What One Can Imagine
By Jerry Guarino
fresh orange juice
Tony closed his eyes and listened to
the cello music. The rhythms contrasted
nicely with the gentle waves outside his boat.
He felt a bite on his line. A
large fish. Tony calmly set the hook and
reeled him in. When he took the fish off
the hook, he noticed that he had a dozen large fish in a tub next to him.
This
might be my best day fishing.
The weather was warm, with a gentle
breeze. Tony could see land not too far
off.
Hmm. The Cape.
I better not go too far off, and get back to shore before dark.
Tony was startled by a voice behind
him. “Hello.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Peter.”
“What are you doing on my boat?”
“I’m a fisherman too. You don’t mind if I join you, do you?”
“No Peter, just wondered how you got
here.”
“I’ve been here a long time. Don’t you remember how you got here?”
“I was having a bad dream and I
died.”
“That wasn’t a dream Tony.”
“You mean, I’m dead?”
“For now. Why?
Didn’t you think your life was over?”
“I’m only 36. That’s not a full life.”
“None of us know how long we will
live. My best friend died at 33.”
“Is he here?”
“Yes, you’ll meet him sometime.”
“Who else is here? People I know?”
“I’m sure, but you won’t see them
yet.”
“Why not?”
“Well, this may not be your final
destination.”
Tony glanced down at the water. “You don’t mean?”
“No, not there. Sometimes we get visitors. Some stay and some go back.”
“Who decides?”
“It’s kind of a group decision. But your input is very important.”
“I’m not the only one who chooses?”
“No, there is someone who knows
what’s best for you and for your friends and loved ones here and there.”
“So why am I here now?”
“Why do you think Tony?”
“I don’t know. I certainly couldn’t have imagined this
happening.”
“Imagination is a magnificent
concept. You can actually imagine
anything.”
“But people back there will find my
body, the accident. How can that be
undone?”
“Time is irrelevant here. We transcend time. If you go back, the accident will never have
happened?”
“And if I stay?”
“Well, then your time there will be
over.”
“I’ll never see my wife and kids
again. They will suffer greatly.”
“You’ll see them when they come
here.”
“I don’t think I can live without
them. Why am I not crying?”
“Sadness and pain doesn’t exist
here. You have transcended earthly
emotions.”
“Are you sure? Maybe I’m just dreaming.”
“No Tony. This is really happening. Look at this paper.”
Peter showed Tony a newspaper with
the story about his accident.
“When was this? How long ago?”
“Tony, we don’t do time, remember?”
“Oh yeah. Well, I want to go back. I have a lot to do in my life.”
“You mean you haven’t been
accomplishing everything?”
“No, I thought I had plenty of…”
“If you go back, you’ll have to do
something for us.”
“What?”
“You should find some people who are
wasting life, try to get them on the right track. That’s a noble cause. And of course, give more of yourself to your
family. You never know how much time you
have with them.”
“Of course, Peter. I know that.
I’ll be more focused.”
“That’s really the key Tony. Focus.”
“So, is it time?”
Peter put his hand on Tony’s
shoulder. “Close your eyes Tony. It’s time.”
Tony closed his eyes and slept. When he woke up, he was back in his bed. He rubbed his eyes, then looked at his
nightstand.
“Alexa, play cello music.”
About the author
Jerry
Guarino’s short stories have been published by dozens of magazines
in the United States, Canada, Australia and Great Britain. His latest
book, "The Best of Café Stories", is available on Amazon.com and as a
Kindle eBook. He is an editor for Flash Fiction Magazine.
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