Even in Death

2

"Hey Matt! You wanna see something cool? I learned this new trick the other day and I finally got it down."

I'm standing on a street. My friend, Ryan, is riding his skateboard and doing flips and tricks. I'm taken by shock when I hear my own voice coming from behind me.

"That's sick man! You should show me how to do some of those tricks. We could totally impress all the girls at school with that I'm sure."

I remember now; I remember how I died. Then, just like I remember, Ryan slips when he lands one of his tricks and as he begins to lose his balance, a car comes zooming by. I ran for him, trying to get him out of the way, and I manage to save him. But unfortunately, after I tackle him away from the car, I'm hit. Ryan screams at the top of his lungs and my mom comes out to see what happened. I hear her cries for me when I hear sirens in the distance. When the EMT's finally reach me, it's too late; I black out and I don't wake up.

---

I find myself back in the void. The only other thing here is the Reaper. I reach up and wipe the tears streaming down my face and I turn to look at him.

"Why? Why did you make me relive that? Why couldn't you have just told me? Why was I even alive if in the end, I was meant to die before my life even began?"

The Reaper frowns at me and he sees I'm struggling with my own emotions right now.

"You were meant to live. But because you saved your friend, you stole a life. Now you must repay that with yours. This is the circle in which life flows. You now must go and help this child that needs you right now. They need your support and your knowledge. Help them live."

I crumple to my knees. Why is this the way life is? What could I possibly do to help anyone now? I just don't understand why I'm here.

"I don't know how I'm supposed to do this. I feel so lost."

The Reaper bends to one knee and puts his hand on my shoulder.

"You won't be lost forever. You'll know what you have to do. Trust in that, because if not, this child you have been chosen for will die and end up here. Just like you."

Before I'm able to say anything, I'm surrounded by a blinding white light again. The next thing I see is a child, crying in the corner of a filthy house. He looks young; around the age of 12 or 13 if I had to guess. The kid looks up and stared directly at me. He has a look of shock and terror.

"Who are you?"