must have seen the Light! She liked it there, in Paradise, so much that she decided not to come back! Oh, thank God, I didnt get to Paradise yet! I might have been a fool to stay there, since I have four grandchildren, that will be lost without me here! Who will cook my borsch for them?
Valentina sighed, silently nodded in response and looked out at the street through the dusty hospital window.
She had heard the conversation of Lyudmilas soul with the Angel and the Demon, though she hadnt seen them in the room.
Valentina had no one left on Earth long ago, except for the red puss she had saved last winter.
Perhaps serving Barsik is my mission on Earth. Isnt Barsik the reason I am still alive? Valentina pondered. Or maybe serving the Barsiks? I wonder how many cats I could save during my life, while I saved only one How is he now, without me? Does the concierge remember to feed him? Probably, he has already broken a few pots of flowers, the little prankster!
Valentina smiled, and she wanted to return home as soon as possible to express her love and gratitude to the red Barsik, even if he had nothing to do with her mission on Earth
March 19944. The Wind of Changes
The 1st April street, building 77, entrance B,
the 5th floor
I knew that address by heart, having worked for over four years as chief accountant in the office of a small company, located there. The company, which I loved very much, almost became my second home, but it was going through hard times, if not to say its last hours. The Swiss owners postponed until Monday the release of the already taken decision on liquidation, that would start the painful process of dividing assets, including money, of course.
The working day was already over, but the financial director, George, and I were sitting in his office enjoying a melon.
Well, tell me, Arisha, have you been conjuring? George asked, referring to our future.
Yes, of course, I muttered grudgingly, aware of his skepticism.
What way this time? Solitaire or coffee?
You see, cards and coffee, and all that stuff are just kids play if theres nothing behind. The Subtle World is called so for being NOT material; its door cant be opened with earthly keys only, such as cards or coffee. If you cant read signs, feel with your soul, hear your inner voice, no cards will be useful.
Well, okay, lets say so. What are you feeling right now?
A Wind of Changes.
Good or bad?
Cardinal ones!
Anything more specific? Will you finally get rid of the fear of getting fat after childbirth and agree to become my wife?
Olga is coming, cut her a piece of melon, I said calmly, not reacting to his skeptical jokes.
In a couple of seconds, there was a knock on the door, and a cheerful and blooming Olga, the HR manager, appeared on the threshold.