Under_The_Whispering_Door_by_TJ_Klune

Apollo licked his fingers.
Hugo rose from his crouch. He moved until he stood in front of his
grandfather. Wallace thought he’d hesitate, if only for a moment. He didn’t.
He raised his hand toward Nelson’s chest, and the moment his fingers closed
around the hook only he and Nelson could see, Nelson said, “Hugo?”
Hugo looked at him.
Nelson said, “I’ll be seeing you, okay?”
Hugo grinned brilliantly. “Damn right you will.” And then he pulled the
hook free. He turned and did the same to Apollo, the dog yipping once.
Hugo stood upright, taking a deep breath as he raised his hand above his
head toward the doorknob. His fingers covered the leaf, and with a twist of
his wrist, the door opened.
White light spilled out, the song of life and death like a symphony.
“Oh,” Nelson said, voice hushed in reverence. “I never … I never
thought … All this light. All these colors. I think … yes. Yes, I hear you. I see
you, oh my god, I see you.” He laughed wildly as his feet left the floor,
Apollo looking comically surprised as his did the same. “Hugo!” Nelson
cried. “Hugo, it’s real. All of it is real. It’s life. It’s life.”
Blinking against the blinding light, Wallace saw the outline of Nelson and
Apollo as they rose through the air. Apollo looked around, tongue hanging
out. It almost looked as if he were grinning.
And then they both crossed through the doorway.
Before the door closed, Wallace heard Nelson’s voice one last time as
Apollo barked happily.
He said, “I’m home.”
The door slammed shut.
The light faded.
Nelson and Apollo were gone.
Silence settled like a blanket over the fourth floor of the tea shop.
“What do you think he saw?” Mei finally asked as she wiped her eyes.
Hugo stared up at the door. Though his face was wet, he smiled. “I don’t
know. And isn’t that the point? We don’t know until it’s our time. Can you
give me a moment? I want … I’ll be down shortly.”
Wallace touched the back of his hand before following Mei down the
stairs. He thought he heard Hugo speaking quietly, almost like a prayer.