Death scares us all. Not so much the act itself, but the mystery that lies in the unknown of it. A man once believed death was too terrible to experience and devised a plan to live forever.
He would travel constantly, never remaining in on place for too long. He did so in the hopes of eluding Death indefinitely. It was a success, Death had tried for years to claim him, but every time, the Trvaeler would flee faster than the wind.
As years turned into decades and decades into centuries, the Traveler's family soon passed by him, all taken by Death. The Traveler grew lonely, but was too fearful to let himself be claimed.
On his way down a dirt road to his next hiding spot, the Traveler chanced upon an old man on the side of the road. Having walked for miles, the Traveler was weary and decided to rest beside the old man for some company to pass the time.
"Tell me old man, why are you sitting here along the road? Are you exaughsted as well?" The Traveler inquired sitting down.
"No sonny, just waiting on a friend." The older of the two croaked smiling. "Should be here any moment now."
The Traveler wondered who he would wait for on the side of the road. "Who is so important to you that you would sit in the sun for them?" He asked confused.
The old man sighed sadly. "My family... My friends... They're all gone..." He then brightly smiled again. "But Death, my friend, shall take me to them. He shall reunite me with my loved ones." Hte old man began to cry smiling slightly still.
The Traveler was shocked to say the least. Why would he want to to die? Why would he wait for Death to claim him with its icey grip? "But Why? Why purposely allow death to kill you? Why not just hide and live your life forever?"
A mournful sigh slid from the old man' lips. "Why stay alive all alone? Why go through a life where you can't tell someone you love them? Or laugh at a joke with your best friend? Why go through this world by yourself, empty and alone? I want nothing more in this world than to see my wife, my kids, my friends, and my family again." He looked at the Traveler. "That is why Death is my friend. He is helping me obtain happiness."
The Traveler just stared. He had never heard such wisdom, such grief, such love before. He thought hard about the old man's words.
As the Trveler was thinking, a thin figure in a ragged cloak slowly appraoched them. The old man stood up shakily and held out his hand.
The figure reached for his hand. The old man took onelast look at the Traveler and smiled serenly. "My time is up, make your choices count." And as the figure grasped his hand, the old man's eyes dimmed and he slid down against a tree, eyes closed and a peaceful expression on his weathered face.
The Travelr gulped. "You're Death aren't you?"
The figure simply nodded. Death held out its hand. The Traveler studied his hand uneasily, all the while considering the old man's words to him.
The Traveler had made up his mind. With a determined look, he took Death's hand in his own and said one last thing. "Well friend, this little game was fun, but I'm tired now. Take me home to my loved ones. Take me home."
And just before he faded from this world andinto the next, the Traveler could've sworn he had seen Death smile.
Well I hoped you enjoyed this not so brief story. Please leave a comment on what you feel happens after your life on Earth has ended.
Epifex
