Long, thick strips of green grass and brightly coloured flowers stretch as far as the eye can reach and beyond. Not a single dry patch can be found in sight.

A lovely melody whistles from the clear blue skies, high above the tall mountains.

The distant sound of mooing cows steers me through the thick green maze to the top of the slope.

My eyes admire this foreign serene place as indescribable peace and joy flows through my body. Every whiff of fresh air that finds its way up my nostrils and into my lungs feels as if it is cleansing my whole body and soul.

As I walk through the high valley, I notice a bright male figure looking over at the grazing beasts with a cane in his hand.

Sudden warmth fills my heart, warmth I have been searching and yearning for since I was eight years old. Warmth that draws me closer and forces me to take risky steps.

I recognise the thick white hair, and then the familiar brown coat. The one I preferred over my grandmother’s many mink blankets.

“Ntate moholo!” I gasp.

“You finally made it,” he beams, exposing most of his missing teeth.

“Where are we Ntate moholo?” The joy in my heart is unexplainable.

“You have been troubling yourself, wondering how I am doing so I came here to show you.” He’s laughs and points past the herd of beasts and over the flowing river.

I look into his eyes, confusion clearly painted on my face.

He laughs and points at the group of people sitting about the large enclosed piece of land across the  river.

“I am reunited with my forefathers. You can stop troubling yourself. I am fine,” he smiles.

Only then does it click… my grandfather died when I was only eight years old. As I grew older I began to wonder how things would have been if he was still with us. I wanted to know if he was warm and not hungry. If there was anything he needed from us to make life bearable for him in the afterlife.

“I want to go with you,” I carelessly blurt out. I know there is more waiting for me in the physical world, but I can’t ignore how my heart feels at peace here.

“No, you can’t!” he warns in panic.

I don’t listen, I never did.

I take a step closer… a few more and I will be with him on the other side.

The next step sends hard raining hailing down on me.

I look around.

Him and his herd of beasts are nowhere to be seen.

Cold hail stones the size of tennis balls begin to fall.

I can’t stay here all alone, ducking and diving from murderous hail stones.

I gasp and jump up from my bed, my clothes soaking wet.

I find my mother’s panicked face hovering over me.

“Are you okay? You scared us,” she says.