Face to Face with Death

The Cold Hard Truth

"Alison, listen to me!" Me mother screamed, throwing a glass beer bottle from across the room. As she came closer, the fear I felt increased. "I will not have you.." I couldn't quite make out her words, as she was slurring them together. Her breath reeked of alcohol, and it burned my nose. Backing up slowly, I began to search for the wall behind my with my hands. She trapped me, and all I could think was "here it comes." But I was ready.

"Hit me."

"Excuse me?" This was the first time I had ever stood up to her, and she was shocked.

"You heard me. I said 'hit me.'"

"That's how you want it?" My soft, brown eyes locked with her harsh, green ones. "Fine. That how you'll get it." She kicked me. Hard. The pain in my lower left leg was tremendous, and increasing by the second. "Give up!" She screamed.

"Why should I?!" Blood trickled down the side of my head. With neither of us wanting to lose eye contact, she slowly backed up and pulled a gun out from her purse. Upon realizing that it was loaded, my heart skipped a beat or two. I was more than likely going to see Death in moment.

"Oh, Alison. What a joke you are." Yeah, I'm the joke. "My life was perfect before you. With your father. We were a striking pair, really. But when you came along, I hated you immediately. Ben adored you. God knows why." I had loved my father, and he had loved me. I loved him being around, before Death took him, too. "But. It's too late for me to ask him." She looked to the side with teary eyes. For a second, I felt sympathy for her. Although, that didn't last too long. "Just come over here, let me give you a taste of your own medicine." A gun fired somewhere and I dropped to the floor.

Come, Alison. It's been a while since you've visited me.

No, Death. Not now, not today.

Before I could protest, he grabbed my hand and took me, once again, to the "decision room," and the countdown began.

"13, 12, 11.."