Reaper

It has to work.

I can't believe it.

I haven't slept for a few weeks, I forget how many. We don't really need sleep, but it sure does feel nice to get some time to relax... But it doesn't matter because I fucking did it. A year and a month and I did it.

Seventy-five years should be enough. I'm hoping that it'll be enough. He was already fourteen when he... No, I need to think positive. I'm headed there now, and hopefully I'll--I'm definitely going to be on time. I have to be. I can't mess this up...

"Mel, you need to see this! You told me where your town was, remember?"

Yeah? What's got you so worked up, Jay?

"Look in my book, Mel!"

NO!

"Melody, come back!"

No, no, no, I'm not going to be too late! No, no, no, hang on, baby bro!

The coordinates Jay showed me were the coordinates for my hometown.

Where my house is.

Where the hospital is.

Which means it's where he is, and if there's even a chance I'm too late, that it's him, I--

I'm not too late, I'm not, I'm not... I can't be too late, I can't--!

Oh, thank fu--he's still here. Still alive.

We're alone.

I... I should be happy, you know? I'm saving my baby brother's life! I thought he was going to die here! Die for real, that is, not... See, his soul isn't gone. It's not... He's brain dead. His body is alive, but his soul isn't connected to it, just hanging out in there until the body catches up. I'm not sure what's going to happen if I give this life to him--if he'll come back, or not, but... I'm not just leaving him here. I can't.

I'm scared. I don't know what's going to happen to me if I give him this life when he's supposed to be... you know. And it's meant for me, so... Well, we're siblings, so it should work. It has to work.

Even if--when--when... it does, I won't be able to see him. Or, at least, he won't be able to see me. Reapers are undetectable to humans, no matter who they are. That's why I had to leave my house last time I was here. My parents... I left them a message, I drew an extra flower in my diary, but to see them and not have them see me... I couldn't deal with that.

I better watch my mouth. He's in this half-dead, limbo sort of state, so I can talk to him and be reasonably sure he'll hear me. It's always kind of iffy if someone in a coma will hear a... human, but with this level of brain damage...

I--I can hold his hand and give him hugs, anyway, which is nice. I used to visit more, hang out with him, but then I heard them talking about how they weren't sure if he was going to recover, and...

I hug Jay all the time, but it's not the same. This isn't the same either, of course. I don't think it will ever be the same again... .

I'm gonna miss you, kiddo.

I've wasted enough time. Please, let this work... Fuck it, he says he doesn't want to hear his name unless it's important, but this is pretty damn important.

Please, God, let this work. Let him be okay. Let him--let him live. I'll do anything if he'll just live after this. Please...

Why aren't you waking up?

I--I gave you the life! I gave you seventy-five more years, use just one minute of it, please, Connor, just open your eyes!

I--