I gulped my final breath and floated into fluorescence.

Wondering into blinding light, I considered the irony.

I spent my entire career trying to avoid fluorescent light, which is an ugly corporate seal only to be engulfed in blinding light for all eternity.

God is so…merciful.

“WELCOME TO ARIA,” said a soft voice overhead, “a sanctuary where you can release your consciousness and elevate your soul to a new, higher potential.

At those words, I instinctually try to close my eyes, but my eyelids are gone.

I’ll never be able to close my eyes again.