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Waiting for Death
DEATH DIDN’T COME TODAY. Night had fallen, and the lure of sleep tugged on me. I dragged myself to my feet and dumped the now cold tea.
Maybe tomorrow, I told myself as I brushed my teeth.
I ignored the little voice that whispered it wasn’t normal to wish for Death. I understood that, but normal was boring. Normal didn’t take you on adventures around the world.
Normal didn’t introduce you to Death.
I remembered the first time we met. It had been an autumn day in New Zealand. I was waiting for the tour to start. I was finally seeing where The Hobbit had been filmed. My excitement was palatable. An older man collapsed and the medics were called. Their attempts to revive him were fruitless. That was when I saw Death.
No one else seemed aware of him. I watched him weave through the crowd. He was reaching for the body when our eyes met. Confusion flitted across his pale face. Later that night, I saw him again. He didn’t understand why I saw him. It wasn’t my time.
When, I asked.
He shrugged. One day. Then he was gone. I have been waiting for him ever since.
No One
DISASTER FOLLOWED ME wherever I went, and yet, despite that, I always escaped unscathed. Not everyone else was lucky enough. Most ended up six feet under. Was I cursed at birth by an evil witch? My parents couldn’t tell me. They died shortly after I was born. Many foster parents didn’t fare much better.
As soon as I came of age, I moved to the woods to live. It was lonely, but no one deserved to die because they crossed paths with me.
I sat outside my hut, watching the trees sway in the wind. Plants seemed to be immune to me. It gave me someone to talk to when the isolation dug deep. Although, they never replied.
A snap drew my attention from the potted flower next to me. Two deer emerged. One was a tiny fawn on shaking legs. It looked at me with wide eyes and took a step forward.
“Better not,” I warned.
The fawn backed up to its mother as if it understood. I watched as they disappeared back into the trees. A sigh escaped me. I looked at the flower next to me.
No one deserved to die because they crossed paths with me.
Death’s Lover
THE LIVING NEVER ceased to astonish Death. They viewed everything in black and white. Especially when it came to him. Some humans saw him as the devil, while others believe him to be an angel. They would bicker over who was right. Some fights ended with him claiming both souls.
At first, he tried to explain himself. Death was neither good nor evil. He just was. If life was to continued then Death was needed. They refused to understand, and eventually, he learned to accept that truth.
But...
Every so few centuries there would be a human who was different. She could see the shades of gray swirling between black and white. She understood the nuances of life and embraced them. And she always found him.
He would take her under his wing, mentor, protect, and cherish her. He’d watch her blossom like a flower. But like a flower, she eventually wilted and he was forced to say goodbye. What he wouldn’t give to abandon what he was in those sad moments. The temptation was strong, but he knew he had to resist. Life required Death, and no single human could change that. Another truth he was forced to accept.
Be Careful What You Wish For
FIRE ENGULFED THE city and smoke billowed into the sky. Sirens howled. People ran among the chaos. They darted through broken windows and doors, grabbing whatever they could carry. Others marched in groups, their voices raised to be heard. Fights broke out and blood splattered the glass-covered ground. Police tried to corral the people and break up fights, but the crowds turned on them and attacked.
In the center of it, I stood. A smile filled my face as I watched the riots unfold. This was only the beginning. It would spread to other cities. People would rise up. They’d protest and fight. Their government would strike back. Civil war would ensue. People would be mortally wounded.
But they wouldn’t die.
My smile widened. As they should. After centuries of lurking in the shadows, only coming out to cross an ungrateful soul over, I was done with humanity’s demonization of Death. They claimed I was evil and sought to stop me. Fine. If they thought I was the villain, then I’d prove them right. And when they begged for release from their pain, I would deny them. They wanted to avoid Death, after all.
Be careful what you wish for.
Unwilling Reaper
MARVIN AND I STOOD before the house. Colorful flowerbeds lined the front. A white picket fence surrounded the tidy yard. I gestured to him. “After you.”
Marvin shook his head. “I can’t do this.”
“We talked about it, went over the manual. A brief touch and it’s done.”
Marvin backed up. “You do it. I’ll wait in the car.”
“I’m not Death. You are.” I grabbed his arm and marched forward.
Marvin dug his heels in. “But why me? What did I do to get picked?” His eyes pleaded for answers.
I stopped and released him. “Everyone has to be Death at some point. One day, I’ll have to do this, too.”
“But why? Why can’t we just let people live forever? Maybe that’s why Death vanished. He knew it was wrong for people to die.”
“The world went to shit without Death,” I shot back. “Remember the guy who got his skull blown open? How he screamed and nothing could ease his pain? People have to die.”
Marvin gnawed his lower lip.
I sighed. “I’ll go inside with you. Then after we can go get some beers.”
The tension eased from Marvin. “Okay.” Together we marched to the house.
Death’s Purpose
WITH A BRIEF TOUCH of her finger, she spread disease and death. Sometimes it was instant. Other times, the process was slow and long. She never lingered to see the outcome, moving on to the next person. Often, they never knew what hit them, never suspected the unassuming woman whose hand they had just shaken was the reason for their pain.
But this was her purpose in life and she did not resent it. In fact, she relished it. What was life without hardship and death?
Besides, not all who encountered her died. Those that did survive were strong, and in turn, they made the world stronger. They may hate her for the pain she caused, but she figured deep down they knew they needed to endure her if they wanted to continue.
It wouldn’t last, though. One day, humanity would become immune to her. Her touch would no longer maim or kill. That was the sign the world had become perfect and no longer needed her. She was eager for that day. Her work would be done and she could finally rest. Until that moment came, she would continue walking the earth, leaving destruction and death in her wake.
Blind Date
AMY SAT IN THE cafe’s courtyard. The sun blazed down on her, but that wasn’t the reason she was sweating. Why had she agreed to this? What was she thinking letting Mary convince her to go on a blind date? Didn’t Mary remember how Amy’s last relationship ended? And the ones before? Amy honestly believed she was cursed by Death himself.
Maybe she should leave before her date arrived. She could come up with a lie to tell Amy about why she missed it.
Amy remained seated.
Finally, her date arrived. The woman sat across from her and they exchanged hellos. Food was ordered. Chat came easy and soon Amy was laughing and smiling. A glimmer of hope filled her. Maybe this time would be different. She could almost picture a life with this woman.
At the end of the date, they exchanged phone numbers. Plans were made for a second date. Amy knew a little coffee shop that had delicious pastries they could meet at. She watched the woman stride away. She had just stepped off the curb when a truck rammed into her and sent her flying. She landed at Amy’s feet, her dead eyes staring into Amy’s.
In Search of Death
I OPENED MY EYES to a blindingly bright light. It created a tunnel that cut through the darkness surrounded me. My feet moved without me even thinking about it. I walked for hours down the bright tunnel. Occasionally it would turn or twist, but I had no fear of losing direction. Part of me knew where I was going.
Just like part of me realized I was dead. How had I died? Briefly, I mused on it, but that information felt unimportant. All that mattered now was reaching the end of the tunnel.
What would happen when I arrived? Would there be golden gates? An angel waiting to quiz me on how righteous I had lived? Despite being raised Catholic, something in me said no to those questions. I’d be meeting someone more important.
I continued on. Finally, the tunnel opened up into a vast space. A tall, brick wall cut across it, either end farther than I could see. A door was set in the middle. I knocked.
It creaked open and a head of a young boy poked out. Behind him I could see a black cloak and scythe. He grinned at me. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Four Minutes
FOUR MINUTES WAS all I had left. Then the pain would be over. It was a moment I had been looking forward to since my diagnosis, an escape from my daily torment.
But now...
Faced with Death, fear shook me. My gaze darted around my bedroom, pausing on my belongings as if each one would give me more time. All the things I hadn’t been able to do seeming so important now. Why had I let the pain hold me back from doing them?
No, it wasn’t the pain that held me back. It was me.
My breaths came in short gasps, and I felt my pulse stutter and struggle. Tears filled my eyes and blurred the world. Each passing second brought me closer to the end. My eyes closed. I felt nothing.
***
SOMETHING SHOOK MY shoulder. I groaned and lifted my head. A woman in black stood over me. Her lips were pursed. “Get up.” She hauled me to my feet. “I’m behind and you taking your sweet time did not help.”
I gawked at her. “Am I dead?”
She rolled her eyes. “Duh. Come on, you can help me catch up. I’ve been needing an assistant for centuries.”
Last Promise
SANDRA LEANED OVER ME, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. I wiped them away but left a trail of blood in their wake. My voice was a whisper. “Shh, it’s okay.” I glanced to the side. There, a figure in black lurked in the shadows. I focused back on Sandra. “I have no regrets.”
Sandra clasped my hand to her cheek. “But I do.”
A million things to say that would ease her pain flashed through my head, but I was too weak from blood loss to say them. The corners of my vision wavered. My body felt light, as if it were a leaf floating on the wind. The figure stepped closer.
Sandra continued to cry. “I can’t lose you. There has to be something that will change his mind.”
I wheezed a soft laugh. Death didn’t bargain. He did his job and nothing more.
Sandra continued to ramble. “I could offer him...something. Everyone has a price.”
Death stood over us. I couldn’t see a face in the shadow of the hood, but I felt the eyes staring at me. A hand reached for me and my hearth slowed. I managed one last smile for Sandra. “One day...we’ll...be together...again.”
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