On July 27, 2011, Richard Hatem came home from work to find a book waiting for him—Glimpses of Eternity by Raymond Moody. He remembers the date well because it was also the day he got fired. And if you’ve ever been fired, you know the feeling: shock, relief, maybe a strange sense of joy. It also ushered in a creative revival and exploration phase, reminding us that the most unexpected transitions can open a door. 

Raymond Moody knew a thing or two about that. At just 30, he became famous for introducing the world to Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), and eventually Shared Death Experiences (SDEs). SDEs occur when a healthy person gets pulled into someone else’s final moments, glimpsing the other side without ever dying themselves. As the kids might say, you bogart someone else’s death trip.

Of all the supernatural experiences out there, Richard Hatem has only ever wanted this one. Because what if you didn’t have to be the one dying to get a glimpse of the other side? These moments blur the line between joy and heartbreak, where loss and hope mingle.

Sometimes, the only way to find the light is by going through the dark—and if you’re lucky, you just might emerge on the other side with a new understanding of what it means to live.