She sat very still in the enormous bed, her hands clutching the impossibly soft sheets, as she tried to make sense of this clearly Arabian-inspired architecture. Nothing about this room belonged in Tucson, Arizona - or anywhere else she'd ever been, for that matter.
The morning sunlight streaming through her window carried subtle rainbow hints she'd never noticed before. Was this death? Some kind of peaceful afterlife? Or had something else entirely happened while she slept?
Mandy glanced down at herself, her fingers trailing over the ivory nightgown that draped her body. The delicate fabric felt impossibly soft against her skin, pure luxurious silk flowing like water at her slightest movement. Delicate antique-looking lace trimmed the neckline and sleeves, the kind of detail work she'd only seen in museums or vintage clothing collections. The craftsmanship was exquisite - and completely foreign to her usual wardrobe of comfortable cotton nightgowns.
She ran her hand over the intricate lace at her wrist, marveling at its delicacy. This single garment probably cost more than her entire clothing budget for the year. The thought made her almost afraid to move, terrified of somehow damagingthis piece of wearable art. But why was she wearing it? Where had it come from?
Drawing a deep breath to calm herself, Mandy realized the familiar tightness in her chest, the constant burning sensation that had become her constant companion in the hospital - it was all gone. Her lungs expanded fully, easily, drawing in the jasmine-scented air without a hint of restriction or pain. No coughing, no wheezing, not even the slightest catch in her breath.
She took another experimental breath, deeper this time. Nothing. Just the pure, simple joy of breathing freely. Energy coursed through her body, making her feel almost buoyant. The bone-deep exhaustion that had plagued her in the hospital had vanished completely, replaced by a vibrant sense of well-being she hadn't experienced in decades. If ever. Not even after her wish had been granted had she felt like this.
Mandy pressed her hand against her chest, feeling her heart beating strong and steady beneath the silk. How was this possible? She'd been at death's door, slipping away. The memory was hazy, but she recalled the feeling of acceptance - too exhausted and ill to fight anymore. Yet here she sat, breathing easily, feeling healthier than she had in years.
She stared around her, wide-eyed, at the exotically foreign room, her mind struggling to make sense of it all. This had to be heaven - there was no other explanation that fit. The marble walls with their intricate arabesques, the flowing silk curtains, even the jasmine-scented air spoke of a perfection beyond earthly bounds.
A wry smile tugged at her lips as she considered the irony. She'd abandoned organized religion decades ago, replacing it with a vague spirituality that centered more on kindness than doctrine. Yet here she was, surrounded by beauty that defied earthly explanation. The pure serenity of the space, the perfectcomfort of the silk against her skin, the way even the air seemed to caress her - it all pointed to some divine design.
She ran her hand over the impossibly soft bedding, marveling at its ethereal quality. If this was heaven, it certainly didn't match any of the descriptions she'd heard in Sunday school. No clouds, no angels with harps, no pearly gates. Well, not that she could see from here, anyway. Instead, it reminded her of the tales from One Thousand and One Nights - all graceful architecture and flowing fabrics, scented breezes and marble walls that seemed to glow from within.
A wave of grief crashed over Mandy as thoughts of her family flooded her mind. Sabrina, her beautiful, vibrant daughter who'd made her life so rich with joy. Her grandchildren - Julie's infectious laugh, Lauren's quiet wisdom, Kyle's mischievous grin, and little Robbie's sweet hugs. She'd never see any of them grow older, never share another Christmas morning watching them open presents.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she thought of her family… and then there were her cats - Bach and Mozart. Her faithful companions through years of pain and loneliness, always there with their unconditional love and comfort. Bach's dignified presence on her pillow each night, Mozart's playful demands for belly rubs. Would they understand why she never came home? Think she'd abandoned them? At least Jacinth had promised to care for them.
Mandy wiped her eyes with trembling fingers, the silk of her nightgown impossibly soft against her skin. Perhaps being in heaven meant she could watch over them sometimes, keep an eye on her loved ones as they continued their earthly journey without her.
She twisted around, trying to glimpse her back. No wings sprouted from her shoulder blades. Come to think of it, she couldn't recall any biblical passages that actually stated humanstransformed into angels after death. Angels were their own separate beings, created by God for specific purposes. The whole "humans become angels" thing seemed more like an artistic concept of long-gone sculptors and artists that became mainstream belief. Um, wasn't it?
Accustomed to the noises of the city, the silence seemed odd to her, broken only by the gentle whisper of the breeze playing with the gauzy curtains. No footsteps echoed through marble halls, no distant voices carried on the sweetly floral air.
"Hello?" Her voice came out soft and uncertain. When no response came, she tried again, louder this time. "Is anyone there?"
The words hung in the air, unanswered except for the continued rustle of curtains in the morning breeze. Mandy pushed back the impossibly soft covers, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. The thick carpet beneath her feet felt like walking on clouds, if clouds were made of the finest wool ever spun. Her toes sank into the plush pile, the intricate patterns woven in cream and pale blue continuing the room's ethereal theme.
Standing here in her bare feet, feeling the luxurious carpet cushioning each step, somehow made everything feel more real. Less like a dream or hallucination, more like a place that actually existed - however impossible that seemed. This was definitely Heaven. However unlikely it seemed - and to her it seemed very unlikely - there was simply no other explanation.
The scrabble of claws on marble had Mandy turning toward the doorway. Her heart leaped as Bach and Mozart raced into the room, their orange fur fluffed and tails held high as they chased each other across the floor. They bounded up onto the enormous bed, tumbling over each other before landing at her feet, purring and rubbing against her legs with pleased meows.
"But... how?" Mandy stared down at her cats in disbelief. Mozart sprawled in a sunbeam pouring through the window, while Bach rolled onto his back, begging for belly rubs. Their familiar presence in this otherworldly setting made her head spin.
Movement in the doorway caught her attention. Another cat entered in Bach and Mozart's wake - at least, she thought it was a cat. About the size of a snow leopard, its coat rippled between gold and black like smoke drifting across sunlit metal. Dark spots marked its fur in patterns reminiscent of a jaguar, but as it moved, tiny blue flames seemed to dance along its body. The creature's eyes glowed with an inner light as it regarded her, its tail swaying gently.
Mandy froze, one hand still on Bach's exposed belly. The mysterious feline radiated power and grace beyond anything she'd ever encountered. Those glowing eyes held intelligence and awareness that sent shivers down her spine. Blue flames continued to flicker across its spotted coat, casting ethereal shadows on the marble floor.
She held her breath as the massive feline padded closer, its movements liquid grace despite its size. Each step brought subtle flickers of blue flame dancing across its spotted coat, casting ever-shifting shadows on the marble floor. Her fingers tightened in Bach's fur as he squirmed, trying to entice her to continue with the belly rub, seemingly unconcerned by the otherworldly creature approaching them.
Mozart, always the more adventurous of her two cats, abandoned his position at her feet. He trotted forward to meet the large cat, tail held high in greeting. Mandy's heart jumped into her throat as her beloved orange tabby approached the powerful creature that could easily swallow him in one bite.
"Mozart, no-" The words died in her throat as Mozart reached the spotted cat and casually rubbed muzzles with it,purring loud enough for her to hear from several feet away. The larger cat lowered its head to Mozart's level, returning the greeting as if they were old friends. Blue flames flickered between them, but Mozart showed no sign of fear or discomfort.
She watched the interaction with a mixture of confusion and wonder. Her practical, earthly mind struggled to process the sight of her ordinary housecat socializing with what appeared to be some kind of magical big cat. The creature's spotted coat continued to shift between gold and black, creating mesmerizing patterns that drew the eye. Those intelligent, glowing eyes fixed on her with an awareness that seemed far too knowing for a mere animal.
The sound of quiet footsteps on marble had Mandy turning to see Kieran come through the doorway. Her heart skipped at the sight of him, his silver hair gleaming in the morning light that streamed through the gauzy curtains. He wore a tunic of sapphire blue velvet over black trousers, providing a striking contrast against the pale marble walls, the subtle embroidery on his tunic catching hints of silver as he moved.
The massive spotted cat rose gracefully and padded over to Kieran, blue flames dancing between them as it rubbed against his legs like an oversized house cat. Mozart followed, completely unfazed by the magical creature's presence, while Bach remained contentedly sprawled across Mandy's feet.
Kieran's silver-blue eyes swept over her, taking in every detail with an intensity that made Mandy's heart flutter unexpectedly. A softening smile tugged at the corners of his stern mouth, revealing a warmth that contrasted sharply with his usual demeanor.
"How are you feeling?" His rich, deep voice resonated like a soothing balm.
