Immortal Memory (Book One) (29 page)

“No…Grandmother…wake up,” Simra
whimpered.

Zach rushed to Simra and knelt beside
her. He framed her face. “Hang on! Help’s on the way. Your
grandmother will be fine. Don’t worry.”

Simra reached for his hand and squeezed
to ease the excruciating pain. Her senses faded one at a time.
“This is my entire fault. I….must…know she’ll be all
right.”

Zach squeezed her hand tighter. “She’ll
be fine. She’ll be fine. Know that.”

No, she wasn’t. Her grandmother was
dead. Somehow, there had to be a way to revive her. It had to be a
way! She refused allowing Lucinda to die.

Simra couldn’t die either. The drug
dealer must pay. Mandy couldn’t handle the business by herself. Her
cousin needed her more than anything. Mandy depended on her at the
Alzheimer’s facility.

“Simra, please release your guilt. You
can’t turn back time. No one can. Know that your Grandmother’s
about to be at peace. She’s going where she wants, but it’s not
your time. All this happened because of my brother and not you. You
have a wonderful future with Mandy and Jeff. Hang on and don’t give
up.”

“Don’t take…her. It’s still…my fault.
I’ll never see…you again, will I?”

Darkness began to close in on her.
Then, all she could see were large wings flapping above her. Rays
of light grew brighter around her. The brightness didn’t hurt her
eyes. She almost became lost in its splendor.

Zach tugged her hand. “I…don't know. I
have to take her. Stay with me. Simra. Simra!”

Zach’s voice faded in the distance.
There stood a beautiful man with light glowing from him. The man
came toward her and carried her in his loving arms.

He must have been one of God’s angels.
Simra’s body got left behind with Zach, but she couldn’t die now.
She needed to stay alive and needed Lucinda revived!

Chapter 35

"He will wipe away every
tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall
there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former
things have passed away." -Revelation 21:4

Simra opened her eyes to see the same
snowy mountains where Zach brought her. A petite older woman walked
closer toward her through the snow and came from the mountains. It
was her grandmother!

Running toward Lucinda, Simra embraced
her as the snow drizzled upon them. “Grandmother, you’re all right!
You look so healthy and well. Is this real?”

Smiling, Lucinda drew away and brushed
a soft kiss across her cheek. “Yes, Honey, I’m all right. I’m
better than ever, and this is very real. Much time’s passed since
Azazel got destroyed. I’m glad it's over. But I’m sad you’re
plagued with such guilt. Stop reliving the past, Honey, or it’ll
destroy you.”

Although tears wanted to fall from
Simra’s eyes, she couldn’t cry. This was the afterlife. The sight
of her healthy and content grandmother caused Simra to beam. The
curse was gone, and Tristan got destroyed.

Then, a deep longing and sadness tore
at her soul. Mandy was left behind and alone with the family
business. Simra didn’t know if she would ever see Zach again. The
drug dealer still roamed the streets. That thug assisted in killing
her grandmother!

She took Lucinda’s hands in her own.
“I’m to blame. You tried warning me about Tristan when you were
alive and well. I didn’t listen until it grew too late. He cursed
and killed us, and he hurt Mandy and Jeff. None of this would’ve
happened had I never dated him. Grandmother, I’m so sorry about
everything. It’s all my fault.”

Lucinda framed her granddaughter’s
face. “We were only human. We couldn’t see such things on earth.
The curse began long before your time. Azazel cursed me when I was
only a young lady about your age. That’s when all of it began.
Azazel chose me to be his bride first. Because I simply refused, he
took vengeance on me and our entire family. He would've forced you
into marriage even if you'd listened to me.”

She paused and added, “I
know you ask why God allowed this to happen. Honey, the reason’s
that much good comes at the end. The demons and their master don’t
know it, but God uses their curses to our advantage in the end. It
also leads to glorifying Him, but it depends on what path
we
take. It isn’t your
fault. Azazel did me a favor. I’m so happy to be home with Christ,
Melton, and your parents.”

Simra squeezed her grandmother’s hands.
“But you and I should still be with Mandy and Jeff. If Tristan
didn’t curse you, you’d be able to enjoy more time with
us.”

“Honey, I had you and Mandy to love in
the other world, but I’m happier here. Let me be happy, and be
happy for me. I enjoyed watching you two grow into beautiful young
women. Be happy for all the times we spent together.”

“You’re the spitting image of me,
Sugarplum. I love you so much. Don’t feel guilty. Continue becoming
closer to Christ. Return to the life God gave you, marry Zach, and
have his children. Assist Mandy in helping many more people with
Alzheimer’s. You have an entire life ahead of you with brilliant
gifts in your future. I’ll be one of those snow angels watching
over you every day until we meet again.”

Simra’s soul bubbled over from
contentment and warmth. “Grandmother, I’d love to do all those
things, but I’m already in heaven. Aren’t I?”

Lucinda turned to the glowing man
standing at a distance. “Gabriel?”

The black man stepped closer in a white
suit with his voice gentle and deep. “You’re here only for a
moment. God wants you to overcome your guilt and see that your
grandmother’s well. It isn’t quite time for your arrival. You kept
reliving your troublesome moments with Azazel while unconscious.
Your lost soul wandered while your body refused to accept
life.”

He paused and added, “It’s time to move
on now. Priceless treasures await you from the Father. He gives you
Zachriel as just one of many. God’s very pleased with you. He’s
always loved you.”

She exchanged glances with her
grandmother. “Thank you, Gabriel. I’ll do everything He asks. I
love you, Grandmother. I’ll feel guilty no more. Give the family
and God my love.”

Lucinda hugged her granddaughter one
last time. “Oh Granddaughter, I’m so pleased to hear this. Of
course. I love you too.”

The angel gestured toward Simra.
“Additionally, remember to never judge someone by exterior
appearances. Man sees what’s on the outside of another, but God
sees the heart. Know that God and His angels never deceive.” Giving
her no chance to respond, the angel placed a gentle hand on Simra’s
head.

It transported her back to the world of
the living. She didn’t know what to think of Gabriel’s statement.
Yes, it was true, but to whom did he refer?

Simra’s repeating memory got turned to
dust. Her senses returned, and her eyes fluttered open to
see…Tristan! The demon wore a white coat and scrubs. Simra
struggled to get out of bed.

“No, you were killed! Stay away from
me. Zach, where are you?”

Tristan pulled her down onto the
hospital bed with gentle hands, and his gaze softened. “Simra,
you’re awake! It's me. Zach. I returned here as a human in my
brother’s form. There's no proof of his death since he disappeared
and got burned. The Lord revived me in his form. I couldn’t return
in my original body because everyone knows I’m dead.”

Her heart skipped several beats. “Why
should I believe you? This could be another one of your
tricks!”

“I promise it isn’t a trick. God sent
Gabriel, His messenger, to tell me that I’d be sent to you as a
blessing. Lucinda’s happy and well with the rest of your family.
This is what she wanted. Simra, you saw Azazel burn to a crisp. He
got destroyed before you died. God knows how much we love each
other. He chose to send me back as a human instead of an angel. I’m
sorry I couldn’t come in my original form. I’m not your doctor, but
I stopped by to see you on the job.”

Simra’s mind swirled with questions.
Was this about what Gabriel described? Surely not. “How’d this
happen? We burned Tristan’s body. It’s nothing but
ashes.”

Zach sat next to the bed and took her
hands without Simra’s resistance. “It’s difficult to explain. God
created another form of him from the dust for me. My tasks are
finished as an angel of death, and I’m human now.”

Many questions raced through her head
all at once. She noticed how he seemed to no longer read her
thoughts. “You can no longer read my mind? Zach, how are you
licensed to work as a doctor if you’re in Tristan’s body? Where’s
Mandy, Jeff, and the drug dealer? I need explanations.”

Zach took a deep breath before
explaining everything. “I went to see Mom. She had my old
certificate. I don’t know how, but it has Tristan’s name on it
instead of mine. Mom, Mandy, and Jeff knows that I’m really me.
Everyone else knows me as Tristan Hanley. It took me awhile to
convince Mandy and Jeff. They finally believed me. The drug dealer
didn’t kill your grandmother. She died when Azazel did. The
Alzheimer’s got to her, but she went in peace. I’m very
sorry.”

Although Simra would’ve gotten angry
and bitter in the past, she only remembered how happy Lucinda
seemed. Her grandmother never looked so content. “That’s strange. I
suppose God had something to do with that. Did I really die? Where
is everyone?”

“No, you went into a diabetic coma for
two months. We never lost hope that you’d return. Gabriel told me
to never give up on you. He claimed you kept reliving the
past.”

“Jeff and Mandy came with an ambulance
just in time to save you. The drug dealer got arrested. He’s in
jail. I promise he’ll be locked in there for life. Mandy and Jeff
are doing well.”

This man before her was Zach, and
Simra’s emotions ran rampant. It would be difficult to see him as
the man she loved. So much happened since that day, but
gratefulness enveloped her heart more than anything. God reassured
her of Lucinda’s happiness.

He reassured her of Tristan being
destroyed and the drug dealer’s punishment. Most of all, she had a
relationship with Christ now. There was also Zach, who she loved
with all her heart.

Zach’s lips tugged into a warm smile,
and he got onto his knees beside her. “There’s something I’ve been
dying to ask now that you’re alive and recovering. I can’t wait one
minute longer. I want to make you happy, and I promise I’ll always
protect you. I’ll never collect your soul, but I want to be joined
to it. You showed me how to let go of past regrets, give them to
God, and how it’s not wrong to fall in love. We’ll place a smile on
our Father’s face each day. All haunted memories will be forgotten.
However, how we first met and worked together as a team will
not.”

Zach pulled a small box containing a
diamond ring from his pocket. “Marry me?”

Tears of joy and trust misted her eyes.
“So you promise there’ll be no more collecting souls?”

Zach squeezed her hand. “I promise, and
angels never break promises.”

Giggling like a small girl, Simra
slipped the ring onto her finger. So this was to what Gabriel
referred. “I love you, my earth angel. How soon can you get me out
of here for the wedding?”

Epilogue

"I thank my God every time
I remember you." -Philippians 1:3

-
Years later

The water in the Lake O’ The Pines
licked the soft sand along the shore. The summer breeze kissed
Simra’s face. The fish that Zach caught and cooked caused her mouth
to water for more. This weekend was perfect for a fish fry at the
lake house with their daughters and Zach’s mom. Lucy, Gabriella,
and Snow gathered small mussel shells with their
grandma.

Simra married Zach not long after he
asked her a few years ago. She and Mandy still owned the
Alzheimer’s facility. They loved their job more than ever. Jeff
made the transfer to Longview as a detective. He and Mandy had
their wedding ceremony alongside Zach and Simra. Two sons were born
of their love.

Simra and Mandy’s Alzheimer’s facility
became well known around the country. They made huge donations each
year to aid scientists in finding a cure for the horrid illness.
Alzheimer’s patients came from everywhere to be placed into their
nursing facility. Dr. Hanley was the doctor in charge
there.

Zach and Simra’s three girls ran along
the shore. Their smiles widened across their small faces. Simra
took a seat in the chair and giggled at them. Gentle hands brushed
through her blonde tresses.

Zach gave her a playful grin. “They’re
the spitting image of you.”

Placing her hand over his, she smiled
at him. “They have their dad in them too. I love them so much. Not
a day goes by that I don’t thank God for how He brought us
together.”

Zach took a seat next to her and
brushed a gentle kiss across her brow. “Me too. I love them also.
The only one still suffering is Quint.”

Ah, she almost forgot about Quint. The
man was still behind bars. It did him good. Although he still made
threats in prison, he couldn’t escape now.