Keep on the watch

Neb seemed relieved. He held up the glowing device and the empty wall became transparent. It was as if the wall was an illusion. I could see what appeared to be a town of sorts. There were buildings of glass, metal and stone. The familiarity of the structures was calming. As we went to enter, a wave of people flooded the streets. Welcome back! We love you brother! Welcome home! They cheered and shouted. What on earth could I have done to deserve such a welcome? I asked Neb. In the early days when resurrections happened in groups, there was a night designated for the celebration of new arrivals. There were just too many people on a nearly daily basis for welcomes such as this. As it happens, this Temple hasn't seen a resurrection in quite a while. Your return is special. It could be one of the last. Neb seemed to be slipping back into a mode of optimism. I felt pretty good too. This welcome seemed familiar and familial. Like I w...

This story is dedicated to the Memory of Landis Taylor. A man who told some of the most amazing whoppers you've ever heard. He showed me the importance of having fun and enjoying life, despite being in a cult. The ground. Morning. I think I have a brain, I must if I'm able to question. If I'm able to think. It's dark and I can't move. Every time I try to move I get a little stronger. Each time I try I can hear a little better and see a little better. It's just so dark. Where am I? What happened to the doctors, my wife, my daughter? What happened to me? With a load screech and a crack the lid of the casket breaks apart and flies upward and away along with the dirt and grass. It flew up until it was a pin prick in the blindingly bright sky.  I struggled up to a sitting position and see myself if a suit I've never worn. There is no way. No way! This has to be a dream. I should crawl out of here, but I'm so scared and I can't move. That...

As I stated in Pt. 1, I didn't not write another suicide letter, however suicide never stopped being an option in the back of my mind. It was my get out of jail free card. Additionally, the sentiment my mother expressed in her kind olive branch to my young self also stayed with me. I always felt it was her taking a stand against some of the clearly rigid standards that were being administered in our home, however it didn't last. Dating worldly people was never acceptable in our home and I never actually felt comfortable telling her how I felt about any girl I was interested in. She had saying "the worst Jehovah's witness is better than the best worldly person." This actually wasn't the first time I remember my mother seeing me in distress and trying to have a warm and normal maternal response, however those moments were often fleeting and the default position was solidarity with the watchtower and their hard line stances. Since I've left this cult,...