Beyond Death Read Online Free Page A

sister, and didn’t need to communicate their worries to each other.
    ‘I’m going to phone her.’
    Deep down they both knew that their sister was gone but neither was ready to accept the inevitable.
     

Chapter 2
     
    Claire surveyed the scene below her. Somehow she seemed to be up in the air, looking down at people in white coats in some sort of clinical environment.
    ‘Where am I and what’s going on?’ She couldn’t see anybody else and was surprised to hear Ron’s voice.
    ‘You don’t know do you? I’m so sorry, love.’
    ‘Where are you? Ron?’
    Before he had a chance to answer Claire saw movement below and took another look. A package had been placed on a slab and one of the white coats unzipped the package and with the assistance of another, lifted a body out of the bag.
    Claire was surprised but still didn’t get it. ‘Oh look, Ron. She looks a bit like me.’
    Ron appeared next to her. At least, she thought it was Ron. He had an aura of Ron about him but didn’t seem to be in his physical form somehow. Something very strange was going on and she needed to get it sorted. At this rate she’d be late for work and that would scupper her chances of an early Friday finish.
    Then it clicked.
    ‘I’m having a dream,’ she said to herself. ‘I’ve nodded off in the taxi and because of that little fright I’m dreaming that I’m dead.’
    Then it really did click.
    ‘Oh my God. Am I dead? Ron, where are you?’
    Ron heard the panic in Claire’s voice and realized she’d worked it out. Poor girl. She’d had her whole life ahead of her and he’d ruined it because of his demanding mobile phone.
    ‘I’m so sorry, Claire. Really, really sorry.’
    ‘Sorry,’ shouted Claire. ‘Bloody sorry! Sorry doesn’t cut it buster. Wait ‘til I get my hands on you I’ll effing kill you!’
    ‘Err, I hate to be the one to point this out, love,’ said Ron, ‘but I think you’ll find you’re a bit late for that.’ He heard Claire’s scream and decided to leave her to it.
    *****
    He didn’t know how it happened but the scene below him changed and he could see right into his house. Ron was gutted that he wouldn’t be around to look after Val and to give her the holiday of her dreams for their 25 th wedding anniversary. He was relieved that he had plenty of life insurance and hoped the policies would pay out even though his negligence had caused the accident. Ron looked down and could see her hugging herself and crying. He started wailing when it dawned on him that he’d never hold her again, play verbal table tennis or be around to look after her in their old age. Their daughter Libby walked into the bedroom and Val and Libby hugged. They tried to console each other but were too distraught to offer much comfort.
    ‘It’s all my fault,’ said Val between sobs. ‘If I’d been a better wife your father would still be alive.’ Libby shook her head and carried on hugging her mother.
    Ron wondered why Val was blaming herself as he watched his wife and daughter try to comfort each other. He sensed the presence behind him and without turning to look he knew it was Claire.
    ‘Why does your wife think she’s to blame?’ asked Claire and he couldn’t tell whether she’d calmed down since their last discussion or whether she was going easy on him because he was upset.
    ‘Who knows? Maybe it’s because we were going through a rough patch.’ Ron felt tears and was surprised he could still cry when dead.
    Claire wanted to put an arm around him but not yet used to her current state, wasn’t quite sure how to do it. Ron felt the warmth of her hug without the physicality of it.
    ‘Thanks, love,’ he said, ‘and I really am sorry about the, you know. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you, let me know.’
    Claire laughed but it wasn’t funny. ‘I can’t think of anything aside from rewinding time and not causing me to die,’ she said.
    ‘Point taken. Look,’ said Ron, needing to