THE ANSWER

Jeffrey Lawrence

As soon as the dizzy feeling and the dark cloudy veil disappeared, Scott found himself treading across billowy clouds.

For the first time in many years, he felt free, unshackled by the agony of self-torture that had weighed him down.

"So this is it," he thought to himself, aloud.

"So this what it's really like."

In the distance he could just barely hear the deep sound of the drums and the sonorous roar of the trumpets.

"They probably have a terrific reception in store for me," he said sarcastically. Almost as the very words escaped from his lips, he felt the heavy hand of gloom descend upon him.

It was the same feeling that had been harbored within him for all the years that he had kept his secret.

So this was the culmination of it all!

From deep inside him he heard a command. Inexorably, he fought it. Tryas he might though, he realized that this was the one command he would have to obey.

As he drew nearer to the Gates of Heaven, he felt a gnawing at his nerves. How could he begin to explain to the Judges the way he had led his life? Would they even listen to him?

In that moment, and that moment alone, he realized the dire threat of hell. All of the acts of mortal sin he had ever committed ran rampant through his mind.

And yet, he himself did not feel that what he had done was all wrong.

All his young life he had to fight society in his own way, in order to hold his head up high. Is this what it had gotten him?

Fear again overtook him. The preachings of his youth suddenly took on a new and greater meaning.

There had to be a purpose to life!

Bitterly he remembered his father's reaction to the affliction. The harsh words. echoed and re-echoed in his ears.

"You are evil!" his father said. "You will be damned to hell for eternity. You are nothing more than an abominable son of the Devil himself! Get out of my house. Let me never see your evil face again!"

Since this was the reaction of his own father, what could be expect from the Father of all!

Bitter tears streamed down his face, as the painful memory stirred within him. Now there was to be no more running. It was over, all ending at the fateful moment of the accident. There was no longer time for artful dodging of the mind. He had finally reached the end of the long road.

"If I succeed in anything, I'll find out the reason why," he swore silently. He approached two massive doors which immediately swung open for him. An unknown command told him to enter the chamber, and when he did, there, in a blaze of heavenly glory, sat his judges.

The golden throne of the Most High bedazzled him, and threw his desperate soul into a turmoil.

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