What happensif you don't go into the light?

I saw a spirit crow go into the light, it had (at least symbolically) been residing in a cupboard with pictures of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. It had died a horrible death when I was a child and when i was 24 one night I saw it go into the light but the light was the hall light (I was in the darkened bedroom with cupboard and door open enough for light to penetrate the room).

I believe (whether I'm right or not) that if you die in horrible circumstances, that it can take time (years even) for the soul to cross over but that while it resides on the earth plane so to speak, it is not alone and that in the case of the crow, the Virgin Mary and Jesus were there to comfort and guide it slowly. The poor thing, atleast it is free.