I hope Jenn C is happy with this “sequel”,,,
I read her story and simply had to write this. Just a short jotting and, well it is Christmas, I'm sure others could do better...

With a deep breath, Imelda stepped out into the void, the lights of the city before her twinkled coldly. She had tried, heavens she had tried so very hard to fit in but why couldn’t the world accept her as who she is. The wind rushed past her ears, her dress billowing in the draft…the ground rushed towards her… and she stopped. Suspended in mid-air.. was this it? She looked about but there was no light to move towards, just a short rather portly middle aged man wearing a dark suit and overcoat with a battered old Homburg hat balanced on his head.

“Ah, there you are Imelda. Look I’m sorry about the rush I was supposed to meet you before you… well before…” He looked rather sheepish as he pursed his lips “before you made a terrible mistake Imelda.”

“I don’t think it was a mistake, you don’t know what my life has been like. Incidentally, you are you?” Oddly Imelda didn’t see anything strange in the conversation supposing a near death experience tended to cover strange conversations anyway.

“Near death experience? About 18 inches Imelda. Now…” he looked intently at her, muttered a little and pointing at a group of dustbins… Snapping his fingers, the bins were squashed flat and Imelda stepped lightly to earth as gently as if she stepped off her doorstep.

“Now, I am sure you have a number of questions Imelda and all of them will be answered in time.”

“How do you know my other name? Who are you? What do you want?”

“All in good time Imelda, suffice it to say I will show you why this course is not the one for you. You are a truly special individual and a loving mother, your children need you more than ever Imelda, it is not in your nature to turn your back on those you love. But your true name is Imelda, the shadow life you lived before was the lie”

“I don’t understand, my wife threw me out, my children must hate me and I have nothing left to live for.”

“Really? Let’s look at your life then… Unhappily married and your partner never truly reciprocated the love you gave. Two children from your first marriage, Juan and Maria, lovely children with a glittering future. Look, Imelda I think the best thing is for you to see how the world would be without you. Your friend Boo is quite inconsolable and you have many friends who care about you. Now let’s look at your two children without you, I’m sorry, this may be uncomfortable…”

Imelda found herself drawn with the man towards a grey mist as they passed through…

In a haze she saw her home and her husband (what I thought I was the husband) shouting at her children, posturing and threatening them. Demeaning them and reducing their self respect and feelings of worth.

“I’m sorry Imelda, without you to protect them your husband while he did not physically abuse them he did abuse them emotionally. Time to see more, be brave Imelda remember this is only what happened because you were not there.”

The mist closed again and they reappeared with her son Juan. He was dressed in ragged dirty clothing scraping a living doing odd jobs on the fringe of society. “Imelda, Juan and Maria were thrown out of the home by your husband the day they turned 16. Things have been tough for them without their mother and they miss you intensely.”

“What about Maria? Is she OK? Please I have to know.”

“If you wish but be strong Imelda, remember this is what should happen if you are not there to cherish them.”

He made a gesture and they stood in a motel room, cheap furniture scattered about, clothes and other less domestic sights, in particular small bags of white powder…

“No! What happened?”

“Without you to guide her, when your husband threw them out they were destitute, unfortunately Maria fell into the wrong company and will die young. Life for such people is nasty, tough and short. Now about your third son, Charles…”

“What? I don’t have a child named Charles.”

“Your son from your second husband. After your first husband left you remarried. Happily I’m glad to say, but let us see the final result of you giving up on life now…”

Rather than pass through the mists, the man gestured and a newspaper appeared. The headline read “Terrorist Outrage — Hundreds Dead”.

“Without Charles to protect them, this will happen. They died because he never existed. Now let’s stop looking at the nasty and look at some of the wonderful things in your future.”

The mists cleared but this time formed a mirror like image on the wall. Imelda saw her son, the child who loved his science toys smiling at his parents as he graduated and she knew he had a research post at NASA. Imelda’s heart swelled with pride.

“What about Maria?”

She saw her beautiful Maria receive her Law Degree and start her career as a legal advocate for those less fortunate than herself. She was tipped to join the District Attorney where her reputation for tempering the needs of justice with mercy and understanding was already attracting attention. Imelda still had trouble with this though…

“Look, my wife hates me….”

“Well it’s true that your husband will be leaving you soon and you will be building a new life with your children”

“No I mean I’m not a woman…”

He looked wryly at her, “really? How many gentlemen do you know called “Imelda”?”

“But…”

He smiled a little and raised an eyebrow…

Imelda felt a tingle across her body.

“I was sent to help a woman called Imelda rebuild her life and prevent a mistake. Your name is Imelda and your two children are Juan and Maria?” He looked confused, even concerned.

“Well yes but I’m not really…” Imelda looked at her hands, delicate tanned flesh and coral pink nails delicately manicured…

“Good, I’ve got the right one, You wouldn’t believe the problems I’ve had in the past but after helping good old George Bailey my Bosses have allowed me a little leeway. Now I’m sorry about your husband abandoning you but I guarantee you will meet a truly wonderful man and don’t forget to call your son Charles!”

They were stood at the door to Imelda’s home, “Ready to go back to your life Imelda? Oh, your children cannot see me but I will be keeping an eye on you for a while.”

“But who are you?”

“My name is Clarence and it is up to you now Imelda to have a wonderful life. Remember sometimes the answer to a prayer is YES!”

The door opened as two children ran into their mother’s arms, yelling with joy that their mother was home.