Golden Hour (ePub)

Judith's Story

The story begins in the University of Wisconsin Hospital Emergency Room on a stormy November evening as doctors and nurses struggle to save Judith Von Trier's life. Twenty minutes earlier Judith had crashed across the center line into oncoming headlights. Critically injured, under the brilliant operating lamp, Judith lifts and floats near the ceiling of the trauma room, looking down at herself in the scene below. Defibrillator paddles slapped in place jolt her like a blast of lightning sending her into an oppressive black void. In that moment, she realizes she is in "The Tunnel" looking to the far-off white light at the end of it. A small object begins to materialize out of the light and draws closer. Moments later, a newborn infant girl drops into her arms. Judith is struck with immediate understanding that she holds her future life, her next incarnation in her arms and she knows what she must do to survive.

First, she must travel back forty-seven years to watch her life relived. It is April of 1954 again. Judith views her own birth through the eyes of a newborn. Her life revealed before her just as it happened; a happy early childhood, tragic losses, first love and heartbreak. She is driven to avoid any future pain and takes harsh control of her life and everyone in it until she reaches the moment of the crash again.

"Baby's" Story

Then, more frightening, Judith must see into her possible future life as "Baby" should she die. Judith, wraithlike, is compelled to watch as surreal scenes unfold before her. For the second time in the span of one hour of her life, she sees the moment of her own birth. Judith must wait until Baby's story is finished, knowing all this will happen if she dies, and the terrifying white light tries to claim her. She must stand by helplessly while trying to find her one chance to survive.