Most of his friends had died and increasingly Fred found himself alone, the television often being his only consistent companion.
One afternoon, Fred turned off the television so that he could take a nap.
As he looked in the mirror, he stared at a tired old man, one whose body was often filled with aches and pains, and one who no longer saw a purpose in his life.
Just then, an Angel appeared. She had long flowing white hair, a white silk robe and a golden luster.
She smiled at him and then said softly, "It's your time to go Fred."
"But I can't go," Fred cried out. "I'm so afraid of death. The pain, the unknown."
"There is no pain in death Fred," the Angel answered. "And you're going to love the place I'm going to take you to."
"How can there be no pain in death," said Fred. "I've seen the pain of death."
"What you've seen," the Angel replied, "Is people suffering in the final stages of life. Death is never painful, it is peaceful and gentle."
"What do you mean," Fred asked. "Look," she answered. Fred saw himself laying on his bed, appearing to be asleep.
Suddenly he realized he was standing next to the Angel, hovering above his body.
"Death has already happened," she said with a smile.
"I've unlocked your front door and in just a moment, the paramedics I called will discover your body and then notify your family.
"Take my hand Fred," she said as in spirit they slowly flew from the room, invisible to the paramedics and the neighbors now arriving at Fred's home.
"You see," she said to Fred. "There was no pain at all. Now we will go to a place of peace and love as you reunite with your loved ones."
As Fred took her hand, he smiled broadly and remarked, "I don't know why I ever feared death at all. I'm already at peace."
Dick
This piece was partly inspired by a Twilight Zone episode starring Robert Redford "Nothing in the Dark" (January 5th, 1962) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734603/
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