Sleeping with Death

His departure

Everything is black. His clothes, his feelings, his sky, his heart- everything. He, yet again, wiped his eyes- his sleeves then soaked with tears and snot. His mom rubbed his back and gently whispered "I love you." He smiled weakly, his fate inevitable. Emuilo knew very well what was in store for him once he stood up, but he had to- it was tradition.

So, with those loving words from his mother, Emuilo stood up and walked to the front with a mask of pride. No one in the audience smiled, for they all knew what he was in for. He looked amongst the sad faces; he saw his mom, his brothers, his very small and hurt younger sister, and his secret. He mouthed 'I'll make it' to his little secret. They weakly smiled back and wiped their eyes. An officer stood up on cue and led Emuilo to his selected spot. Emuilo knew what to do. He crossed his arms across his chest, like a corpse. He laid back, settling into place. The officer slowly shut the doors of his coffin. Emuilo was not dead, but he will be.