It hit him like a bullet. This idea of living forever. Somehow cheating death. To do the impossible.

Christ rose on the third day, he said. Came back to life. Stone was pushed aside. I think I can escape that, he told the monk. I believe I can just go on living, he slurped his coffee.

No one stays on this earth forever, the monk said. And why would you want to? Things are just going to get worse, he smiled. Think about it. Do you really want to be around when it all falls apart? The man looked at the brother.

Yes. Yes, I do, he said. I want to see it all. Big ball of destruction coming our way. Yes. I want to see God’s wrath.

Oh, you’ll see it. But you have to move on to the next part of life, he told him. Death is a part of life.

I see. We never really die. Do we? The priest shook his head. We just move along, brother nodded yes. Do you believe there’s a Hell?

I do.

I was afraid you’d say that.