†Heaven† - Part I

----------------------------------Friday June 18th----------------------------------

Doctor: "Hi Mrs. Macdonald. How are you today?"

Anna: "The same. Any new updates?"

Anna looked over at Brandon, who was lying on the bed. He was attached to a respirator, and had some IV needles sticking in and out from him.

Doctor: "It's very strange. He has no sign's of any injuries or brain damage. He's perfectly fine, medically speaking. But he's not waking up"

Anna: "So you don't know why he's still in a coma?"

Doctor: "I'm afraid not. His mind and brain are functioning, in fact, at a higher level than we've ever seen. Something strange is going on in there"

The doctor pointed at Brandon's head. Anna looked back at him.

Anna: "He's always been special. Can you let me know if you receive any new updates?"

Doctor: "Of course Mrs. Macdonald. We'll let you know if anything changes"

Anna: "Thank you"

The doctor turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Anna leaned over and grabbed Brandon's limp hand.

Anna: "What's going on up there?"




Brandon opened his eyes and sat up. He looked around. Where in the world was he?

Brandon: "Hello?"

No answer. He stood up. He was wearing a white robe, that felt like nothing. He was standing on some sort of fluffy white surface. It was really soft. He began to walk around, and yelled out again.

Brandon: "Hello?!"

Voice: "Hello Brandon"

Brandon wheeled around. There was a man walking towards him. But this was not just any man. In fact, it may not have even been a man at all. He was tall, with a flowing white beard, and long white hair. He was wearing a white robe, with a gold sash, and barefeet. He walked up to Brandon and smiled.

Brandon: "God?"

God: "You bet"

Brandon: "Where am I?"

God: "Isn't it obvious?"

Brandon: "So I did die"

God: "Did you? I distinctly remember saying that only you decide when you die. And yet, here we are"

Brandon: "How did it happen?"

God: "Well, you did a lot of heroin. Then you fought two wrestling matches. Your body and mind couldn't take that. You overdosed, and died."

Brandon: "So that's it then. It's over"

God: "So quick to jump to the worst are we?"

Brandon: "I'm not following"

God: "Of course you're not. I'm God"

Brandon: "Why are you here? I mean, I guess I'm trying to say, why am I here? Am I dead or not?"

God: "Only you can truly answer that question. Walk with me Brandon"

Brandon walked alongside God, towards a fence area that Brandon hadn't seen before. They walked inside, towards a park with a small children's climber, where parents and children played.

Brandon: "So this is Heaven"

God: "That it is. What do you think?"

Brandon: "Well, it's a little hard to accept, seeing as I'm dead"

God: "Ah yes. That seems to be the biggest issue with our new residents"

Brandon: "How do you deal with all of the new people? I mean, don't you get a new one every two seconds?"

God: "That's the beauty of Heaven. It doesn't end. Heaven is exactly what you expect it to be. If you expect nothing, you get nothing. If you expect a nice place like this, that is what you get"

Brandon: "So all these people have the same expectations as I do?"

God: "Sort of. Heaven, as I have said, is a beautiful thing. The people you want to see, they'll be here. You just have to find them"

Brandon: "You're a very cryptic man, you know that right?"

God: "I'm not a man Brandon, I'm God. This is what I do"

Brandon sat down on a park bench beside God. He looked around at all of the people playing and having fun around the park.

Brandon: "How can all these people enjoy this so much, knowing that they're dead?"

God: "Well Brandon, as surprising as this might seem, people tend to accept death after awhile. Just because you haven't accepted it yet, doesn't mean others will reject it. I'm surprised that you haven't accepted it yet, seeing as you lived such a dangerous lifestyle"

Brandon: "I just, I didn't think that it would ever happen. When you're doing it, you think that nothing can happen, that you can't die. After all my problems in the past, I just thought it was helping me be happy. Turns out, I was wrong"

God: "That you were. But you're here now. I'd say you got what you deserved, wouldn't you? Think of all the people you hurt along the way"

Brandon: "At the time, I didn't even notice. But now, looking back, there's the whole list. James, Keagan, my dad, Dana, Nick, Anna. Oh god, Anna."

Brandon put his head down in his lap and buried his face in his hands. He had ruined everything with Anna, and now he had died for real. What would Anna's last memories be of him? Would she remember the real him, or the drugged up him?

God: "I want to show you something Brandon. This may help you come to peace with your inner self"

God touched Brandon on the shoulder, and suddenly, Brandon's eyes closed involuntarily. He opened them, and he was standing in a wrestling ring. He looked around, just in time to see himself fall down beside Ruben.

God: "Recognize this spot?"

Brandon: "This is where we were that night. That's me. This is where I die?"

God: "Bingo. Watch carefully"

Brandon watched as Ruben tried to wake him up, but to no success. He saw as paramedics sprinted down the entrance ramp, and began to perform CPR to his body. He looked up at the ramp again, as Alison ran down, along with James and Keagan. Brandon saw one more person spring down from the backstage, and dive into the ring. Anna.

Brandon: "Anna!"

Brandon ran over to Anna who had slid into the ring. He tried to grab her, but his arm passed right through Anna. He tried again, but his hand just went right through her body.

God: "We're spirits, and watching something from the past. What did you expect would happen?"

Brandon: "I just.....I don't know"

Brandon collapsed to his knees as he watched Anna being held back by James. Tears were flowing down her face, as she screamed at James to let her go. Brandon watched as she broke free of James for a moment, and crawled over to Brandon's body, as the paramedics loaded him onto a stretcher. James grabbed her again, and she collapsed to her knees. Keagan leaned over and hugged her, while James continued to hold on to her. The three of them stood up, and ran over to the ambulance that Brandon's body was being loaded into. Along with Alison, they all climbed in, as it drove off.

Suddenly, Brandon was back in the park, sitting on the bench. He looked at God, who was staring off at the children playing.

Brandon: "She did love me"

God: "Of course she did Brandon. She married you for a reason. In fact, there was only one reason that she left you."

Brandon: "What was that?"

God: "She only left you because she wanted to see how it would affect you. She wanted you to stop drugs, and she knew that she was the only one who had a chance to make you stop. She thought that if she left you, that you would realize the love between the two of you was stronger than any drugs, and that you would choose her over the drugs."

Brandon: "And I chose the drugs. What does that mean? Do I not love her enough?"

God: "Oh no. She just didn't realize that you were too far. You no longer made decisions. The drugs were your brain now. You couldn't escape that. She wouldn't, she couldn't understand that, without having gone through it herself."

Brandon: "I should have never done these drugs in the first place."

God: "Good. You've accepted that"

Brandon: "I can't believe I let myself get addicted like that. That I let it spin so far out of control"

God: "It can happen when you're mind is not focused on what is truly right. When you stray from the path, that is where sins occur. You strayed from the path Brandon. Your drug use was your own choice, but it was not an advised one."

Brandon: "And now I have nothing left"

God: "That is not true. You still have your heart. And your faith. And as long as you have both of those, you will never be alone"




Anna held Brandon's hand as she sat beside him in the hospital room. She flipped through the pages of a magazine. She looked up when the door opened, and Keagan and James walked in. Anna stood up and hugged both of them tightly as she held in her tears.

Keagan: "How is he?"

Anna: "The doctor's say he's fine. He's just not waking up. They say they've never had anything like this before."

James: "They have no clue why he's not waking?"

Anna: "They said that something is going on in there, and it's something that they have never experienced. They said it looks good, but they still can't be sure."

Keagan: "Well, Brandon always had a strong connection to God"

Anna: "I've prayed for him twice a day since this happened. I need him now, more than I ever have before"

Keagan: "We all have. He's going to pull through Anna"

Anna: "How can you be so sure?"

Keagan: "Because it's Brandon. When has he ever let anything happen out of his control?"

Anna: "But this wasn't his control"

James: "She makes a point. Brandon wasn't in control those last two weeks. The drugs were"

Keagan: "But Brandon was in there. He was fighting to get out, I could just tell. He'll pull through"

Anna: "If he doesn't, my life is over"

James: "You don't mean that Anna"

Anna: "I have nothing left if Brandon dies. He was my best friend, my love, my husband, my everything. I can't imagine being without him"

Keagan: "Can I ask you something Anna?"

Anna: "Of course Keagan"

Keagan: "Why'd you leave him?"

Anna: "I didn't want to. But I needed to do something drastic. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who saw that his heroin addiction was growing out of control. We went to a bar, and he nearly killed a guy. I could tell that he wasn't in control of his own body. I knew the addiction was getting him. And I also knew that I was the only one that he still cared about. I thought that if I threatened to leave him, then he would try to kick the addiction. I thought our love was stronger than that. But then he didn't stop. And I found out. I couldn't just ignore it, not after I swore that I would leave him if he didn't stop. If I didn't follow through, he'd think I was a pushover, and that would make it worse. So I thought that if I left him, that maybe it would be a big enough shock for him to realize that he needed help. Apparently not"

Keagan: "Don't think like that Keagan. No offense, but I can read Brandon better than you can. You're his wife, so you love him. Which is why sometimes you can't tell when something is wrong. I saw Brandon a few times. Each time he got worse and worse. He was so far into his drugs that there was no way that he'd be able to stop just because you told him too. He was already gone when you left him. It wasn't your fault"

Anna: "I...I just with I had been with him his last night"

James: "You're with him now. And that's all he would have ever wanted. Brandon would have wanted you to be happy at any costs. Don't blame yourself for any of this. It's not what he would have wanted. He loved you Anna. More than you think."

Anna: "I know. I just need him back"

James: "We all do"

Anna squeezed Brandon's hand tighter as Keagan and James walked over to her and hugged her tightly. She smiled and continued to squeeze Brandon's hand.

Anna: "Wake up soon Brandon"




Brandon found himself sitting in a bathroom. He tried to rub his eyes but could not. He was stuck in his own body, doing everything that it did on it's own. He had no control over anything. He was merely watching. He looked down and saw himself injecting a needle into his arm. What was he thinking? Why was he doing this again? Where was God? Why was he not in Heaven anymore? Was this some sort of vision, trying to teach him a lesson? Had this already happened before? It must have. He mu8st be having a forced memory of something that he couldn't remember before. Suddenly, the door to the bathroom burst open and Nick Ridicule walked in. Brandon felt himself turn his head and begin to talk, but he had no control.

Nick: "Brandon, what are you doing?"

Brandon: "What does it look like I'm doing?"

Nick: "Still shooting up I see"

Brandon: "You think I'd stop just because everyone else wants me to?"

Nick: "No, I think you should reconsider though"

Brandon: "I thought you were someone that I could trust. Someone that actually knew me and what I wanted to do?"

Nick: "I am. I'm not telling you to stop. I just want to talk about it"

Brandon: "Fine. You've got my attention for a few minutes"

Nick: "Look, Brandon. I'm not going to sit here and lecture you on your drug use. You're nearly ten years older than me, you can figure that stuff out on your own. I just wanted to talk to you about it."

Brandon: "Mmm-hmm"

Nick: "I was in your situation once. I was addicted to heroin just like you"

Brandon: "I'm not an addict"

Nick: "Right. Well, I used heroin as often as you did. And I loved it. I would use it all the time, because it made my life exciting. Just like it does to you."

Brandon: "Yeah, it does. My life has never been better than it has these last few weeks"

Nick: "But has it? Have you ever taken the chance to actually stop and look around?"

Brandon: "What do you mean?"

Nick: "I mean, when I was doing heroin, I thought I was living the greatest life. But when I actually thought about it, my life had never been worse. I was ruining relationships all around me. My friends, everyone that meant something to me. I was pushing them away. My life was getting worse. But I never noticed until I actually thought about it."

Brandon: "You think that I'm really ruining my life and I don't realize it? Is that what you're saying?!"

Nick: "No, I'm just saying look around. Your wife left you. You're barely hanging on in wrestling matches anymore. You've ruined your family relationships. I've talked to James. He says that you haven't spoken to anyone in your family in weeks. You didn't even care that your wife, the one that you had so much love for, left you"

Brandon: "Because why should I care about a bitch who leaves me?! She doesn't understand me, and she doesn't want to. She can't make me do anything with her threats. If she left me, it just shows her true colours"

Nick: "Brandon, are you even listening to yourself? This is the girl that you ran away from, then met again nine years later, and picked up right where you left off. I've never seen love that strong. And now, you're suddenly fine with throwing all that away? This isn't the Brandon Macdonald I know. This isn't the Brandon Macdonald who I became best friends with"

Brandon: "That Brandon has come and gone Nick. This is the new me. Take it or leave it. Anna left it. James left it. Everyone else left it. In fact, the only one who seems to have taken it is Alison."

Nick: "Do you honestly think Alison truly cares about you? Or that she just saw this as an opportunity to fuck you a lot?"

Brandon: "Does it even matter? I like Alison, she understands me. She doesn't care that I do drugs. She loves me for who I truly am."

Nick: "Or does she just love you for your dick?"

Brandon: "I think you're just jealous of me being with Alison"

Nick: "Believe me, I'm far from jealous"

Brandon: "Whatever you say dude"

Nick: "Anyways, I originally came just to tell you that I'm leaving. I have to meet someone now, and Miami has this game under control. 88-73 with seven minutes left. I hope you enjoy your Mavericks being down 2-0"

Nick turned around and closed the door. Brandon pulled the needle out of his arm. He blinked, and suddenly he was back in Heaven, sitting in a chair with a piece of cheesecake in front of him. God was sitting across from him, eating another piece of cake.

Brandon: "Whoa"

God: "Ah, you're back. Did you have fun?"

Brandon: "No, not at all. That was awful"

God: "Good"

Brandon: "Good?"

God: "Well it was supposed to teach you a lesson. I assume you've learned it"

Brandon: "I can't believe that was really me"

God: "You were not a very kind person those last few weeks. Nor were you easy to talk to. But look at you now! We've been talking for hours"

Brandon: "Is there really time in Heaven?"

God: "No, not really. It was more of a figure of speech in that sense"

Brandon: "I figured. But I see what you mean. I really am different when off the drugs."

God: "Precisely. And that's why you need to stay off the drugs."

Brandon: "I guess I really did have to die before I realized that"

God: "I guess so"

Brandon: "Speaking of which, how badly did the Mavericks lose the Finals?"

God: "Actually they won"

Brandon: "Really?! You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?"

God laughed and clapped Brandon on the shoulder

God: "Of course not my boy. I don't interfere in anything like that. I make each unique individual, and then I let them sail their own course. That's why I never stopped you from doing drugs. Which I could have. But I didn't. Same with the Mavericks. Although I must admit, I enjoyed watching Dirk at work. He was one of my finer creations. Just like you. I gave you the gifts to excel at almost anything you wanted to. You just had to choose which one."

Brandon: "I always knew I had talent for anything. I tried to focus so much on everything else, I never really got settled into one. I kept switching in and out"

God: "Choice is hard my son. But it is something that everyone needs to deal with. Both wrong and right. I've seen you make countless of right choices. But this time, you made the wrong one."

Brandon: "I know. I realize that now. How can I change that?"

God: "My son, you already have. Come, come. I have two people that I want you to see"




James: "Well, Ragnarok is in two days, and we should probably get going"

Keagan: "I'm going to stay here with Anna, James"

Anna: "No, please don't. Don't stay here on my account. Please"

James: "Are you sure Anna? You don't need any company?"

Anna: "No, I have Brandon. That's all the company I need right now"

Keagan: "Okay. If you're sure Anna"

Anna: "I am. Go, have fun. Win that main event spot James"

James: "Thanks. I'm excited. I'll win it for Brandon"

James and Keagan walked out of the room, leaving Anna alone, still holding Brandon's hand. She turned back to her magazine, when the door opened again.

Anna: "I told you guys, I'm fine alon-"

Anna looked up and saw Ashley Matthews staring at her from the doorway. She smiled.

Anna: "Oh. Hi Ash"

Ashley: "Hi Anna. How are you?"

Anna: "Not nearly as bad as I expected. But still not good"

Ashley: "Did the doctors say what was wrong with him?"

Anna: "They don't know. They say that he's mentally and physically fine. But he's just not waking up"

Ashley: "Maybe he's having one of those out-of-body experiences."

Anna: "You think so?"

Ashley: "I can't think of any other reason as for why he's still asleep. Can you? To me, it seems like something is going on in there. Something important, that was meant to happen"

Anna: "That's pretty deep to think"

Ashley: "I don't know. If he's perfectly fine, but not waking up, well, I think there's something about it"

Anna: "Hmmm. Maybe you're right"

Ashley: "Well, I just came to see how you were doing. I'm praying for him to pull through. Both of you stay strong. Call me if you need anything"

Anna: "Thanks. I'll be sure to do that. Bye Ashley"

Ashley: "Bye Anna"

Ashley walked out of the room. Anna turned back and lay her head down on Brandon's chest and closed her eyes.




Brandon: "So who are you taking me to go see?"

God: "Oh, let's just say he was someone.......close to your heart"

Brandon continued to follow God as they walked past the park and down a small road. Brandon was starting to get used to this place. Anything he really wanted, he could have. As long as he truly wanted it.

God: "We're almost there"

Brandon and God approached a soccer field, where a bunch of middle-aged men were playing what looked like a game of pick-up soccer. Brandon watched as the men battled back and forth, just like a regular earth soccer game.

Brandon: "So I've got this to look forward to?"

God: "Well, there are professional Heaven teams. So if you feel like trying your hand at a different sport"

Brandon: "I don't know if I'd make it. I'm sure there's a long waiting list"

God: "Well, you've got that right. Most people just prefer this pick-up thing that we have going on"

Brandon: "So why are we here again?"

God: "To watch the game."

Brandon: "Who am I watching?"

God: "You'll see"

Brandon looked back at the game. He watched as the men passed the ball around back and forth. He noticed one man who was a step above everyone. He got the ball, and spun away from another man. He passed it off, then quickly cut to the right. He got the ball back, and booted it right into the top left corner of the net, over the goalie's outstretched arms. The man turned and celebrated, as his teammates ran over to him and mobbed him. He laughed, as the men high fived him and slapped his back, before he walked over and laughed and shook hands with the other players. He was smiling, when he finally turned around and saw Brandon. He immediately recognized the man. He had never seen him this young, but he knew from pictures who this was.

Brandon: "Nono!"

Francesco: "Brandon!"

Brandon ran over to his grandfather and hugged him. His nono looked at him funny.

Francesco: "But, how?"

Brandon: "I overdosed on heroin"

Francesco: "Oh dear Brandon. You didn't did you?"

Brandon: "Unfortunately. I was addicted. I couldn't stop. I went over the edge"

Francesco: "Goodness. So soon. Brandon, I...I can't believe it. I take it your last days were not strong?"

Brandon: "Far from it"

Francesco: "Well. Have you at least come to peace with yourself?"

Brandon: "I think so. I realized that the drugs were ruining my life. Problem was, I had to die before I realized that."

Francesco: "Well, things like that happen. Sometimes you have to lose everything to gain something. In your case, I think you gained knowledge. And maybe some closure"

Brandon: "I just wish that I didn't have to leave Anna like I did"

Francesco: "She'll be fine. She loves you, and she'll always love you. Whether you are with her in life, or watching over her as a guardian angel"

Brandon: "So they actually have guardian angels here?"

Francesco: "They do. Some are brand new, some have been doing it forever. You have friends, parents, relatives, some people not even that close"

Brandon: "Who was my guardian angel?"

Francesco: "You'll find out soon enough. But if you really want Anna to live her life to the fullest, you'll be her guardian angel"

Brandon: "I would like nothing more"

Francesco: "And the best thing about being a guardian angel? That she'll always know that you're there"

Brandon: "That's all I want. I just want Anna to be happy forever"

Francesco: "Then do this."

Brandon: "Nono, I'm sorry I missed your funeral."

Francesco: "Brandon, you came to visit me in the hospital. Nothing could have made me happier. You didn't have to show up. I hadn't seen you in years. What you did took a lot of courage, and I'm proud of you"

Brandon: "Even though I died the stupidest death"

Francesco: "Listen to me Brandon. No death is stupid. You made a mistake. But you've got a lot of time to make up for it. Heaven is great. As long as you make it that way."

Brandon: "Thanks Nono. You give me some of the best advice"

Francesco: "I stick by what I said back in that hospital. Always do what you want yourself. Never do anything to impress someone else. Live life for yourself."

Brandon: "Thanks Nono. I'm sure I'll be seeing more of you"

Francesco: "I hope so. You have someone else that needs to talk to you now"

Francesco hugged Brandon one more time, and smiled and patted his back. He turned around and began to walk towards the soccer pitch.

Brandon: "He knows more than he's letting on"

God walked up beside him from out of nowhere

God: "Indeed he does"

Brandon: "What is he hiding from me?"

God: "Hiding...isn't the right word. You'll find out soon enough. Trust me"

Brandon: "I just don't understand. I don't feel dead. It's like I haven't accepted it yet"

God: "That is a normal feeling. People who die young are never ready to enter into Heaven. It is only the one's who have accepted dying before death that are truly ready for My Kingdom."

Brandon: "Maybe. I don't know. It just feels....odd"

God: "Are you ready to see another old friend?"

Brandon: "Sure, but I'm not sure who else I have to see"

God: "It has been a while. You'll remember"