When he first awoke

Patrick felt cold and was in extreme discomfort.  There was as steady beeping that must have been what woke him up.  The air was cold but his body felt hot.  Other than the beep beep beep, he could hear nothing.  He tried to open his eyes but there was only black nothingness.  Suddenly, the beeping turned in to one continuous beep.  The cold air was gone.  He felt no pain or discomfort.  The blackness was broken by a glow that seemed to come from his body.  Then orbs of light circled around him.  He heard frantic voices but couldn't make out their words.  He felt nothing.  

Suddenly, he jerked forward.  The orbs stopped moving.  He looked back at them as he passed by them.  There was a dim string of light coming from him to a dull glowing glob between them.  The glowing glob went dark and the string of dim light got shorter and shorter toward him until it was gone.  He moved quickly away from the orbs.  

"Time of death, 10:47PM.  Thank God he's finally free." The Doctor said.  

"Is there anyone to contact?" Asked a nurse.

"He had no one.  His partner died in the crash.  Now they're together again." The Doctor said.

"How long was he in a coma?" The nurse asked.

"Seven long months.  So many time, we thought he'd make it.  I guess without his partner he didn't want to." The Doctor said.

"Did he know his partner was dead?" The nurse asked.

"He watched him die.  He was on the table right next to him.  That's when he slipped into the coma." The Doctor said.

"How sad." The nurse said softly.

Patrick found himself in a tunnel of clouds.  Slowly, they parted and he was standing at the top of a ridge.  There was a well beaten path along the crest of the ridge.  On the other side was a figure in a white robe saying, "Come this way.  Don't stray from the path."

Patrick did as directed.  Thick fog on both sides of the ridge began to rise up.  Patrick picked up his pace, but the fog closed in around him before he'd reached the other side.  At first, he feared falling off the ridge into whatever was below.  "Just keep walking." the voice from the other side said.  Patrick kept walking.  He walked on confidently as though he knew the subtle curves of the path.  He reached the other side.

The robed figure was gone.  Patrick stood looking for something to tell him where to go from there.  The fog cleared slightly and he saw trees ahead in the mist.

He was unsure of the way, but he walked on as though he did.  The rocky earth beneath his feet felt warm.  The sharp rocks didn't hurt.  His legs felt strong.  Though the air was cool to his lungs, his body felt warm and comfortable.  He reached the edge of the forest.  The path ended.  He had no idea which way to go.

Voices called out, "Come this way." or "Go back."  More voices called "No, go that way."  The voices were all around him.  His mind was confused and started to become terrified.  He laid down on the ground and closed his eyes.  The voice began to fade as he thought "Shut up, all of you."  He laid there in silence for a minute.  Then he got up and began walking.

All the angst and confusion seemed to go away with each step.  The voices, got louder and more demanding for a time, then they faded away to.  Patrick started to enjoy the smells of the forest.  Lush green mosses covered the limbs of the old trees.  Birds sang from every direction.  Squirrels and little animals scampered around.  Sometimes they came right up to him.  He kept walking even though he wanted to stop and pet them.  He felt he had somewhere to go.

He passed through a deep dark forest into a lighter one.  Up ahead, he saw a wooden door with a broken window in it.  He thought it curious that the door was just standing up all by itself.  He looked at it for a minute, the started to walk on.  Suddenly, something caught  his attention from the corner of his eye.  He looked back.  In the window of the door were two young men trying desperately to get his attention.  He walked over to the door.  He looked behind it and saw nothing, only the other side of the door.  Back in front of it he saw the boys in the window.  They were pointing to the latch.  Patrick unlatched he door.  It began to swing open.  Suddenly, Patrick found himself on the other side of the door.  The two young men greeted him with smiles and friendly hugs.  

The forest floor was covered with fragrant flowers.  The air was cool, but the sun was warm.  A light breeze caressed his skin and tickled his body hairs.  The boys touch seemed to energize Patrick.  He felt joy, but he didn't know why.

"Continue on through the valley.  Someone's waiting for you." One of the boys said.  Patrick looked at the valley.  He turned to ask the boys how far it was, but they were gone.  Patrick began walking toward the valley.  

There was no path, no soft grass, so easy trail yet nothing slowed his step.  If there were thorns, they didn't pierce.  Stones didn't bruise. Vines didn't tangle.  There was one pleasant fragrance after another.  Patrick followed the stream the wound it's way along the valley floor.  The water was crystal clear.  For a time he waded in the water.  Looking back, he could see in the far distance he'd come miles, but it seemed like he'd been walking just minutes.  He continued on admiring the beauty of nature.  Every where he looked he saw beauty.  Even in decaying fallen trees, there was life and beauty.  

A misty fog began to roll down the hills.  The sun was getting low.  Patrick found a lush grassy spot and laid down for the night.  He didn't worry about bugs or animals.  He wasn't cold or hot.  The ground was soft there was a small hump that made a perfect pillow.  He slept in peace.

He woke as the sun brightened the sky.  The fog moved up the hills.  He walked over the ridge at the end of the valley.  There he found another valley.  This one was rocky, no large trees and few animals.  As he walked he saw three men approaching a mound covered in flowering weeds.  The men stopped.  Two of them pointed down at the mound.  The third, head bowed as in sadness walked toward the mound.  He went down into the mound.  Patrick got close enough to see the man open a door down in the mound.  He was crying.  So were the two other men.  The one man was crying out loudly as he opened the door.  There was only darkness behind the door.  He looked back with begging eyes.  The other two men sadly pointed to the darkness.  As the door closed behind the crying man.  Patrick heard his wails change to the wailing of a newborn baby.

The two men comforted each other.  They turned and saw Patrick.  Their face changed from mournful sadness to joyful delight.  They each reached out a hand and touched Patrick's arm.  Patrick hadn't noticed any fatigue, but he was newly energized and full of joy.  The tears of a few seconds ago were gone.  He wanted to ask questions, but didn't.  He looked at the valley ahead, then back at the men but they weren't there. 

He passed many people on the way, sometimes men, sometimes women and sometimes both.  He passed couple of either gender.  All were naked, young and beautiful.  He felt no attraction to them other than the fact that he wasn't alone any more.  All waved and smiled.  

The valley ended at an open grassy plain.  The morning sun was at such an angle it turned everything gold.  There was a man, standing in the grass.  He turned and greeted Patrick by name.  

"Hi Patrick, keep walking down that way.  He's waiting for you." the beautiful man said.

"Thank you." Patrick said.  He saw the beautiful man as he would a beautiful flower, not as a naked sexual being.  The man patted him on the shoulder as he passed by.  Patrick felt a surge of energy and joy.  He looked back knowing the man would be gone.

The grassy plain gave way to a rocky shore.  Patrick saw the ocean and wanted to go for a swim.

"He's waiting for you down the shore." Patrick heard someone say.  He turned and saw two beautiful men sitting on the rocks.  "He's been waiting so long.  Hurry to him." the other guy said.

Patrick headed down the beach.  He looked back and saw the men were still there.  There was something different about them then the other men who told him where to go.  They were like the people in the valley.

In the distance, on the beach, he could see a man laying in the sand.  The man was getting up and walking round some rocks.  Patrick started running.  The man disappeared behind the rocks.  Patrick ran as fast as he'd ever run.  He rounded the rocks.  There, looking out to the sea, was his lover.  All of his memories came back.  All except the pain and suffering of the crash and his lover's death.  Only the beautiful memories of love.  "Gary?" he whimpered.

The stunningly handsome man turned round.  He was crying, crying tear of joy.  They rushed to each other.
It was like there was never a separation in time.  "Oh, you're so beautiful." Gary said.


"You to.  You're so young and perfect.  Even that little scar over your eyebrow is gone." Patrick said.


"Your chipped tooth isn't chipped any more." Gary said.


"Are we in heaven?" Patrick asked.


"Paradise,  We weren't quite good enough to reach heaven." Gary said with a smile.


"I thought paradise was heaven." Patrick said.


"Well, It is and it isn't.  You'll understand in time." Gary said.

"I'm so happy to be with you again." Patrick said.


"We never have to be apart again.  Never!" Gary said.