title: The Promise
author: West, Nia
description: There is sand in her ears; stinging her eyes, in her mouth and even in her nostrils. She feels like she has been in the middle of a sandstorm and when her vision eventually clears, she finds herself on a beach and water is lapping at her feet. She struggles to get up and is awarded by the sight of endless ocean before her. She turns around and stares at the palm trees with dismayed. Was she dead? Was this Heaven’s idea of a joke?