Words From The Heart

A Tale Of Death

A Tale Of Death

Short Story

As I looked around the hospital room, I just couldn't bring myself to look in his eyes. He was dying and I just... couldn't do it. Not until he started speaking anyway; "can I-" my grandfather started in a shaky voice, "can I have a minute alone with April?" He questioned; suddenly all eyes were on me and I felt my heart break just a little more with each tear that I let slip and fall down my cheeks.

"Sure thing," Mom kissed his cheek and gave his hand a squeeze before locking eyes with me and nodding. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I noticed the quiet buzzing of the white lights shining down in the room, and the brown, unidentifiable stains on the light-blue tiles that I refused to step on because I didn't know what they were. I studied everything in the room except him, yet his eyes were on me the whole time. I wasn't exactly sure why I was having trouble looking at him; maybe it was the fact that I wasn't ready to face the fact that he was dying, or maybe I knew that if I did look at him, I'd break down exactly like I did when we got the news he had cancer.

"April, please," Papaw begged after everyone had made their way out; my eyes finally lifted to meet with his, only for a small second, but I could see that it wasn't pain or sadness I saw in them: it was regret. "I have to tell you something really serious and I need you to listen, can you do that for me?" He asked, his hand reaching out for mine while I felt my throat constricting from trying to hold back the tears. I nodded, his hand fell to his side once more. "When I was sixteen, your age, I did something terrible," he paused, coughing, and continuing again: "I made a bet, a gamble really, to a man they called 'Death', you see. He told me his rules, and I foolishly agreed to them. April, he offered me fortune. I was sixteen! God, I'm so sorry!"

"I'm confused, Papaw," I croaked out, not seeing why he was telling me this.

"Just listen, honey. What he got in return for giving me my fortune was, well, you," he stated, and now it was his turn to not be able to look me in the eye.

"W-what do you mean?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowing together while he tried to think of a way to explain this.

"He said that upon the day of my first grandchild's sixteenth birthday, if I sealed the deal, then he would get that grandchild from then on. I don't know what that means exactly, but I'm afraid it's too late for me to find out," he paused, "I'm dying, April. Just... know I'm so sorry. After we made the deal, I loved being wealthy and able to do whatever I wanted, I didn't even think about the deal I had made until years later when I met your grandmother. I stalled having kids for years; I tried- I tried to find him again, but there were no signs. Not even a mention or a whisper. I can't tell you enough times how sorry I am, April," Grandad paused, probably waiting for some sign of forgiveness on my part, however, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

"My-" I took a deep breath, still attempting to process this, "my sixteenth birthday is tomorrow!" I yelled suddenly, getting overwhelmed with questions and fear of whatever was going to happen. The dying man in front of me flinched from my sudden outburst but continued to try and calm me down.

"You have to try to get out of this, make a deal with him when he comes," Grandad cried, but I wasn't sure of his reasons. Did he really want me to have a good outcome from this? Or did he just want my forgiveness before he died, so he wouldn't die feeling guilty?

"April?" He gasped, grabbing his throat and struggling to get air. His doctor came rushing in as the monitors started beeping unanimously, but the doctor gave an almost pitiful look when she realized she couldn't do anything. Mom and dad came in, the rest of the family following closely after them. With one last effort, grandpa pulled me closer to him and whispered to where only I could hear; "He'll come out of the shadows."