Further than Before- Pathway to the Stars

by Matthew Opdyke

  “Fancy you asked,” said Yesha. She answered her questions and shared more heart-to-heart exchanges with Najem, as Najem and Vesha’s many close friends observed and witnessed. Yesha and Vesha continued on until they entered the Virtual Universe. That is when Najem went on her own journey as the members of Pathway in attendance climbed into their biopods and went on their own journeys as well through the Virtual Universe until it was time.

  Once there, after quite some time, and once it was time where she finally could meet Vesha Celeste, and Najem witnessed that face-to-face, she was every bit the charming person she was in real life. This was her. This was her dear friend Vesha Celeste, brought back to life. She had died on the evening of Christmas, and here she was now, two years later, alive, young again, full of verve, and beautiful in every possible way. The funny thing, Vesha too was smitten with her friend, Najem’s, imagery and her own neural expression of a dazzling mermaid.

  Chapter 32: Najem Grace, Section 2

  Once everyone had met and greeted Vesha, after leaving the Virtual Universe she was ready for the real world —trained in every way, in full, and very much a witness to all that had led her to that point in her reality, as surreal as it seemed.

  A day later, Eliza met with Vesha Celeste in her Senatorial Office on Capitol Hill.

  Two days later, Eliza requested a chance to sit with Najem. Both Eliza’s Estate and her Capitol Hill offices had jump gateways back and forth. Najem had jumped home to Triton after spending time with Vesha Celeste for the last two days. Now she was returning to Earth via jump gate. She traveled first to Eliza’s estate using her own jump gateway where her home was orbiting Neptune and once at Eliza’s estate, she then jumped to Eliza’s Senatorial Office. For the sake of spatial area capacity limits, only Eliza could jump from anywhere to her office, everyone else had to coordinate and travel to her estate first.

  Arriving at Capitol Hill, Najem looked at and pondered upon the paintings in Eliza’s office. One was of the Statue of Liberty with its inscription below it, and the other was of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and its inscription below it as well. “What beautiful parallels!” Najem thought. “These paintings do belong together. The message, ‘Bring all your humble, your poor, and downtrodden,’ is sitting right next to an unknown soldier, who gave his all to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today. Imagine that, both of these carry a deep message, and both are lined up one with the other. What a perfect and bittersweet reality.”

  Najem heard Eliza’s office door open, “How are you doing? How is Vesha?” asked Eliza.

  “I am doing amazing. Ever since Vesha came back, we’ve spent a lot of time in the Virtual Universe and have had a couple of walks together through your old neighborhood, from your estate on Garden Street to the breezy beach, and we just can’t get enough of each other. Her personality hasn’t changed too much, but she seems quite a bit less inhibited, which is fairly spectacular. She’s made me blush a few times already, but that is okay,” responded Najem.

  “Her inhibitions are certainly more entertaining, are they not?” Eliza laughed with her, also impressed with the progress Vesha Celeste had shown since her reawakening two days prior. “It’s great to see you, too, Najem. After seeing our dear friend since she was reawakened, how do you feel about life, longevity, and full physiological and neurological optimizations, as well as age reversal now? I know you were leery about it when we last talked.” continued Eliza.

  Najem explained how she still had her reservations or concerns about the idea of living healthy and in a younger version of herself. She also described her affection toward her earned wrinkles, white hair, and her voice. Listening to her, Eliza responded to her fears. Eliza knew her fears revolved around how Najem had been treated when she was twenty-five, in 1950.

  Najem had never been married, she had never had any children, yet she labored diligently to serve humanity in her own way. She had served humanity through her quest to enable an increased understanding of our Universe via service to the US Government helming highly crucial programs related to the study of outer space and preparation and placement of quite a few manmade satellites.

  After some discussion, she confided in Eliza and told her about a time when she had visited a community church with a friend of hers. As she did, her tone became more serious and one of concern. “Many years ago after finishing my doctoral studies in astrophysics, I went to church regularly. I had been friends with another young lady through my collegiate studies and the first year of my professional career and she asked me to accompany her to her church for a shared spiritual event. I thought about it and we both decided that it would be a wonderful idea.

  “Once I arrived at her hometown church, I entered with a cold reception. It became apparent that she had grown up in a location that had unfortunately suffered from so much cultural division for far too long. I had been reared to appreciate people based on how they treated others, but her community had endured some of the worst and most despicable forms of discrimination that had revolved around shallow superstitions and ideals. Her background had been one of pain, of suffering, and of hateful actions by those ignorant or negligent of a better way.

  “During the early days of the US all the way through to the 1860’s, and then in many parts throughout our country until even today, far too many people have suffered from toxic treatment and discrimination based on physical or other features they were born with but had no control over. I appreciated my friend’s culture, as well as the time spent with her. So, together we decided to attend her religious meetings. Unfortunately, not long after I arrived, the preacher asked me to leave. He had seen hatred to its most brutal limits due to the pervasive cults of men that existed at the time which carried on with séances and rituals, and even the worst of brutality in mankind through burnings to teach a vicious lesson that made no sense to anyone of repute. Therefore, and naturally, he did not feel as though the congregation would be comfortable with my attendance there. It was as if he viewed me as a spy with ill intentions, and I felt very much like I ought to leave.

  “I had been of a different mindset then, I was quite a bit more naïve and still very kind, yet I had tried to stand my ground to no avail. My belief had been that I merely wanted to share a religious experience with my friend, yet I hadn’t considered so many of the other ramifications. The preacher chastised me on how my physical features reminded him of pure evil and that I was not wanted there.

  “I explained to him before how it was that many of those who I grew up with and went to school with knew that discrimination that is not based on someone’s character wasn’t right and that I had never been party to any behavior of that sort. The pains must have run deep, however, because he looked as though he wanted to physically and forcibly remove me if necessary as if what I had to say didn’t or wouldn’t matter. It was a tough moment in my life, a moment that replayed in my head. Not so much because of feelings that may have been hurt, but more so because I then understood the sense of rejection that comes from prejudice. I was not judged because of whom I was, but because of whom I was perceived to be, free speech or due process died there.

  “My parents and grandparents had bent over backward to show kindness, dignity, and respect toward anyone and everyone, no matter their background or past, but now despite our history of being inclusive, I felt targeted and excluded. I had the sense that because my parents were honorable, and as much as my behavior and thoughts throughout my life had been, that I ought to have been accepted and appreciated by others of diverse cultures as well. I never had a chance to explain to the priest that I could empathize with what they were going through. I too had been discriminated against in my own life, for merely being a woman interested in science, and I only wished to sit in the congregation with my friend.

  “Clearly, the preacher did not budge, and I left my friend in that congregation, running home in tears with an ache in my throat. Even though I was twenty-five years of age and had earned the valor of obtaining m
y Ph.D. through hard work and dedication, and had always considered everyone a potential friend, my friend’s preacher did not know this and wasn’t in the position to negotiate in front of his audience. Truly, the wounds and sentiments were deep.

  “Later, I learned from my friend, who was torn from this as well, that he had responded, regarding my attendance, to the audience. On that same Sunday, he went into a sermon on how my story would have been born of privilege, and that my background had little to no value in their lives. He had preached that there was no possible way my suffering was in any way near the suffering that many generations of theirs had been through and endured. What they had experienced, and what they continued to go through was devastating, because of heavily integrated and systematic discrimination written into the fabric of US policy, and thus I was also at fault, because of being born the way I was.

  “I remember telling my friend that even though there are many despicable white men and women throughout history, there are also many despicable people of all races throughout the world and throughout the full course of civilization, and that it should never give anyone the sense that it is right to be that way to someone else or to say hurtful things. It isn’t right to say mean-spirited words, casting a wide net of the blame on innocent people no matter the situation. After our discussion, it seemed in that instant that our friendship drifted, and we haven’t talked ever since.

  “How could he have felt at peace with how he handled that situation? No matter whom we are or our background, we need to be decent people. Just as there are people with malevolent intent, there are also many brazen, noble, kind, and compassionate people that see through the ugliness of life and try to improve upon it. There are so many amazing people who had to make heroic sacrifices to help society make the appropriate changes we are blessed with today.

  “Multitudes of people in a rich diversity of cultures have struggled in the past to right the wrongs of others. We can still do so to be a part of humanity’s progression forward. I wish that I had suggested he consider that, before leaving the building. But, the past is in the past. Since then, I had determined for quite some time to focus more on science and less on religion. Although I am Christian and Vesha, my best friend, is Jewish, I am still spiritual, not religious. I hope my perception doesn’t betray me, but it seems to me now that through the years things have changed. James Cooper shared with me that when he had been in Salt Lake City, Utah, many years ago, under contract to build infrastructure there, that he had dated a beautiful young lady of African-American heritage. While dating her, she had invited him to accompany her to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or the Mormon Church. Their bishop and the entire congregation had welcomed his attendance whole-heartedly with handshakes, smiles, and hugs, despite their difference in background. So, that gives me some hope. Perhaps things have changed, but I feel more accepted with my white hair and wrinkled skin.

  “I must have been scarred from my experience so many years ago. I feel that no matter who I become, I would still be this horrible individual because of things I had no control over when I was born. I still love all people, no matter their background, but I realize that there are those that have truly suffered so much more. I get the sense that social, cultural, and religious environments have created within the minds of far too many an unspoken difficulty when differentiating between the content of character versus the color of skin, region, religion, and identity. That day, I went home and prayed to the Lord, but I’ve been scarred ever since.”

  After explaining that to Eliza, Eliza asked, “Do you happen to recall her name? The name of the young lady you attended church services with that day?”

  “Yes. Her name was Bonnie Knight,” Najem responded.

  “Hmm, did you know that her daughter is part of Pathway?”

  “Oh? I did not know that. Without being fully read-in, I suppose there are quite a few intricate details that you might be aware of that I am not. She is here?”

  “Yes, I’ve been in the Virtual Universe many times, and while there, I have noticed that there were certain private areas of your mind that was closed off, and rightly so. But, now that you have shared that with me, I can tell you that her daughter, Rebecca, was reared by Bonnie understanding your story, but from her perspective. What you don’t know is that the following week, Bonnie’s preacher gave a speech regarding the character that you had displayed of moral integrity and how he felt repentant of how he had dealt with you and the situation the week prior.

  “He had stated that any sort of oppression, is a suppression of the spirit, of the mind, of life. As you can see, it can also hamper the intents of the best of men. He knew this and shared that with his audience the following week. Bonnie taught that to Rebecca, and now she is a vital member of Pathway—someone who I am considering for a spot as a Zonal commander for one of the twelve main zones throughout our Observable Universe from Earth, and I would like you to meet her soon. Perhaps I won’t introduce you today, but I will soon when you’re ready.

  “You are very aware of the tribulations of others because you have been through a few trials yourself. I have seen some of the inner workings of your mind on many occasions, in the Virtual Universe, and I know that women, on the whole, went through a lot of abuse and mistreatment in those days. Sadly, in so many places in this world, we know that the same is still the case. My heart goes out to all who have suffered through dismal life, its limitations and mediocrity, no matter where they were born and no matter their natural physical appearance, the place they were born in, their religion, or their identity. I find your story to be about character and suffering on the whole; all of which runs much deeper than the aesthetics we have referenced. Suffering has been an unnecessary and tragic circumstance shared by far too many for far too long and dismissed by many more. While we don't want to generalize, no specific culture or identity holds a monopoly on suffering; there are others who have suffered too.

  “Many are in battles we’ll never know of. So we need to remember temperance, gentleness, and kindness. Yet, still, I find it is easy for our perseverance to wear thin when it comes to negative and critical behavior toward any well-intended individual, especially when the value of someone helpful and powerful, such as yourself, is selfishly stripped away. If someone has walked the roads of misery, it is very important for them to seek a voice, to seek reparations, and to mend the heart, the soul, and the mind, but we can do so by lighting the way for others as a good example of a wonderful person to be. Every individual is valuable with potential that is far too often untold, so don’t let that experience ever take you away from the things you know you need to do. Someday, hopefully not too late, many struggling through the same issues will learn to love and to avoid negative generalizations of mass groups of people. In so many cases, people look for an enemy to place their burdens upon or someone to place the blame on for all of their suffering, and someone to take vindication out on without considering true justice, compassion, and mercy.

  “We can all learn, no matter where life has taken us. We can all become our better selves and find clarity on what it is we can do to bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to humanity and all of humanity’s friends. We are in a much different time now; people can see through any facade, we can tell the difference between moral character and pretense. It is ours to be genuine, to be kind, to be compassionate, to build a legacy and be a part of a legacy worthy of preserving indefinitely. Your choice is yours to make, Najem. But, please know that no matter what you choose, I see that you are a wonderful person, a lovely soul—your Virtual Universe vision of yourself is evidence to that end.

  “Plus, I have seen your thoughts; I have combed your mind many times in the Virtual Universe as our minds have melded on so many occasions, and please let me assure you, you have a true heart of gold. This preacher you talked of, he appears to have had many struggles in his life, much of which was not his doing, and in his own way, he was correct. We all are going through different b
attles. I believe this preacher simply forgot to be kind and gentle—but you were. I am proud of you, Najem. It took him a week, but he too learned and blessed the lives of those in his congregation a week following that day, and then he appeared to be more receptive of people based on the character they exhibited from that point on and through the days that followed.

  “We all learn, whether it is now or sometime down and into the distant future, or sometime in-between. Sometimes it is ours to have temperance, forbearance, and suffer well. It is always worth it in the end.”

  Eliza paused and waited for Najem to respond. “Thank you, Eliza. I needed that. I feel relieved now like I can finally let this go, knowing that with hope, old wounds can finally heal. I suppose you are right, I had compartmentalized this experience in my mind. Now that I have had the opportunity to share this with you, I am grateful for your sage advice, my young and dear friend. I am ready to let this go, allow my mind to heal, and I believe I am ready now to reverse the aging process. Seeing Vesha Celeste also gave me a renewed hope, a new perspective on my sense of having a calling in life. Thank you to you, Eliza, as well as Yesha, James, and everyone at Pathway for being so patient, despite my old rickety self. How long will this process take?”