I awoke to find myself in a beautiful meadow. Questions, of how I came to be there and where I was, were muted by the serenity that washed over me. The sun shone down as it never had before. It created brilliant miniature rainbows on the dew droplets that were sprinkled on the flowers and grass. The perfumes of hundreds of flowers teased and tantalized my nose as they floated along on the gentle breeze. Everything looked so brilliant, so alive, that it was surreal.

   As my gaze scanned farther along the horizon, I could see no other significant signs of life. It was like I was in a beautiful void. The questions that had recessed to the back of my mind started to creep forward again. Where was I? I had no answer for that one. This place was totally unfamiliar to me. I couldn't recall being anywhere like it, or even seeing it in a photo or book. How did I come to be here, was another one that was baffling me. I had no memories of where I was before to draw any conclusions from. My memories started from the moment I found myself in this place. The past was wiped clean; like a chalk board after the lessons learned. Funny, I should have been terrified sitting in a meadow in the middle of nowhere with nothing else in site, but I was calm. Somehow I knew nothing would happen to me. I was safe and protected.

   I know not how long I sat in that field, time had no meaning. I do know I would have been content to sit there forever, watching the wild flowers and grasses grow and sway softly in the breeze, breathing in the delicate perfumes from the flowers as they floated along; merely existing.

   Then all of a sudden I was ripped away from the peace. I felt my essence being literally picked up and shoved down a dark tunnel. As I descended down this shaft, I picked up speed until I was slammed back into my body. My other memories came back to me at that moment; and I realized where I was.

   I was in the hospital, the pain ripping through my nerves was unbearable. Doctors and nurses were rushing around my bed valiantly trying to keep me alive. I didn't want to be here, I wanted to go back to the meadow. I wanted the peace and calm, not the pain and confusion. Then the images of my husband and children filled my mind, and I knew I was where I was meant to be.