“Hey man, check this out.”  I look at my buddy Stan, and point to a little girl standing on the sidewalk crying.   It looks like she lost her parents, so i should probably try to make the situation better.   “Wait, no dude-“ Stan tries to cut me off but ive already walked over to the little girl.   Gently, i place a hand on her back and give her a solid shove.  She goes flying face first into a puddle in the road, and immediately starts wailing.   I couldnt control my laughter, the look on her dumb face was priceless. “Mike, one day youre gonna regret doing these things you know.”   I smirk. Who does he think he is trying to lecture me? “No, Stan. Actually, i Don’t know that. Who’s  going to punish me? The cops? I can make better schemes in jail buddy. Besides, its all for fun.  She’ll grow up and forget all about it.”   Stan and I continue walking and suddenly, my chest began to hurt.  Probably because I had too many energy drinks earlier, but whatever. Its normal to have some chest pains from caffeine.  As we walked, my vision began to blur.  My chest slowly hurt more and more and suddenly, I lost control of my breathing.  Collapsing to the ground, i look up at Stan for help, my face contorted in pain, but he scoffs and walks away. “What the hell man? Help me out!” I thought.  I tried to my best to get his attention with whatever pathetic sounds I could make while I gasped for air, but nothing worked. My vision began to fade.  “Am i going to die? Here and now? So young, so full of life? Im going to die because of some stupid caffeine?”   I finally passed out after what felt like minutes of grueling agony.  It was a peaceful sleep, however. I knew death wouldn't be so bad.  Unexpectedly, I woke up to a bright light.  Like in those movies where somebody is being interrogated, and they shine a super bright light in the culprits face.  My vision was still a but blurry, but as it slowly concentrated, I could slowly begin to realize that it wasn’t a bright lamp in my face, rather, I was in an enormous room.  Completely devoid of all color, except for a gray silhouette sitting on a purple throne looking thing.   “Well, if it isn’t Mister Michael Orbeck”. This entity has a deep, booming voice, but its oddly soothing at the same time. “Uh, I'm sorry.  I don’t  think i know you.”     Ive never seen this thing before.  I certainly don't recognize its voice, or this room.  “Im not surprised.” The voice said. “Your entire life, you rejected me, and said I didn't exist.  Yet, you also questioned me, and insulted me.”     “Wait… are you-“  he cut me off “Yes, Michael. I go by many names, however, you know me as God. Do you know what is happening right now?”    Wait, wait, wait. GOD is REAL? I guess I've always kinda known, but it was hard to believe that he was actually real. This was all a little bit overwhelming.  My whole life, i didn't believe in God, yet, here he is. “Um, no I-I don't know”.   “Well” he clears his throat “See, if you had read the book, you would know that everybody will face judgement before God. Good, or bad, everybody will stand before Me and be judged.  However, its not quite what you think.”      Not quite what i think? He's just gonna wag his finger and say “guilty” and send me off to hell right?     “No, I'm not gonna just wag my finger and send you off to hell.”    Wait? He can read my thoughts?   “Michael.  Im an omnipotent being.  I know all. Of course i know your thoughts and I know your heart.  Listen, we are going to discuss your life.  Everything you've ever said or done will be reviewed.”   “And after shaming me, you’re  going to send me off right?”     “Well, perhaps.  I guess you'll just have to wait and see.”   Well, thats nice.  He knows what’s gonna happen and i get to sit in the dark.  Of course. “I am very disappointed in you, Michael. Your life was meaningless.”    “Meaningless? Yeah man.  You killed me with a heart attack! Im only twenty-two years old! Of course somebody so young would have a meaningless life.”    “Lets take a little look at your life, shall we?”  The entity pull out a very large scroll and begins reading.  “Michael Orbeck.  Graduated high-school as a salutatorian, very impressive, sir.  After high-school, you went on to college and graduated with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Also very impressive.  Shortly after that, you joined the navy and became a navy SEAL at the age of twenty-four. War came about, as wars tend to do, and you served three tours.  You earned a purple heart and the medal of honor.   You retired from the military due to your injuries and founded a company dedicated to charity work.  You built homes and schools; feeding, clothing and educating millions of homeless people and children.  You got married to a wonderful wife, had four children and peacefully died at the age of eighty-three.”      What is this guy talking about? He made all of this stuff up.  “Dude, im not sure if you realize it, but none of that happened.  Im here, dead at twenty-two.  You must be thinking of a different guy with me name.  Im not even im college.”     This thing claims to be God, but surely cant be. “Well, heres the thing, Michael. This list details the man you were SUPPOSED to be.  This is the man i designed you to be.  These were supposed to be your actual accomplishments, and yet, here you are.  Completely derailed from who i made you to be, spreading malice wherever you go.”    Thats who i was designed to be? I was supposed to do all of those awesome things?  That cant be. “Lets take a look at who you actually are, and what you’ve really done.   You were a bully.  A thief.  You caused your best friend to commit suicide and laughed about it afterwards saying it was just a joke and he deserved it. Just for that, i should send you to Hell.”   “But wait, wait just a second.  I was joking.  I never thought he would actually do it. You're supposed to be merciful right? You gotta believe me!”   “Well” God smirks “I am merciful.  Thats why im going to do this for you.  Ive decided to cut this whole ordeal short, and move on to the next portion” the next portion? What could be next? He barely even said anything about my actions.  “I am going to give you a second chance.  I designed you for greatness, but you spoiled the fruit.  Just like how i turned Saul, a murderer, into a powerful and good man, so I shall do to you.”    A second chance? Because i was designed for greatness? Does that mean there were people who weren't designed for anything? This all seems a little messed up. I don't want to believe it.   The voice booms, once again, shaking me to my core. “There is a world almost identical to Earth.  I am going to send you there to live out another life. But because you are a twisted person, i shall put in place a twist of my own.”    A twist? But God isn't a trickster right? He doesn't make twists. “I am going tk grant you a special power that comes directly from Heaven. The more you use it, the more powerful it will become, but be alarmed, for the more powerful it becomes, so too with your personality warp.  You will turn into the man i wanted you to be.”       Great.  So  my options are to die in some random world because i don't want to use some silly power, or i use it and lose my free will? That really blows. “Well, God. I guess i dont have a choice in this, huh?”    “That is correct.  You dont have a choice.  Because you resented me and ignored me, i will not assist you in this world.  You will be alone.  No prayer you say can reach me, michael. I cannot hear you, nor see you because you wanted to be separated from me.”  Oh cool, so its basically going to be the exact same as before. Before i had the chance to give my rebuttal, he spoke again. “Go now! Live for Me, and do the right thing, Orbeck. I will be with you.”  Wait a minute, he just said i was gonna be on my own but then said he is going to be with me?  Before i had a chance to really process what he said, or to speak, everything went black again.  As i lay on the ground, i can feel a gentle breeze begin to caress my face. Theres something itching my entire body, but its soft. I can smell a feint aroma of bread baking. I open my eyes and realize im laying on my back, in the middle of an open field. I scan my surroundings, seeing a lot of nothing. Just grass. Well, maybe thats wheat. There are some trees. Thats cool. Theres really nothing special here.  I stand up, my knees creaking as i move. Something doesn't feel right about my body.  I look down, and my clothed are completely different. My jeans, my nike’s? Gone.  My t-shirt? Gone.  My favorite hoodie? Gone.  I better get these clothes back or that guy is gonna hear a word or two from me, i tell you. My super sweet clothes have instead been replaced my something a poor guy would wear. Basic cotton pants, or whatever.  Something like i guess you would call shoes.  Something that vaguely resembles a shirt.  This sucks dude.  Now, I’m  really irritated.  Unfortunately, there doesn’t  seem to be a ladder, or a stairway leading back up to the clouds.  I guess i’m stuck here. For now. 

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.