Stairway to Heaven: Château Saint-Pierre, 2005 – 2023
Jean-Baptiste awoke slowly, becoming gradually aware as he did so that things felt… well… different.
He expected to feel the softness of his white linen sheets beneath his cheek, and the warm cocoon of woollen blankets pulled around his body, but he immediately sensed that neither were there. He felt absolutely nothing, as if he were floating on a cushion, one of no greater substance than a cloud.
In the instant of no return, as he left the arms of Morpheus, his eyes flashed open.
Jean-Baptiste immediately realised he was indeed lying on a cloud.
As he struggled to comprehend this unexpected turn of events, Jean-Baptiste also realised his little cloud was slowly rising, lifting him with it. As he glided higher and higher, he ascended through a vast and silent expanse of pale blue, illuminated by great shafts of golden light. Upwards he rose, until in the distance he espied a great marble staircase that travelled up as far as his eyes could see, the flight of stairs narrowing down to an impossibly thin white line as it approached a distant vanishing point. As his cloud neared the foot of the staircase Jean-Baptiste felt compelled to act; he placed his left foot on the first step, followed by his right. And then, without any sense of weariness, he began to climb.
After climbing for an age, Jean-Baptiste spotted other staircases, and on them other distant figures who, like him, were slowly making the ascent into the heavenly unknown. Ever so gradually the stairways converged, coming together in a great chamber of light.
At the far side stood Saint Peter, robed in white and gold. He waited beside immense pearlescent gates that shimmered in the light, and within his right hand he held a great ring of golden keys. As he gestured towards the gates, they swung open without a sound, and he beckoned the Frenchman in.
There was no doubt. Jean-Baptiste knew he must accept it. He was dead. And now here he was at the gates of Saint Peter.
“Welcome to Heaven,” intoned Saint Peter. “My dear Jean-Baptiste, you are welcome here.”
