Dilemma by D.A.Sanford - HTML preview

As the time pass’

I settle back into my job. It really is now a job, not a calling. I know that the others really don’t blame me but I do not have the same relation with them. My April is gone and I have changed. Not wanting to be broken again, I have asked the gods of all to be the ones to give me my assignments.

I no longer hang out in the god’s realm. My home base is now a remote cabin on Jerry’s world. The god’s realm has too many reminders.

The investigations were carried out to the best of my abilities. Reports were precise but my heart was no longer in it.

One day, after I finished my report and returned to my home, opening the door, I found the Supreme there. He had me sit down.

“It’s time. You are doing a wonderful job but your heart is no longer with it. I am going to give you a choice. You can opt to be reincarnated with all memories erased or you can go to the final life. By the way, I was joking about the reincarnation. I will allow you to set your affairs in this world in order. In one week, you will see a door open and will go to the final life.”

He leaves without letting me say or ask anything.

The goblins had given me one of their air powered glass transports. I drove to Jerry’s home. He and his now four wives greet me as usual. We sit and I tell them I have reached the point that I am just doing my job.

“I am going to cross over to the final life in a few days. I will go bodily so you will not find remains. I ask that you give my home to some deserving new arrival. Support them until they get on their feet. I know you will. The home is like new. Please let the people know that is was built but the previous owner moved on to a different world.”

The wives want to throw me a going away party but I ask them not to.

“I have inside information that most will not even notice, with the exception of your group, and will just go on with their life. This is the way of life itself.”

We part on a happy note.

On my walk back, I call out to the Supreme that I am ready now. He appears and opens the door. He tells me that my wife will take my hand and guide me through but I will sleep until the morning and wake up to a wonderful family.

Reunion

I see her and I take her hand. She is so young and beautiful! It was just like going from one room to another. She hugged me and led me to a bedroom, then puts me to bed.

“See you in the morning,” is all she says.

For the first time for as long as I can remember, I sleep all night and have very pleasant dreams. There was none of those waking thoughts that grab you and keep you in the grip of false major problems.

Waking, I see her laying with me. She is just watching me sleep.

“Good morning my darling Max. Welcome home.”

That’s right, I am Max. I know that life.

“I missed you Lisa.” I hug her tightly and do not want to let go.

She tells me that we have all eternity to catch up but my children are waiting to greet me. I get up to find she has set out my leisure clothes. Jeans, t shirt and no shoes. I like barefooting when not at work.

Funny, I forgot that while on the other job. No problem.

I now realize that I am back to my thirty year old body and it feels good. I was able to adjust my looks to suit the world I was on but it never felt different. This body is the best. Every sensory input is beyond high def. Even in my old position, it never was like this.

There on the other side of the bedroom door were both my sons. They, like my wife, are thirty and in the peak of health. We sit at the table and we eat the best breakfast I have ever had.

Those men tell me that they have found their eternal mates and live close. I find it strange that I don’t question close. The vista out my windows show that we are the only house in sight. The knowledge is in me that, here, close only means time not distance.

The retired god of mercy comes to me and apologizes.

My memory was modified by her at that time so I would not miss my family and have it effect the job. In the real life, I was known as the most thorough and the most honest police detective. That is why I was chosen after dying of old age.

She again apologizes but I tell her that it no longer matters. I have my family.

My children, wife and everybody are the same age. The lines of importance and obedience due to age and family standing have disappeared. All are equal. It is not uncommon for one or all to go off on adventures.

Adventures are no longer for riches or battles. We now go on the walks to see the sights. To interact with the population. No matter how far they go, they never experience crowded areas. Since it is eternity, the distances do not matter, once you determine it is time to return to your area, just like that, the trail that you may have been walking on for one hundred years away from your home leads right back to it. Your home is just over the next hill.

The welcome home is always happy.

Some choose to be conduits to the other life. These will act as advisors, oracles and such to help those chosen to receive the information, steer those around to make the best decisions and take the right actions. Cautions and warnings.

Most are given from a passed grand or great grandmother to a mortal daughter. They will act as conduits for the males to also relate information.

Life in the final life is not dull but relaxing. Not hard but fulfilling. The biggest debate here is, What happens after eternity ends?

My wife introduces me to her best friend, but all are best friends, Marsha. Now she is having the déjà vu feeling. We do the usual greeting, a hug. I do not say anything about her background. That is the past life and is really of no concern.

I’m at peace with myself and nothing will bother me for eternity.

Unless the new investigator is a screw up. Gods have had to come out of retirement. I now know why they were pissed.

Author’s notes:

This one is a personal one. A hard story to write but the inspiration goes to my brother Paul. He told me that I should write about my journey through my life. You see, the first page is my actual life. I was hospitalized in 2019 for reactions to prescribed drug interaction. I did have that thought of being the last. My wife of 50 years did pass in 2021. My youngest in 2023 and the oldest in May 2025. I’m alone with my cats.

The life’s worries described were mine. Saving, worrying and regrets are real. I had to journey to find myself. The statements and views are what I found. I recovered from that interaction. My wife had to leave first to be there to greet her boys home. I had to be here to send them off. The good, the bad, the happy and the sad are all vital parts of life.

Rae was 68 and died at home.

Daniel Jr, my youngest, was 49. He died at home, after a 3 year battle, a day after his birthday.

Raymond, my oldest, was 53. He was in the hospital for a little more than three weeks when he took a nose dive. I was at the hospital that afternoon and told him that he needed to take his mother’s hand and go with her. When I left at 3:30 pm he was still alive.

Being autistic, he always wanted to be alone. A little after 5pm, after the doctor and nurses left and he was alone, he took his mothers hand and left for the final life.

I miss them terribly but they are now safe from this insane world we find ourselves in. I sit here writing and I am glad that they have no worries anymore. As I described, people look at me strange when I tell them that I am free of worries.

The worst this world can do to me is let me live a long life. I will not go a minute early or a minute late through that door. Crossing will not be at my hands. I have more to write and do.

My sister does not want me to but I am looking for one of those postal home delivery vans. You never know if you may meet a dancing man.

D.A.Sanford July 4. 2025

Cherish every minute you have with your loved ones. Try not to do or say things that you may regret. Should have, could have, would have if only I knew are the real things that will haunt you until your last moment.