We had another early start.

“Up and at ‘em,” Angelo said, as he rushed me out the door.

“But I haven’t eaten yet and I’m hungry.”

“We’ll get something on the way, but time is against us. The hotel receptionist said the church is closing for restoration work so if you want to see it, we must hurry.”

“Yes, okay,” I replied, feeling a touch moody.

Angelo was right. I did want to see the Church, so my stomach would have to wait.

Half an hour later, and with a bagel in hand, we stood outside the Sankt Nikolai kyrka, otherwise known as the Church of St. Nicholas.

It is the oldest church in the town of Gamla stan, located in central Stockholm.

I didn’t want to go in while I was eating this rather poor excuse for breakfast so shovelled the rest of the bagel in my mouth, chewing ferociously. Not very ladylike I have to admit, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

We walked inside the magnificent building and immediately, I realised why I rarely stepped foot inside churches. They had always given me the creeps, but moments later, I felt oddly at peace, feeling I was where I was meant to be.

“This is absolutely beautiful,” I exclaimed, trying to stave off the tears.

It was a tranquil place, and for the first time in my life, I felt close to God.

Angelo was in a sombre mood, and quieter than I’d ever seen him.

“You’re quiet,” I said to him.

He nodded, and I could tell how much respect he had for his surroundings.

We walked hand in hand down the aisle and I imagined it was our wedding day.

A beautiful golden-haired woman smiled as I walked past. There was something about her, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.

I returned her smile, noticing another young woman in the pew a few rows down. She too had golden hair. My eyes danced about the church and I was unnerved to notice other golden-haired people occupying various pews. They all sat alone, heads bowed, hands in prayer.

“Angelo, look,” I said, but he silenced me with a finger to his lips. Something feels wrong.

I looked around again, and this time, the golden-haired people were gone.

How is that even possible? They were here moments ago, and now, the place was empty.

Am I losing my mind?

Angelo turned to look at me, but there was something off about his demeanour, that had me on edge. He seemed agitated.

We reached the altar, and above us, a statue of Jesus on the cross dominated the archway.

Angelo bowed his head and whispered, but I couldn’t catch what he was saying. It almost sounded like he was speaking a foreign language.

“What are you saying?” I whispered.

“Only my prayers,” he answered.

“I want to go back to the hotel,” I said. “I don’t feel very well.”

“Forgive me my trespasses,” he said.

I was scared for the first time since we’d met.

Then, I noticed tears rolling down his cheeks.

“Why are you crying?” I asked him, still scared, but confused.

“Because it’s time for you to go, and I’ll miss you more than I can ever tell you.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I replied. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s your time.”

“Where am I going?”

“It’s time for you to go home, Ella.”

“But why? We’ve still got a few more days left.”

“I’m sorry.” He looked up to the ceiling, then held his head in his hands and sobbed.

I touched his hands. “You’re really scaring me, Angelo.”

He looked at me, face full of anguish. “It’s never been my intention to scare you, but we’re out of time and I need to tell you the whole truth.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Our meeting at the riverside was no accident.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I was sent to bring you home.” Confusion was making my head spin.

“We can go home together, Angelo.”

“Listen to me, please, Ella.”

“You’re talking rubbish. I don’t understand any of this.”

“Yes, you do, but you won’t admit it to yourself.”

“There’s nothing to admit.”

“I’ve wanted to tell you for days, but hoped you’d come to the realisation yourself.”

I scrutinised his face. He believed what he was saying.

“There’s nothing for me to realise.”

“Yes. There is,” he said.

“Tell me then.” I was waiting for him to laugh, say it was just a joke, even if I didn’t find it funny.”

“Your will remains strong, even if your body is failing you.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Angelo?” I said, relieved the beautiful church was now empty.

“You’re dying, Ella.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I’ve never felt better in my life.”

His eyes locked onto mine. “This is the journey everybody must make, and your life here on Earth is at an end.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Perhaps I am, but I want you to know, you’ll go on to a better place.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere.” My voice rose several octaves higher. I placed my hand on my stomach and gasped, feeling the air being drawn from my body. Staggering forward, Angelo caught hold of me. “Oh, no.” The excruciating pain had returned full throttle.

“It’s your body’s way of telling you to stop fighting.”

“Why are you saying these things to me?”

“Because it’s my duty.”

“Duty? Is that all? I love you, Angelo.”

“And I love you too, but this is the way it was always meant to be.” He tenderly stroked my face. “It’ll be much easier if you stop fighting and surrender to what must be.”

Bright light poured into the church and suddenly, I felt calmer than I had in weeks. Any anxiety I felt now washed away. I wasn’t scared anymore, and somehow, I knew Angelo was telling me the truth.

“But my parents, my sister, what will I tell them?”

“They already know.”

“How?” I couldn’t comprehend the magnitude of what he was telling me. “I haven’t spoken to them for a couple of weeks now.”

“The day we met by the River Dee–you collapsed on the riverbank and never regained consciousness. Your family have been at your bedside ever since. The doctors couldn’t do anything for you–the cancer was too advanced.”

“Cancer?” Even saying the word sent shivers down my spine.

“Yes,” Angelo replied.

“But I only had Peritonitis, not cancer.”

“No, my love…” He choked back a sob, unable to continue.

“You’re telling me the truth, aren’t you?”

He nodded, then looked around.

“This church, and everything we see is real, and while we can see it, nobody can see us.”

“How is that possible?”

“Your soul is still bound to your body, still Earthbound, but it’s roaming, preparing for its final journey.”

“It feels so real to me.”

“That’s because it is. Everything else, your mind has conjured to ease your transition.”