Write a short story ending -dealing with destiny- to the following prompt: All around him, lonely crickets are calling for company and in his chest, his heartbeat is slow and steady, even though his mind is working overtime. After a while the same voice speaks again, but more distant, like it’s traveling with the wind now.

‘Come darling one. I’ve been waiting for you.’

Even though I am still convinced that no one is really talking to me, I can’t resist asking the voice a question, although I really don‘t expect an answer.

‘Who are you?’

‘I am your destiny.’

‘You’re my destiny? Do you mean to say…’

This time the only answer I receive is the faint sound of jingling bells.

‘Of course’, I murmured, ‘I can’t be alive anymore. I would’ve never been this brave in real life. But if this is Heaven, why is it so dark and cold?’

All of a sudden, a smoky blue light appears in the distance. Magical and mysterious, it lures me to something I could not yet see, but I could feel in my bones that I‘ve been there before.

‘Jack?’ the voice called.

Warily I answered: ‘Yes?’

‘Come here, Jack.’

Frantically I turn in all directions, searching for the owner of the voice. Could it possibly be an angel?

I really didn’t picture death to feel like this. ‘Where are you?’

‘Come closer, come sit with me.’

Following the sound of the last words spoken, I looked up and saw the silvery blue light emerging from around a willow tree in the distance. It was the most majestic weeping willow I‘d ever seen in my life. Instead of the average 12 meters, this willow was so tall that I couldn’t even see the top from afar. Its lanky branches hung lazily to the ground, covered in leaves of sea foam green.

As I stood with my one hand cupped over my eyes, trying to see more clearly, I heard the sound of tiny bells ringing again, as the branches swung around in the breeze.