The Door - La puerta
The Door I watch from above as they wheel into the crematorium the coffin in which my body lies. Then twenty tongues of flame begin to caress it. My cells scream, begging for it all to stop. They do not know what is about to happen to them. In a matter of seconds, the temperature rises above a thousand degrees. I see my loved ones outside: some crying, others whispering, and one of them staring into space, trying to guess where I am. Then something extraordinary happens. From each of my cells, another identical cell detaches. Gradually, each one becomes transparent until it disappears from mortal sight, but I can see that they are still alive. They approach me and take their places until they form my new body. A light body, free of every burden. When everything is over, someone places the ashes in an urn and hands it to my relatives. Wailing and emptiness. A door appears, and beyond it I can see a brilliant light. I don't know what to do. I feel myself drawn toward it, while faint,...