Religion was all he knew. Paul Collins was a pastor for the Georgian Orthodox Church in Savannah, Georgia. He had been with the church for over 25 years, serving the community since he was a teen. His father was a pastor for the church when Paul was young. Paul's father was always a big inspiration to him. Through watching his father preaching, and his mother's love for the gospel, Paul decided that he would become a pastor just like his father before him.

  Paul would volunteer for church services, lead youth faith groups, volunteer at other churches, do community service, donate, etc. By the time Paul graduated high school, he had applied for a scholarship to attend Lancaster Bible College, a well-renowned college with a bachelor's ministry program. Paul was accepted and did his four years of college at Lancaster. After four years, Paul earned his degree in theology and would take his next steps to become ordained.

  After Paul's graduation, he attended divinity school, getting his master's degree in Theology. Paul obtained his master's degree and took his ordination exam. He passed the exam with flying colors and became ordained.

  Paul Collins would spread his faith by going around the city, passing out flyers, handing out pocket bibles, and working with local churches in the area. Father Collins was well respected by his community and placed in high regard even by the other priests. Though Father Collins was highly regarded by his community, He did not gain the respect of many. Father Collins would often get into debates with members of the LGBTQ+ community, debating the word of God and arguing about the church's influence. Paul tried to be civil during these confrontations, but often he would lose his temper and get into screaming matches with more than the LGBTQ+ community. Paul belonged to an older generation, which caused him to inherit those ideals. The work of the devil, He would often say. The newer generation has lost the grace of God. These ideals led to a split in the community, dividing the public further from religion.

  It was late into the night when Paul entered his final moments. Paul was an only child whose parents had passed long before him. He was too focused on his studies to make friends and wasn't close with anyone in his church or community. Paul was alone.

  He began to reflect on his life and beliefs. All these years worshiping, the funerals and marriages he had ordained, the community service, the years spent in school: Would God be the one who greeted him? Would Paul ascend to the gates and Heaven and meet his Lord? These questions plagued Paul's mind. Paul wondered if he dedicated too much of his life to his beliefs. No, he told himself. Why am I beginning to question God now? I served faithfully for my entire life. I will not have my faith broken so easily. God will reward me for my dedication; The kingdom of Heaven awaits me! Paul drew his last breath at that moment.

  Paul opened his eyes to darkness, which surrounded him from all sides. The surrounding darkness crept on Paul. Paul felt overwhelming anxiety build up in his chest. Where am I? Wasn't I supposed to wake up to Heaven's gates? White noise filled his ears. The sound of silence was deafening. He lies down and curls up into the fetal position. He closed his eyes and waited for it all to end.

  Footsteps echoed through the dark abyss. The distant sound sent shivers down Paul's spine. He sat up and searched the dark void for whatever was making noises. A faint blue light breached the darkness. Paul's heart sank further with each step. As whatever grew closer, the light that followed grew brighter. The creature got within Pauls's eyesight, revealing itself. The beast wore a dark hooded cloak, partly covered but still visible. When Paul looked closer at its face, he realized that the creature was not human but something else entirely. It was a skeleton. No eyes, skin, muscles, etc., just the skeletal remains of the human it once was.

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  Paul was in pure shock. He thought God would be the one who greeted him in the afterlife, not the Reaper of Death. The Reaper stopped before Paul and opened a book. Paul tried to read the book's cover, but the title was written in a language foreign to him. Death closed the book and looked at Paul. The Reaper had no eyes but could see. The darkness filled his eye sockets, seeming to have absorbed the darkness.

  "Paul Collins. Pastor of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Age 87," Death finally spoke. Paul felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest. How does he know my name, Paul asked himself. What is going on? This is some terrible nightmare that ill wake up from shortly. It has to be!

  "Do not be afraid, Father Collins. You have entered the void, a spiritual plane between the world beyond and Earth. I serve as the guide for lost souls like you."

"A-Are you saying that I've d-died," Paul asked Death. The Reaper's expression did not change, but the aura of sympathy emanated from its body. It kneels down next to Paul.

  "Yes. You passed due to Kidney failure, but I presume you were already aware of your condition. I will guide you to the afterlife, where your new life awaits you, Father," The Reaper told Paul. Paul stands up and walks away from Death.

  "This can't be real! I was supposed to arrive at the Gates of Heaven! Not this desolate dark void. Where is God? Was my faith misplaced? Did I honestly waste my life believing in a lie? Answer me, Dammit," Paul shouted at the Reaper. Death stood up, never breaking eye contact with Paul.

  "Your faith was not misplaced, Father. Heaven is real, but not the way you imagine it. There is a god, but not in the image you have created. The rules humanity has created, the twelve commandments, are not the same ones your God has made. Lost souls are transported to this realm because it cannot be decided if their souls can enter Heaven or Hell. Your soul exists in the middle. You have sinned more than most humans. You were prejudiced against those who did not follow your faith's rules. You judged but had no right. You sinned but blamed others for their own. You will stand before your God and answer for your sins. It is there you will be judged and decided where your soul will be placed."

  Paul was dazed by the sheer influx of new information. Everything he believed, everything that he preached and studied, was all a lie. He couldn't believe it; A lifetime of faith and devotion was cast away. Paul was left without an answer for the first time in his life. Paul fell to his knees, crying.

  The Reaper reached out his hand. Paul looked up at the Reaper, the sympathetic aura still emanating from him.

  "Deep down, you are a misguided but gentle soul. You did not truly wish to bring harm to others and cared deeply for your community. You will be punished, but God is not a tyrant; Whatever your sentence may be, it will only be worthy of your sins. Take my hand, and I will guide you to the light," Death told Paul. Paul was hesitant for a moment but reluctantly agreed. They both stood up and began to traverse the dark void.

  "No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

- Jeremiah 31:34