They had simply left. Exactly when I don't know. Whatever else had been out there - but what I hadn't had the ‘luxury’ of catching a glimpse of - levels that I had 'missed' because I wouldn't dare look - I don't know that either. All I knew for sure was that it was over.
I just sat there in place for several motionless minutes. Just sat there. Completely still. And a very soft and quiet stillness it was. Eyes now confidently open; they were just soaking up the morning light. And just happy to be open. Open without fear. But in shock. Still in a state of ‘stunned’ disbelief.
It needed to sink in - my reprieve, and what I had just been shown. I eventually dragged myself to a sitting position on the edge of the bed. I then noticed that a single cigarette now sat atop the night stand right next to the bed. But it had never been there before.
YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT -
IT HAD NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE !!!
At first I couldn't believe my eyes. I then slowly with my left arm reached for it while saying right out loud in a hushed voice 'holy ...' Now within the grasp of my left fingers I then paused before drawing it back further - because then an emotion of utter astonishment and unearthly love now fully engulfed me - because I had by now figured out 'who' had put it there. But exactly how this was done I still have absolutely no idea!
I GUESS WHEN THE HEAVENS GET YOU OUT OF HELL ITSELF ...
THEY DO IT RIGHT ...
THEY DO IT WITH CLASS . . .
THEY GIVE YOU A SMOKE WHEN IT'S OVER !!!
I lit it up. And it was the most delicious cigarette that anybody has ever smoked EVER! You can just imagine - those old TV ads from the sixties were finally right! Eventually, mid-smoke, and while sitting there on the side of the bed, I issued the most tersely worded understatement in the history of time . . .
“THAT … WAS A SIGNIFICANT EVENT!”
I said it right out loud. I had to say something - and besides, it was!
IN THE
'RELIGIOUS ANNALS OF TIME'
KIND.
And besides … what the hell else was there to talk about?