Jake’s Choice. July 2008. Harry Bennett.

Blackness seemed to be everywhere. Then, he realized, not quite everywhere. Way, way off to his right, there was a small white dot of…. What? It looked like a light. He decided to find out. But that wasn’t his first thought. Oh no. His first thought had been: Where am I and what am I doing here? The second thought rushed in behind the first. How did I get here? He began to walk towards the dot but felt hindered by thick mud-like stuff that sucked at his feet.
He was a nice looking man. Mid thirties, tall, curly blonde hair, honest and intelligent dark eyes, well proportioned without being muscular. So why was he struggling through the muck to get to the light? He didn’t know. In fact, he didn’t know anything except that something was important. He had to get somewhere. Do something. And the dot was where he should be.
He scratched his chest, than felt himself all over. He was naked! How could that be? But somehow, it wasn’t important. Right now, getting to that dot was everything.
‘Do you need any help, Jake?’
The female voice tinkled like a crystal bell used by women to summon their maids, but this voice not demanding. It was warm, friendly and girlishly mischievous.
‘What? Where did you spring from? Is Jake my name? Who are you?’
The bell tinkled again. ‘You look very nice without clothes, but that’s not why I’m here. Yes, your name is Jake…’
‘I can’t stop.’ Interrupted Jake. ‘I’ve got to move on because there’s something very important that I have to do, but… Um. You don’t happen to know what it is I have to do, do you?’
‘Come. I’ll walk with you,’ said the bell. Into his view appeared a beautiful dark-haired girl dressed in a simple oatmeal-coloured smock.
They walked side by side in silence. The sticky, mud-like stuff had mysteriously disappeared. For Jake it didn’t seem at all strange to be walking beside this young beauty whilst stark naked. And it seemed to be an everyday occurrence to her.
How long they walked, Jake didn’t know. It could have been five seconds, five minutes, five hours or five years. He didn’t know, or care. It seemed to be the right thing to do.
‘We’re here.’ Tinkled the girl.
‘Where?’ Asked Jake.
Suddenly a wall appeared which burst into colour. Startled by the brightness, it took Jake a few moments to realize what he was looking at. A kind of television screen showing a burger-bar birthday party. There were balloons, toys, food, drinks, the clown and lots of laughing children. One little boy, with the help of the clown, blew out seven candles on a big cake. It was so familiar… Ah! He knew what it was.
‘That’s me!’ Shouted Jake above the noise. ‘My birthday party when I was seven. I remember it! He laughed delightedly as the memories of that day flooded into his conscious mind. ‘How did you do that?’
The girl just smiled.
The picture changed. A spotty boy stood on a stage saying, ‘L-E-P-I-D-O-P-T-E-R-A. Lepidoptera. It means butterflies and moths.’
‘That’s me again!’ Exclaimed Jake. ‘The television spelling contest. I came third. My parents were very proud of me. They treated me to ice cream and cakes.’
More and more memories were shown. Passing exams. First kiss. Teenage rebellion. College. University. Saving a boy from downing in the sea – then, Sally. Beautiful, intelligent, compassionate and understanding Sally.
‘Oh. Sally,’ murmured Jake. ‘How could I have forgotten you?’
Turning to the girl, he said, ‘Sally was my dream come true. The woman I had hungered for and fantasized about since puberty. And from all of the men that danced attendance upon her, she chose me to be her husband. I love her with all of my heart.’
Two happy children, both with curly blonde hair and dark eyes, filled the screen.
‘Mary and Mark,’ cried Jake, his eyes awash with tears. ‘My children with Sally. I am ashamed of myself for not remembering them.’
The screen suddenly changed, giving off a sense of foreboding and menace.
‘Jake, can you remember how you got here?’ Asked the girl.
‘No.’
‘Look.’
The scene was Charing Cross Railway Station. ‘Yes!’ Exclaimed Jake. ‘I remember. It was a family outing to London. Treating the kids to their first Pantomime. We were on our way home when the crazy man with the meat cleaver threatened Sally. I stood in front of her and took the blow to my head. So I’m dead. Where am I now? Why am I here? I love my memories, but that’s all they are now. Memories. No more Sally. Or Mary. Or Mark. How will they manage without me? How will I cope without them?’
He hung his head and cried.
‘You’re a good man Jake,’ said the girl. ‘In your lifetime you saved two lives - the boy in the sea, and Sally. That is why you are being given a choice. Now. Here. Right away.’
‘What choice?’ Sobbed Jake.
Two passages suddenly appeared; one to the left; one to the right.
The girl pointed with her left arm. ‘Down that way lies eternal peace and happiness. No pain. No distress. No illness. Just perfect bliss for ever more.’
She pointed with her right arm. ‘This way leads to pain, suffering and much surgery before an almost full recovery. It will also take you back to Sally and your children… CHOOSE! NOW!’

On the station platform, the paramedic cried, ‘We have a pulse!’

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