However, I was apparently wrong, for the room was not entirely empty, after all.

As I slowly turned, I found that I would catch fleeting glimpses of movement out of the corners of my eyes, but as I came to fully face the spot where the movement seemed to have been, there was nothing there. Yet it kept happening as I continued to turn 'round, the wraithlike glimpses slowly coalescing into vague, transparently human forms. I surprised myself by still feeling no fear at this new and totally unexpected development. The warmth I had felt within me earlier had increased and I was now completely at peace.

At last I stood still and faced one of the blank walls expectantly. A fine mist seemed to hover near the wall and as I watched, it slowly solidified and I smiled, even as tears of happiness edged up and over my lower lashes to spill softly against my cheeks.

Now I knew the reason for my gentle inner peace; for there, smiling back at me in that soft, reassuring way she had always used to banish all of my fears as a child, was my beloved grandmother. She was softly transparent, as I could still see the wall behind where she sat, but it was she, all the same. The how or wherefore of this most welcome sight did not enter my mind at all--it was enough that she was there with me, in my time of need, just as she had always been before.

I started toward her, wanting above all else to embrace her once again, but she held up her hand to stay me. Her lips did not move, but I heard her words as well as if they had been spoken aloud. She asked me not to mourn for her, as she was now at peace, surrounded by friends and it was this new found peace she wanted to share with me.

She explained how she had been aware of my presence in the tomb and of my fear and confusion. With the aid of her new friends, she had guided me to this room so that I might see her once more and have my fears and sorrow put to rest. This day being February 2nd (I had not realized how much time had passed, but it was now after midnight), the spirits celebrated, as they always did on this date and I was to be privileged to witness this annual fete.

Her words, or rather her thoughts and her very presence relieved my mind of much of its uncertainty. I knew that I would now be able to go on with my life without fear and with a glad heart, for her soul was truly at peace. Nodding to her through my tears of happiness, I could see she understood that I was now at peace, as well.