The 8th of April, 3087, is a date that everyone will remember, now and until the end of time. It was the day that a world ended, but then a new one emerged from the ruins. It was the day that the light was suddenly gone, leaving the old world in bitter cold and black. It's the day humans learned how lucky they are to be alive, and that they should've really lived their lives to the fullest. I was there that day, and I have been here all along. I'm everywhere and nowhere at the same time, and you've probably heard of me. I am D3ath, and by the time you've finished reading this, I probably will be right over your shoulder, watching your reaction. Aha, see? There, you just turned to find me, but I wasn't there. Now, now, please don't be frightened, I'm only kidding. You, human, have somehow gotten this book, my journal. If you don't want to live the rest of your short, short life in fear, then put this book down and live your life in happiness and peace. But, if you are one of those people who are brave enough to venture into the mind of an immortal being, then please, continue. On that dreadful day of April 8th, I was busy doing my job. I was making the rounds all across the world, scooping up mortal souls and holding them in my hands, watching their eyes widen as they realized they no longer served a purpose on Earth; they'd exhale stars and disappear, turning into one with the wind itself. Have you ever realized that millions upon millions of stars and children are being formed, right this very minute? Well, whenever a star is born, so is the thought of a child. Children are made even before they are born. They start as an idea, this possibility, then they become a real thing for a time. But when they pass as elders, the memories of them last for a while until the star itself explodes. The memories fade until distant, distant things, float along for billions of years with the star. It's truly beautiful, you know. The whole process. I guess I'm quite lucky to witness it. But sometimes, I do wonder what it would be like, to be a star child. Radiating pure joy as a newborn, even in our hard moments, then allowing ourselves to dim as we age. Finally, to let our energy fade away, helping other new babies feel that same joy. Sorry, where was I...? Ah, yes. That day. That day, I had a short, break before I had to continue my rounds (for, truly, you think that there is only one D3ath? There are many of us, in this world and more.) I allowed myself to spend my time watching some ducks in the pond. I find ducks such fun creations, with their webbed feet and long bills. And the noise that comes from them is so strange, it startled me when I was first recruited as D3ath. But after the break, I was sent to fetch a young girl in the hospital, who was slowly fading away as the moments passed. She was suffering from heart disease at the age of 13. I floated down into the room, watching as family gathered around her for her last moments. She was still barely conscious, her eyes half-open. Her name was Estrella, or Stella as many called her. Her hair was pure gold, flowing around her head like a halo. Even with her eyes nearly closed, I could tell that they were a bottomless, dark, dark blue. She was truly beautiful. Normally, I like to get the job done fast. Grab the soul, let them go, and then continue with business as usual. But for some reason that I cannot understand, I found myself wanting to hear these last moments more, found myself letting her hold onto life for longer than I should've. That was my greatest fault. The mother knelt down to her daughter's bed, grasping her hands with such love and compassion. "Estrella," she said softly, the shine of tears in her eyes. "My child, tell me you can hear me." Estrella's head barely turned to her mother, distant eyes fixating on her beloved mom for a moment. "Mama," she said, her voice but a whisper. "Is that you?" The mother let out one, choked sob, her whole body shaking. "Oh, Stella," she said with pain in her words. "Please, please let me say some words before you go." I had started to lean forward, feeling the girl's heartbeat slowing even more, but I could see the connection the two women had, even feel it. It tugged on me, tugged me back against the wall even though it was the girl's time. "My dearest," the mother started, "You are the only child I ever born. You are my life and joy, truly a blessing to have with me. Stella, you are the only person I have anymore, my daughter, and if you go, I'll be left alone." The mother dipped her head, looking so weary that I felt sympathy for her. "Estrella, honey, I-I hope you understand what I am going to do." Her hands quaked as she released her daughter's hands, reaching down into the front pocket of her pants and revealing a bl. "I have been on Earth for forty-five years, and my duty was to be a mother to you. And I have been and always will be. But I cannot fulfill this task if you (below)
(JUST SAYING THIS IS REALLY MEANT FOR PEOPLE 13 AND OLDER, THIS STORY BECAUSE IT IS SAD;-;) continued below ---> pass on before I finish being a mother to you." She brought the bl@d3 up to her chest, pointing it at her heart. "I am not upset about this, you know. I'm not upset because I know that I am going with you." She suddenly tossed the bl@d3 down onto the ground, turned to where I stood, and stared directly at me. "I know that you are here," the mother stated, her eyes burning with love and fire that was so strong it held me in place. I inhaled, then took the form that humans see me as-- the reaper. "I do not understand," I had replied, my English words said with a deep, raspy voice that did not sound human. "You still have plenty left to live, yet you do not want to leave your daughter. How come you are willing to sacrifice everything you have?" The mother stared me in the eyes. "Because I have met your kind before. When I was still a teenager, my father passed away right in front of me. I saw D3ath, and they spent some time talking to me. I had begged them not to let me live without the one person I'd grown to care the most about- Estrella." She turned to her daughter, a soft smile on her face. "I had just had her, and I could already tell that she would be my whole world. So D3ath pitied me and combined my star with hers. The sun had been about to explode, but we became the sun." Her eyes became distant. "I know that we are going to be the cause of the end of the world, but this is something I have to do." Her eyes met mine. "Please." I said no more words but looked at the daughter, whose heart was now so slow it was only doing 10 beats a minute. "Alright." Humans, although beautiful, were going to end the world at some point anyway. Why not end it for love? I exhaled, then let my hand reach out. "Hold it, and hold it tight." She did as I said, grasping so tightly that if my hand was real it would've lost circulation. "I'm ready." I walked over to the daughter and carefully scooped her up with one arm, her frail yet radiant soul tucked against my robe. I watched as those brilliant eyes met mine, and then her mother's. The mother's mortal body dropped down, leaving her soul hovering while still holding my hand. "Mama?" Estrella asked, confused. "I'm here, honey," she said with a smile, then embraced her daughter. They then became a cluster of stars, shooting up until they were gone. I was left standing alone in that room, and it seemed time stood still. The light shone on the room for one moment, but then the sky tore open, and black began spreading across the horizon. I could hear many people's cries of confusion, but many seemed to accept what was happening. Soon the world was left pitch black, with nothing but the remaining stars illuminating the sky. The atmosphere thinned until it was gone, and every mortal on the planet froze in a position immediately, leaving souls wandering the world because they hadn't realized that they weren't alive anymore. I let out a rattling sigh as I took my original form. I knew that somewhere in the sky, the mother and daughter were becoming new stars, letting pieces of their personalities spread across to new star children. But I still had a job here before I could meet them again. I suppose it will take a few more million years to gather everyone. It is quite nice to hold the ducks, though. The feathers are as soft as I thought they would be. But not all souls are easy to get. They like to hide sometimes, you see. It's been 100 years and I haven't finished the job. But then again, I am D3ath, and D3ath's job is never done. (fin.)
