Steffan & the Unicorn - Inspirational short story

  Elissa Al-Chokhachy’s latest project invites ordinary people to contribute heartwarming personal stories which affirm that life goes on …. even after death. So often people view death as final and the end of life as we know it. Yet Elissa has discovered that a remarkable number of people routinely have experiences of their loved ones after they have died. Some of these happenings occur in the form of signs or answers to prayers letting the individual know their loved one is fine. Others may come in the form of dreams with messages and/or very deep emotions, or perhaps in the form of a sensory experience of hearing, sight, smell or touch. Steffan & the Unicorn is an example of one submission.
   If you have a Story of Hope to share, please email to stories@worksofhope.org. Our staff will provide editorial assistance and support to help you write your story & make it a tribute to your loved one.

Steffan & the Unicorn

   When I was two years old, my parents got divorced. My brother Evan and I lived with our aunt, uncle and six cousins in Knoxville, Tennessee, for almost nine years. We were very close to our cousins, and considered them brothers and sisters.
   When I was twenty-three years old, my eldest cousin Steffan was killed in a rear-end auto collision at the age of twenty-nine. Fortunately his pregnant wife and two young sons survived the crash. Needless to say, it was an extremely difficult time for all.
About two to three weeks after Steffan's death, I had the most extraordinary dream of my life. It is still as vivid in my mind today as it was at that time. It began in the woods, very much like the ones we played in during our childhood. In all directions the leaves on the trees were brilliant green. Every color was accentuated beyond anything I've ever seen.
   I was standing alone in the woods when a beautiful stark-white unicorn ran past me from right to left. I couldn't believe it! I remember thinking to myself that unicorns weren't real. But then I thought...they must be...since one just ran by. So I took off in pursuit through the forest and down a winding dirt road.
   The unicorn was moving at a faster pace than I could run. The distance between us widened. Eventually we came to a large open field, just like the one next to the house in which we had grown up. By now the unicorn was on the other side of the field and had completely disappeared from sight.
   As I looked across the field, I noticed a solitary male figure standing at the far right end. To my total amazement, there stood my cousin! I couldn't believe my eyes! My cousin Steffan was alive! Three weeks ago I had attended his wake. Overjoyed, I tore across the field as fast as my legs could carry me. Tears of joy streamed from my eyes as I hugged him. I didn't want to let him go. "Steffan, you're alive! You're alive!" I bawled. " I'm so happy you're alive!"
   Steffan laughed and laughed and continued to hug me with so much love! What a glorious moment! I was in ecstasy! Suddenly I let go of him. I had remembered that 95% of Steffan's body was burned in the accident. The only part of his body left unblemished was his face. I was horrified to think that I had forgotten. "Steffan, I'm so sorry," I cried in shame. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just so happy to see you that I forgot."
   My cousin, who was six feet two inches tall, lovingly looked down into my eyes, ever so calmly and gently. He had an enormous smile on his face, and radiated an indescribable inner peace. "It's okay, Elissa," he said reassuringly. "You don't have to worry. I don't hurt anymore."
   I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Thank goodness I hadn't hurt him! But even more incredible to me was the fact that his pain was entirely gone. It was almost too good to be true. Then, as I looked at his face, I noticed there was something different. He wasn't wearing glasses as he had always done. "Steffan, where are your glasses?" I asked curiously. He grinned at me and said, "Elissa, I don't need glasses anymore. I can see!"
All of this was almost too much to comprehend! Not only was my cousin alive, he also had perfect vision and was totally healed. And he was more peaceful and happy than ever! This was surely a Kodak moment, if ever there was one. I felt myself intensely wanting to remember it forever. Instantly a camera appeared in my left hand. "Steffan, can I please take your picture?" I pleaded. "I want to remember this moment for all of eternity!" He laughed but humored me. Stepping back, Steffan smiled as I focused the camera. When I pressed the button to take the picture, the dream ended.
What I didn't know at the time was that I would vividly recall the dream. Kodak paper could never have captured the emotional or spiritual significance of that experience. At the time I was still very much in grief over this tremendous loss. What I shared with Steffan that night changed my life. No longer did I fear death for I knew with certainty that life was eternal. Steffan gave me a lasting sense of hope and inner peace that I carry with me to this day.
   I believe that my cousin, as well as all our loved ones who have come and gone before us, are alive and well and that they are filled with God's deep, abiding peace and love. If we were able to hear them speak, I feel in my heart they would say, "My dear ones, I love you very, very much! Yes, I am alive! I am happy! And I am at peace. What a joy it was to know and love you. What a joy it is to love you still!"

E.A.A