Eve’s finger was pointed straight at a glowing hospital window. Adam took a heavy, ethereal breath and floated closer. As he approached the glass, the muffled sounds of the world started leaking back into his ears.
What he saw inside made his soul freeze. His mother and father were standing by a bed, breaking down in uncontrollable tears. They looked like they had aged ten years in a single night. Adam moved closer, pressed against the glass, and then he saw it.
Adam (voice trembling): "This... this can’t be. Eve, what is this? If I’m out here... then who is that on the bed?"
Eve stepped up beside him, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. Her touch felt surprisingly warm for a ghost.
Eve: "Look, Adam, it’s complicated. But just remember—you aren't like me. Never forget this... have you ever seen a flower garden? There are reds, blues, pinks. Some are small, some are huge. Yet, the garden is beautiful because every flower blooms in its own spot. It doesn't try to be like the others."
Eve (smiling softly): "Life is exactly like that garden. Every human is different, and every human has their own time to bloom. So, stop comparing your pace to anyone else’s. Just learn to bloom where you are planted."
Adam stood in silence, spectral tears falling from his eyes. Eve looked at the horizon and whispered, "It’s time to wake up now, Adam."
Adam realized she was saying goodbye. He turned back to her one last time, desperate for answers.
Adam: "But... you never told me anything about yourself. Just your name. Who were you? How did you... pass?"
A mysterious, hauntingly beautiful smile played on Eve’s lips. She looked deep into his eyes and whispered:
Eve: "I didn't die from any sickness, Adam." 🤫
Before he could utter another word, a massive jolt hit him—like he was being ripped through space and time, falling from a height of ten thousand feet.
Suddenly... Adam’s eyes snapped open!
The blinding white lights. The sharp smell of antiseptic. The rhythmic beep-beep-beep of a heart monitor. His parents stood there, frozen in shock as they saw him breathe. Tears of disbelief and pure joy flooded their faces. His little brother rushed forward, throwing his arms around him in a bone-crushing hug.
Adam looked toward the hospital window. No one was there. Just the golden rays of the morning sun pouring in.
He smiled. He knew he had been given a second chance to finally 'bloom.'
(*The End*)