Enchanted Simba's Winter Wonderland

The most magical time of the year has come and passed once again and tomorrow is the last day of 2024. Can you believe that? Let me take a deep breath and think about that for a second.

Where does the time always go?

For those of you who don't celebrate Christmas and you are not fussed about the New Year's Eve, and are on top of that stuck in cold contries such as the UK, I don'tenvy you there. We pretty much still have months of cold, rain and grey to go!

But let us go back to winter. It is magical, it is great (if only it was with snow but we can imagine. Come on we have great imagination!)But what if I told you that those who are no longer with us are also having a magical, winter wonderland?

It was a winter wonderland in the clouds. The snowflakes, each unique in shape and size, gracefully choreographed a charming dance in the sky as they slowly fell to the ground, forming a soft carpet. It was a mesmerising spectacle and the atmosphere was filled with overwhelming sense of joy as all creatures cheered in blissful happiness. Simba has never seen anything so beautiful and ever so peaceful before.

He approached the freshly formed snow with caution. It was a little cold but ever so delightful on his white paws. A snowflake gently landed on his pink nose and it seemed to greet him with a cheerful wave. He shook his head with a soft meow and stood there a few moments observing the other creatures frolicking in the snow. In this captivating realm in the clouds, harmony prevailed amongst all.

Suddenly, his attention was captured by a familiar silver cat and his eyes widened.

'Dastin?' Simba called out.

The silver cat turned around, his golden honey eyes filled with recognition as he greeted Simba with a heartfelt smile. 'Simba! It is so wonderful to see you, my dear friend. It's been quite some time but I knew your arrival to join us here, is close. I hope you have taken care of our human family well?'

Simba's heart swelled with joy as he was once again reunited with his old guardian and friend. Dastin's silver fur glistened under the soft glow of the snowflakes and his eyes sparkled with warmth and familiarity. Simba's soul was filled with a sense of nostalgia and he approached Dastin. With a gentle purr, Simba replied, 'Dastin, my dear guardian! I am truly happy to see you. I have missed you terribly. And yes, I had looked after them as I have promised you. They are safe and often speak about you with fondness.'

Dastin's whiskers twitched with delight as he listened to Simba. He has always believed that Simba was a loyal and responsible companion.

The cats have shared countless adventures together and Dastin has taught Simba countless lessons until his departure to the realms within the clouds. Simba was a tender age of two when that happened.

'Dastin, can I ask you a question?' Simba asked suddenly.

'Yes of course, Simba.'

Simba then expressed his dire struggle with ignoring the grief and cries coming from their family, who still remained on Earth.

Dastin, paused for a moment until he spoke. 'I want to show you something, if that's okay, before I can address your struggles.'

Intrigued, Simba nodded, and together they leaped through the dense, glistening snow until they arrived at a forest adorned with charming, picturesque wooden cottages.

Dastin jumped on the windowsill of one of the cottages and Simba followed. Inside, three human souls sat next to a grand stone fireplace, mesmerised by the dancing flames. Occasionally, they exchanged a few words with each other.

'The realm in the clouds is different from the realm of the living back on Earth. Here, possibilities are endless and time flows differently. You can do anything you were not able to when you were alive. Just like this family. The parents were reunited with their son, exactly seven living years ago and since then, they have been making up for all the missed opportunities.

'The son will stay with his parents until it is time to meet his wife, his children, his grandchildren. All living beings will eventually follow.'

Simba listened intently as he watched the son more intently and suddenly recognised him. He used to be part of his family. A father of the household until he departed to the realm in the clouds.

"So, you see, Simba, grief will settle, our family will continue living until it is time to join us in this realm in the clouds."

Dastin jumped off from the windowsill and Simba followed him. He followed him just like once upon a time, when he was still a kitten. As they continued to converse while walking through the endless snow, the snowflakes continued their enchanting dance, creating a magical ambience around them. Simba could not help but feel a sense of gratitude for this reunion, for, the winter wonderland in the realm of the clouds, bought them together once more.

And so, Simba's soul thrived in the realms in the clouds, where never ending happiness existed. There was no grief in this realm, no illness and no pain. Just games, friends and laughter, existed in this realm in the clouds.

---

It was a year ago when I lost my best friend, Simba and from the deepest grief, this short story was born. Because in my mind, this angel of a creature, deserved the best happy-ending. I will, until the day I die and hopefully even beyond, believe that all dead creatures get to have their happy afterlife, humans and animals alike.

Because, isn't it a bit presumptuous to believe in God and afterlife and Angels and all that it comes with, yet also believe that animals do not deserve the same afterlife that humans do?