Labor of Living

Awakening

Setsuna and Mirabella walk aimlessly enjoying the autumn New York City air before parting ways. They venture into Central Park and he sneaks a glance before taking a breath and beginning to say what's on his mind.
''Mira, let's sit here and enjoy the weather; we've been walking for a little minute," Setsuna says sitting on a bench.
''So you've finally decided to say what's on your mind huh? What's up?" she asks, passing him the spliff as she plops down next to him.
''I know there's just certain things that shouldn't normally get brought up,'' he says, leaning back while taking a long pull. ''But I know what I'd be getting myself into; I know the change wouldn't be easy but despite that I want it,'' he says, passing back the spliff.
''So you're already trying to take a mile despite knowing something that you shouldn't? You really still wish to go for it even though it'll be excruciating? She says, taking a pull. ''Have you ever thought maybe some things are better left as is?'' she says, passing it back.
''I've thought of all the things that come with it but I do know that this will be better for me,'' he says, looking at his feet while inhaling. ''I know what comes with it, and I don't care,'' he says, looking at her with silent conviction.
''It's going to take more than that to get me to do this for you; you don't understand what you're asking of me,'' she says, passing the rest of the spliff just as a breeze blows Mirabella's hair into her face.
''Look, Mira, I've thought this through already—
''No you haven't,'' she interrupts. ''I've done this for no one, and want to live out my existence as such,'' she says, moving hair out of her face. ''It'll change the both of us,'' she says, staring directly at him. ''And that change will be something I don't think you can handle,'' she says.
''Then help me handle it,'' he says grabbing at her hand
''NO, Setsuna,'' she says, moving her hand away. ''You don't get it. That's going to bring something out of me that you won't like,'' she says. ''It's more than just you growing fangs and becoming powerful.'' she says, giving him a stone gaze.
''Look Mira,'' he says, giving her an endearing eye. ''There's nothing you can say that'll change my mind from wanting it. ''I won't have to deal with disease, bad health, or death, he says confidently. ''I know most of my research comes from the internet so I don't truly know the true extent of things but, he pauses and looks at her. ''I've struggled just to live all this time, he says looking down. ''Remember how I barely graduated because of all my health issues and the shit I've been through? ''I don't want to have to struggle like that ever again, and it's bound to repeat,'' he says. ''If you're saying this cause you want me to preserve my humanity; then you're wasting your unlimited breath, you know I don't think any of that has meaning,'' he says.
''If you don't think any of this has meaning,'' she says, waving her hands in a circle ''Then why become an immortal?'' she asks, gazing at him.
''Because my quality of life has been shit and this will change it and I mean who wouldn't want to be given a chance at receiving such a gift?'' he says sarcastically.
''Yeah, well don't hold your breath, cause I really don't know if I want to give it you,'' she says, hugging him before leaving Setsuna sitting there.
He doesn't move and stares off into the distance, wondering how he'll get her to do it then he's jolted back into reality by a strong vibration. He looks at his phone and sees that it's an incoming group FaceTime initiated by De'Andre with Setsuna and Mirabella.
''Yo fuckers pull up," D says, flipping his camera to the front showing a copious amount of weed. But Mira declines saying she has something important to take care of.
          "Iight D, I'm on the way," he hangs up letting out an exasperated sigh and orders a cab. It arrives shortly; and he gets in while exchanging pleasantries with the driver. He turns up the music in his headphones and stares off into the distance enjoying the rushing wind. His phone vibrates as a text pops up on screen; "Sorry guys next time ". He quickly swipes it off screen and his world is thrown into chaos. The bending and creasing of metal and shattering glass drowns everything out as he's pushed to the other side of the car and it skids into oncoming traffic. Incoming headlights blind him and his world is flipped. The moment seems to lasts forever as the vehicle tumbles around and he silently begs to make it through this. Landing top down his visions blackens as he feels blood drip over his eye.
Drifting in and out of consciousness he hears sirens wailing in the distance the taste of metal in his mouth suffocates him as he coughs up the crimson liquid. He hears the pleading of someone telling him to stay awake as he's hoisted up and into the back of the ambulance. He tries his best to listen but the noise begins to fade as everything goes black.