Cliff Hanger

Death. The final calling of any and every living thing. There is no escaping it, no way of bypassing it. Death is permanent, most of all, inevitable. It’s the thing that dwells in the unknown, revealing itself to only those who have reached the end of their path. Whether its hell or heaven, reincarnation or infinite darkness, whatever it may be. Death is all around up, lurking in the shadow, ready to pounce. Taking advantage of everyone’s deepest and darkest fears as it does so.

Death is fear, translated down into everyday terms; the fear of spiders is really the fear of tiny pinchers bathed in poison ready to bite their next victim. The fear of flying is the fear of death that would follow if the engines of the airplane were to fail. People’s fears whether it is of insects, fairy-tale creatures, germs, war, or maybe even people with beards. The list goes on and on, and they all have one thing in common…. They all link to death.

Everyone has one fear, one fear that plays on the ancient and primal phobia of death. One thing that makes their heart beat double, that sends shivers down their spine, a feeling which creates an unhealthy sick-churning feeling deep within your stomach.

Well… everyone except Akiko Shimagoti.

Akiko didn’t fear anything especially not death. Death was an old friend to her; someone she would greet, then toss to the side. No fear of death means no fear at all. Spiders suddenly look cute and cuddly, their poisoned pinchers no longer any threat. The fear of the things that go bump in the night fades into the darkness; not fearing death means that you no longer fear the things that they might do to you in your sleep. The fear of engines failing is no longer a thought, since you no longer fear the death that would follow as a result. Overcoming the fear of death, equates to overcoming of fear itself.