I finished, "Five People You Meet in Heaven"

She yelled at him to turn down the radio. She cooked enough food for two. She fluffed pillows on both sides of the bed, even though only one side had been slept in.

This is how grief affected Eddie's mother after his father passed away. After Eddie dies due to accident at an amusement part where he used to work as Head of maintenance while trying to save 5 year old girl. A light flashes, and he finds himself standing in the same park, knowing nothing. Did he saved that girl? Did he pushed out of the spot? Or did she died too when that free fall fell on them?

Knowing nothing of all this, standing there alone. The park looked old to him, same as when he was a child. An 80 year old park and the first person was waiting for him ever since. Since time is a mere perception here, it really doesn't exist. The blue man tells him how Eddie's life had affected his own, to the extent that the blue man died because of him. Not that he killed him, but leave it—you'll get to know eventually if you read the book.

The blue man made him realize, knowingly or unknowingly, how tiny little actions of ours affect our surroundings. Not necessarily what our intentions are, but they can have a huge impact on others. That's how we lose people, sometimes ourselves too.

Further, he met his commanding officer (Eddie served in the army during the Philippines' war), and an old lady, whom he met for the first time in heaven itself. They had a connection. What? That I don't want to spoil. They both had played an integral part in Eddie's life. Captain reminds him of sacrifices and the old lady of regrets, and how not to hold them back for long. The war was a dark patch for Eddie, he did great, he survived, but at what cost? Was it for others because of which he survived? For more than 60 years Eddie lived with this.

And as Captain disappeared, it was all off from Eddie's chest.

When he was with the old lady, he met the spirit of his father. Eddie yelled, shouted at the top of his lungs. But no, his father didn't respond. Even when he was around, they never really talked. As a child, he always looked up to his father, always trying to impress him. Time passed, and adulthood struck. Eddie went to war, and when he came back with a bullet stuck in his leg, it left permanent damage. During that time, his drunk father confronted him, telling him not to rest, to get up and take a job. He raised his hand on him, and it was the first time Eddie resisted. That took his father by shock; they never talked after that until he died.

Seeing his father in heaven brought all that regret back. Imagine you're dead and still regretting! That's how bad having a regret is. But the old lady was there to console him, telling him that now, it's all a matter of the past. There is nothing we can do about it. Just as our actions hurt ourselves or our people, in the same way, they can heal everything. What effort do we need to make? Being humble is the only best way.

It starts snowing and the Old Lady disappears from his sight.

Eddie loved his wife the most. For 3 years, she waited while he was at war, when coming back alive was uncertain. At 83, Eddie was alone—his mother, his father, his older brother Joe, his buddy Noel—everyone was gone. His wife was 47 when she died; they never had children. It was just the two of them and their little world. If it were not for her, Eddie wouldn't do a thing. For Marguerite, Eddie was the only child she had to take care of. She was the happiest when it came to Eddie's birthday, with 37 candles on the cake and a bunch of kids around. She clicked the only photograph that was left in the cupboard of him when he died.

Eddie couldn't believe his eyes when he saw her. She looked the same as the day they got married. He was shivering when she approached him. She said nothing but smiled. He put his hand on her waist and rested his face on her shoulder.

Even though time didn’t exist, Eddie wanted it to freeze. He whispered the same to her. But it was something that was not in his hands. He didn't want to let her go, but it was the same reason she was there as the 4th person—to tell him that life ends, love doesn't. When you take care of things, they last; even after time, they exist for eternity.

I know, I wrote this too long, but it has been quite a while since a simple 110-page book has moved me this much. In just a few pages, it manages to create a world, build the characters, and tell you a profound tale of an 83-year-old man.

Whom does he meet in the end? I recommend you read it and find out for yourself.

See you on next Tuesday!