There is a place where so many live,
But few alive have ever seen,
Where all will one day go,
But many often fear.

To all, I'm told, it looks a little different.
Many see it as a white light in the distance,
Calling them home.
But that is not what I saw.

I saw swirling mists of silver,
And a pale, glowing hand reaching out
To bring me home.
My entire being existed to grasp that hand.

I was floating, wrapped in softest silk,
Warm in light that was both sun and moon,
Focused on that hand reaching out to me,
Stretching to touch it as I slipped from my body.

There was no fear, no regret at what I was leaving.
There was only comfort and warmth,
And the knowledge that there would be no more pain.
I'm not afraid of pain, but I am so very tired of it.

As my consciousness stretched farther from my body,
I got closer and closer to reaching that hand.
And as I struggled to close that last distance,
A distinctly female voice spoke in soothing syllables to me.

"Come, My Child, take My hand, and I will bring you home.
You have suffered much in your short life,
And I will take you where there is no pain.
Come with Me, Daughter, and you will be at peace."

Never have I heard a voice that so filled me with awe,
That comforted me more, or made me feel safer.
As She spoke to me, I felt my heart stutter, about to stop,
And I smiled without moving my physical body; I was going home.

So close, so close to grasping that hand, and I was pulled away.
A nurse came in and forced me to breathe again,
Made my stuttering heart work overtime to make up for almost failing.

And that pale silver hand seemed to wave goodbye as it retreated into the mist.

As I gasped and coughed, my mind wailed at the loss.
Gone was the warmth and comfort and assurance of no pain.
I was cold in the hospital, and the gurney was hard,
And all of a sudden all my aches and pains demanded attention.

As I opened my eyes to glare with hatred at the interfering nurse,
I heard that beautiful voice speak to me once more.
She said, "Do not fret, My Daughter. You will come home to Me,
If not today, then another time. Some day, you will come home."