Betrothed

by Morgan Rice

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  "Daddy, wake up!"

  Caleb slowly opened his eyes. They were so heavy. They had never felt so heavy, and it took all the effort of the world to open them.

  There, standing over his bed, was his son. Jade.

  Jade was smiling down, and filled with light. There was light all around him, and a shining light behind him, and Jade had the most angelic smile on his face.

  "Daddy," he said, "it's time for you to come play with me!" Caleb slowly sat up in bed, every muscle in his body aching, and he reached out his hand, to touch Jade. Jade's hand felt warm, and his smile widened. It felt so good to touch Jade again, to see his son in the flesh. Caleb was overwhelmed with emotion.

  "Jade? I thought you were dead?"

  Jade simply smiled back.

  "It's time for us to be together again," he said.

  Caleb closed his eyes and felt a sense of peace, of comfort. He felt his whole world slowly beginning to drift away, becoming brighter and brighter, slowly enveloped in a white light.

  To see Jade again. Yes. He would like that very much.

  But at the same time, he wasn't quite ready to go. He sensed that somewhere, deep inside, there was something left unresolved. That something was holding him there.

  Caitlin.

  "Come on, Daddy!" Jade urged, tugging on his hand.

  "Soon," Caleb answered, as Jade slowly let go of his hand. "Very, very soon. "