Death, I'm Ready // ✔️

They called me Mia. They said I was good at soccer. They said I had a boyfriend. They said I was funny. They said I was creative and could play five instruments. They said....they said.....they said all these things and yet I don't know who they are.

Death. Death was taught to me as not living, not breathing. And yet death wasn't like that. Death was quick, painless, quiet, living.

This is how I met Death:

I laid on the ground. The crisp morning air submerged my senses. I breathed...in...out. I looked up to the sky, where the sun was being too shy to come out of the shadows. The soil on my body felt cool. I remained motionless, careful not to stir the creatures that lurked behind the trees.

I sit up. My surroundings are unknown. I turn my head left, I turn my head right, confused. Where am I? Who am I? Why am I here?

Then it hits me like a heavy rock thrown straight at me. 

"Mia...Mia...Mia that me! I'm Mia!!!" I shout into the open atmosphere.

I smile with joy like a child finally learning how to write. I stand, my knees ache with pain, but only for a second. I jump with excitement, that is until I look down. I see a body.

My body.

I stare intently, trying to think, trying to act. I am speechless but want to scream. I am motionless but want to run. I am...Mia? At least I thought I was.

That's when memories flourished into my head.  I remember my body was overtaken by cancer in my lungs. Its blackness had spread indefinitely all around, killing cell by cell, until finally, there was nothing more to distinguish. I was physically dead, so why am I here?

"It was last night, I knew Death was coming. I could see his dark shadows in my eyes. I decided to run. I ran until I found this spot where I laid down. My bald head cushioned into the soil, my mouth stretched into a smile. I was ready. I remember a heavy drift of sleep coming on. I knew it was Death himself, saying it was time to go. I saw a bright flash of light, and then nothing. "

I spoke this out loud, although no one could hear, for I was miles into the forest deep. I look at my body still lying there.

She was bald and pale. She was dressed in the paper hospital gowns that suck to your thighs. She laid with such content, that the surroundings almost seemed normal. That this body was normal. She looked pleasant, she looked peaceful.

Whereas when I look at myself. I was not peaceful, not happy nor complete. My soul burned for the need of contentedness. I had long flowing brown hair as if the tumor had never taken it away. I was dressed in a flowing black dress, most likely provided from Death.

There were two of me. She was me. But She and Me had separated. But it almost felt like we were one unique person, united by souls and minds. I was so focused on Her and Me, that my surroundings became almost nonexistent.

Within minutes or pure quietness, I hear a stir behind me. I turn to see a man, all dressed in black. His jawline was sharp, his nose soft and round. His eyes were as bright of a blue as the sky. He looked stunning, he looked like an angel. I knew exactly who he was, and why he was here.

He smiles, "Mia. It's time to go."

I shake my head. "Not yet. "

He signs with resistance,"You've already died, all you are at this moment is a million particles. "

"I know Death. I know. Just let me fix Her. Please."

Without any pause to hear his argument, I break off to my left. I collect some wildflowers that I thought were pretty. They were vibrant, a variety of purples and yellows, my two favorite colors. I bring them back and place them on Her. I cross her hands onto her chest, just like they would do at the funeral.

"Death, may I request one thing? I must do this before I go."

He nods, knowing what I want.

I look over and She is dressed in a beautiful white gown. Her long flowing hair has returned to the once blank head. It's braided and wrapped around a magnificent flower crown, that matches the flowers in her head. The painful scars of surgery and needles evaporated into the thin air. Her skin, no longer pale, looked renewed and soft. She was beautiful and deserved every inch of it.

A tear falls from my eyes. I couldn't believe that She, me, would ever look as beautiful as the sight I saw before me. I never thought that my body would ever look normal again.

I turn towards Death, "Thank you! Thank you so much!" I say as tears fall from my eyes.

He nods with a grin and stretches out his hand. "It's time now Mia."

I smile and look at the sky, "Yes Death. I believe it is."

I walk over to him and accept his hand.  I look over once more at Her and whisper a goodbye.

In an instant, light surrounds us, and we are lifted upwards towards the skies. Seconds later, Death and I are standing on a cloud covered island, surrounded by tall luxurious golden gates. People, animals, and even things from your imagination are spotted along the multiple boardwalks. The air smells of sweet candy and you can hear the low voices of the violas and cellos. 

"So this is heaven?", I ask Death.

"No, this is the afterlife. The afterlife is much like heaven, except there is no ruler, and no gods to control anyone. The people here, have all lived different lives. It is up to them to protect themselves. "

I nodded in realization. It was beautiful. He turned to leave, as his job was finished but I stop him.

"Why can't I remember anything? Why can I only remember my name and what happened last night?"

He replies, "Because Mia, this is your new life," he points to the golden gates," you will start a new life here with others like you. You are just Mia now, no strings attached. Instead of other people making up the Mia in the real world, it is up to you to create the Mia in the afterlife."

I nod again. I had no idea where to begin. What was I supposed to become? Where do I start?

"Can you at least tell me some things the real world Mia did? So I know where to begin?"

Death smiles and tells me.

They called my Mia. They said I was good at soccer. They said I had a boyfriend.  They said I was funny. They said I was creative and could play five instruments. They said...They said...They said all these things and yet I don't know who They are.

This was untrue at the time. I now know who They were.

Here's how it should really go:

Death called me Mia. Death said I was good at soccer. Death said I had a boyfriend. Death said I was funny. Death said I was creative and could play five instruments.  Death told me these things so I could become the new Mia.