The Reaper

I stand in the corner of the bleak room. Warm lights from the hall peak through. A flurry of nurses' rush into the room as the melody for life fades from existence.

"Is this when I die?" the elderly man shakily asks.

"Not yet." I responded

"Then why are you here?"

"Company."

His eyebrow raises, unsure of who I am.

"The names Ely... So, company, eh?" He smirks.

"Nobody deserves to go through this alone."

Ely turns back to his body; we watch as the nurses push into his chest with fury.

"I'm not alone, I have family. They're coming... right?"

The machines jolt back to life. The tune returns to life and Ely slowly returns back to his prison. I continue watching, unable to respond. I watch as Ely's eyes blitz open and look to where I stand, still waiting for an answer. Unfortunately, I can't give him one, I must move on and do what I am supposed to. I am stuck, wandering the plains between life and death. Guiding the souls that pass on to whatever lies after death and ensuring the process is complete. On paper this job sounds rather easy, but I assure you it's anything but. A reaper has only one rule we must follow:

ALWAYS complete the process of death

Failing to complete the process of death will consequently end the lives of so many others and will result in the reaper ceasing to exist. No life, no afterlife, no in between. Just nothing. A true death that none can reap.

I move to another room in the same hospital building, which houses a little boy; Daniel Holmes, 8 years old, suffering from leukemia, set to die in 2 minutes. His parents, Jamie and Oliver sit by his bedside, holding his hands tightly.

"Am I okay papa?" Daniel questions.

"You're okay buddy." Oliver responds.

"Okay papa"

Daniel's breath grows deeper at slower intervals, the symphony of his heart follows suit. Jamie crawls on the coarse hospital bed, yearning to hold Daniel one last time. A tear slides smoothly down Jamie's face. I feel tears wanting to pour. I was once in their shoes. I had a little girl. Set to face death young. Hopelessly unable to change what was to come. Forced to feel the tears run down my cheeks, and the pain burn away at my heart. To watch as they fight the hands of a reaper without a single ounce of understanding. And while that happens. You can do nothing but fight the urge to let the pain consume you. I lost that fight. I was not strong enough. Luckily they'll have each other. They will fall on hard times, but they will rebuild what was lost. They are good people. I was not.

"Mama, why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying sweetie, mommies just going to miss you that's all."

"Why are you gonna miss me?"

"Well... You're going to be asleep for a little while, we won't be able to see you."

"That's okay mama because when I wake up, we get to go to Disneyland right papa?"

"Of course buddy, the avengers are nothing without super Danny!"

Oliver lets out a quivering smile, trying to hide what lies beneath. Daniel smiles as well and looks to his mom with a bright glimmer in his eye. The room finally felt a little bright, but his time was coming to an end. I don't want to do this. This boy and his family deserve to live a long happy life together. I can't feel this again.