[ WP ] There are actually hundreds of different Deaths that ferry the deceased to the underworld , such as Tragic Death , Lonely Death , Sudden Death , etc . You arrive home from a normal work day to find Premature Death waiting for you . He showed up 5 minutes early .

`` Who are you?'' Arthur shouted feebly at the stranger sitting in his sofa, eyeing him warily. `` How did you get into my apartment?'' 
 
 The man rose and smiled amicably at Arthur. With that crisp black suit of his and that smile, he looked like a salesman. But there was something inhuman about him. He bowed. 
 
 `` Hello, Arthur. I'm Premature Death.'' 
 
 Arthur's sunken eyes flew wide open and he swallowed, hard. He watched as the man hold a golden medallion in the air for him to see. There was a skull dead center of the medallion, and below it ran a few lines of engraved script. The Death Bureau badge. Arthur exhaled. 
 
 `` How long do I have?'' 
 
 `` Five minutes.'' 
 
 `` Wow.'' Suddenly, a familiar itch assaulted his throat and lungs, and he coughed. Elderly problems. `` You guys do n't give much leeway.'' He laughed in between his coughs which echoed in his tiny apartment. 
 
 The man in the black suit shrugged. 
 
 `` Well then, take a seat.'' Arthur gestured hospitably as he ambled towards his kitchen. `` Can I get you anything?'' 
 
 `` Water, if you must.'' 
 
 On his way, Arthur passed by the row of photographs; he saw Emily, Catherine, Mike, all of them looking so happy, all of them dead. He had waited so long for his turn. 
 
 In the kitchen, Arthur grabbed two cups from a drawer. Then he opened the adjacent drawer and reached for the only green pill which was not in a box. Next, he filled one cup with water while he set the other on the coffee machine and waited for a few seconds. It was all a matter of seconds now, Arthur thought. One second rolling into the next, and then into the next, and on and on, until the final second rolled into nothing and merely rolled over. 
 
 The sweet aroma of Arthur's favorite espresso wafted in the air. He took a deep whiff and felt the coffee swim down his throat and warmly embrace his lungs. There was no more itch. Arthur popped the pill from its casing, dropped it into his coffee, and then walked easily to the sofa. 
 
 `` Here you go,'' he said, lowering the cup of water on the table. 
 
 The man nodded. `` You have a nice apartment.'' 
 
 Arthur sat across him and chuckled. `` I ca n't believe you guys make small talk.'' He took a slow sip of his lovely coffee. 
 
 The man laughed as well. `` Only a few of us. I like to make things as comfortable as possible. It can be a difficult process.'' 
 
 `` Yes, yes.'' Another sip. 
 
 `` You seem oddly calm about this, Arthur.'' 
 
 `` Am I?'' 
 
 `` Most people run around frantically when they realize who I am. They try to find somewhere to hide, call all of their loved ones, do all sorts of strange things. But you, you just sit here.'' 
 
 `` Well,'' Arthur drank another mouthful of coffee and said, `` Probably because this is my hiding place, I have no one to call, and I've done enough strange things for a lifetime.'' 
 
 The man nodded and drank his water in silence. He stole a glance at the clock. 
 
 `` It's admirable, Arthur. You might just be someone I will remember for awhile.'' 
 
 Arthur smiled. He reached forward and extended a hand. In silence, the two men shook hands firmly, and then relaxed back into their seats. They lifted their cups, nodded briefly, and emptied their contents, as though it was all rehearsed. 
 
 Arthur closed his eyes and sunk into his sofa restfully. He wondered what Emily and Katherine and Mike were doing now. Were they together? Would they all meet again? Do people age in heaven? Not that it mattered. He was sure they would still look as beautiful as always. Maybe they had already been born again and, who knows, maybe he had even crossed path with them or their parents once without knowing. That would be nice. He had lived a good, long life. He had experienced the joy of family, he had a decent job, he had kind coworkers who did not resent his age, he had seen the world move out from one war into another and out again and then into another, and although that was quite sad it was also not that sad because he knew eventually the world would come out of the war again. And now, in his final moments, he could have a piping hot cup of brilliant, brilliant espresso for the last time - and that was all he could ask for... 
 
 Across the table, the man gazed at Arthur. Suddenly, Arthur twitched, and he saw life seeping out from Arthur's body. Arthur slept again. 
 
 The man furrowed his brows. A heart attack was not supposed to be this peaceful. In confusion, he looked up at the clock. There were still twenty seconds left. Then he looked in Arthur's cup and saw the fine black powder that had not dissolved. He laughed to himself while shaking his head. *Premature premature death? * He would definitely remember Arthur for a long while. 

