Autumn Annette

In the between.

Have you ever believed there was a reason you were here on earth? Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you never existed? What impact have you had on people and society as a whole? It is hard to see that, but if we look deeply into our lives like Milly Gaves once did. Milly Gaves was just at the age of 25 when her life changed forever. Milly worked part-time in an Olive Garden while trying to get her marketing degree in college. She left out her one-bedroom apartment going to work one night after a full day of classes. She was tired and the vigorous rain poured down and made it difficult for her to see out of her windshield. Her car needed maintenance for a few weeks but she couldn't afford for it to be fixed. The darkness weighed in on the slippery road. She road in the darkness before her car shut down and she pulled over to the side. The rain was heavy and so was her heart, she suffered from the need to leave her house, to try, to live. She cried alone in her car, before a loud crash from the back and spun her car around and around making her dizzy as she screamed in terror. The car flipped and rolled down a hill and crashed into a line of trees. Milly awoke in a room with only two doors. Both doors were black. She called out but no one answered. She knocked on the doors but no answer. Her hands trembled as she was confused. A low mumble voice appeared upon the dark corners of the room. A man walked towards her, he was tall and had a soft, sweet, welcoming face. "Milly, do not be afraid, you are in the between, you are safe. " The man stated. "The between?" She asked with her voice broken and shaken. "yes, the between. This is the place where you are in between life and death." He explained. " Here is where you may choose life or death and see what many never get the chance to. These doors show you something about your life, you have to decide from them, whatever is shown is by fate alone. Do you understand?" He asked. "I believe so..." She replied as her voice quivered. His hand moved so elegantly as he welcomed her to the doors. She walked to the one on the left and opened it slowly walking into the bright room. There laid a pregnant lady holding her newborn baby wrapped in beautiful pastel pink. There was a man in the chair beside her laying there asleep. The man awakes and smiles at the sleeping lady until he watches her sleep and his face loses all color and he jumps up from his sleep and yells, "nurse! " he takes the baby in his hands and tears rush to his eyes. A few nurses rush in and take the lady by her hand and start checking every vital. The man cries and holds his baby. " I promise to you princess, I will take care of you until my last breath, nothing bad will happen to you. " He says to the child as the room begins to darken. Milly stands breathless, her eyes are leaking amounts of water and love. The room begins to brighten and she sees her childhood church. Her younger self makes cards for all the elders in the church and makes them smile. The elders thank her and hug her. Many of the elders felt the happiness they forgot existed and a smile that has been hidden away for years. The room darkens as it only brightens in Milly's old house with her dad with his broken leg laying on his bed watching TV. Her younger self helping her dad with his foot. Bringing him food and making sure he is comfortable. Working around the house cleaning and things. At night they would play board games and cards to keep her father entertained. She sacrificed so much to help her dad, he was everything so important to her. Watching all the good times Milly had with her father her eyes filled with tears and her heart was heavy. The next room became too bright and she saw her dear dad the man she loved laying in a hospital bed, weak, and old. Milly called out, " hey between spirit man! how do I leave from here? I don't wanna watch my father die again. Please let me out of here." she walked over to his bed and looked upon him as she once did only a short 3 years ago. She held his hand and sobbed and he looked up at her and smiled. " My dear Milly, You are so beautiful and strong, I know you will make me proud. Go live your life live the life I and your mother always wanted for you. Get your education and go find someone in your life who will love you as much as I did and take life as its best and live it to the fullest. Milly, I love you, my sweet princess. I want you to go forward and only learn from your past. " She cried on his chest before she returned to the between. Milly wiped her tears away and looked to the other door. She walked in to see a beautiful house with two children running around and a beautiful woman with short brown hair and a smile that brightens the room. Milly smiles as she realizes this is the future she wants. Her father never approved of her choice to want a woman but Milly talked to her father's spirit that made that void complete. She has finally understood she has done more than be a disgrace to her father, she finally understood that she has helped so many people, and she finally understood that her life has a purpose. She smiles and whispers to herself, " I want to live..." She awakes in a hospital bed and there sits the beautiful woman she saw in her vision. " Tiff? " she whispers. " Milly?" the woman asked. Milly reached out and grabbed the woman's hand and smiles, " I want to live! I will marry you, Tiff. I want to be your wife. " The woman's eyes widen. " but I thought you didn't want to be together because of your dad?" Milly smiles and says " He approves, he wants me happy. " They embrace and plan their beautiful happy wedding.