[ WP ] Confronted with Death , he offers you a second chance at life upon completion of a trial . He lays in front of you three paths to choose from : blood , sweat , or tears .

I found myself standing naked, in a brightly lit room whose walls stretched to infinity. My eyes were blurry from the sudden infusion of light, but I could make out someone sitting in front of a desk a few feet in front of me. I rubbed my eyes trying to get them focused. It was right then that the person yelled, in a british accent, `` Would you please take a seat? I have n't got all day''. 
 
 I racked my brains trying to remember how I got here, and why I was naked. After no success, I proceeded to sit on a metal chair in front of the desk. I expected to feel the chill of cold metal against my back, but I felt nothing at all. I lifted my head to look right at a brown skinned, red eyed, black haired man looking at me. 
 
 `` Did... you... drug... me'', I asked, barely being able to get the words out. 
 
 `` I did n't have to'', he replied. `` This is how I found you. Here's some tea, this'll make you feel better''. 
 
 And sure enough, there was a cup of tea right in front of me. I could've sworn it was n't there before. It was peppermint tea, with a dash of lemon and honey. Just the way I liked it. 
 
 `` I suppose you have a lot of questions'', he asked, with a hint of a smile. 
 
 `` Yes'', I replied. The tea had helped calm me down. `` Where am I and why am I naked? And more importantly, who are you, and why are n't you wearing a shirt?'' 
 
 `` I'm not wearing trousers either'', he replied, looking a bit amused. `` We do n't have weather here, and I ca n't afford a tailor. Do n't worry, I wo n't stand up if knowing that eases you a bit''. 
 
 `` Well, atleast something's positive about this situation. But why am I here, and why am I...'' 
 
 `` You're dead, Jim'', he replied. Dammit, I've been drugged and kidnapped by a trekkie. I hated trekkies. 
 
 `` Alright, that's enough. Who put you up to this? Am I on TV? Am I on youtube?'' 
 
 `` No, Jim. You're here because you've caught a sudden case of death, I'm afraid. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm the entity you earthlings call'Death' `` 
 
 I could n't believe what he was saying. I did n't want to talk to him anymore. I tried waking up, but I could n't move. Did he spike the tea? 
 
 `` The memory enhancers in the tea should be kicking in by now. Remember. Remember your last moments, and know that I'm telling the truth. Try closing your eyes, that might help''. 
 
 `` YOU SON OF A BIT-''. Just as I was about to blurt out a profanity, a memory flashed in my head. A memory of me crossing a street at night. I was in the middle of the road... my chest... started hurting... as the memory got clearer... a bright light coming closer... and closer... and closer...'' 
 
 `` I died from a heart attack. And that light. The light at the end of the tunnel? `` 
 
 `` Well, you got a heart attack, but you did n't die from it. The bright lights were from a bus than hit you going about... I have it written down somewhere... oh yes, going 60 kilometers an hour. And that's why you're here. That's what brought you to me''. 
 
 `` You really are death'', I replied. the pain in my chest going away gradually. 
 
 `` Well, yes and no. Creatures on earth call me death. Well, specifically people who speak english. But I am known by many names on earth, and many more by creatures from different planets. But I particularly like Yamraj. You may call me Yam, for short''. 
 
 `` Well, Yam. What now. Do you get to decide where I go? ``, I asked. I wish I was n't so direct, I did n't want to do anything that would hurt my chances of going to heaven. 
 
 `` Ordinarily, I would. But you see my good man, the heart attack was supposed to kill you, not the bus. Upper management was very upset when they found out. So they sent me to administer the trial''. 
 
 `` What trial? I thought I was done with trials after high school''. I started praying to all the deities whose names I could remember for a multiple choice trial. To my surprise, Yam reached into his drawer and pulled out 3 fortune cookies, each with a different colour. 
 
 `` Your trial will consist of one of three paths. Blood, sweat, or tears. The red fortune cookie is the blood trial. The yellow one is sweat. And the green one is tears''. 
 
 `` Blood, sweat, and... I do n't understand'', I said, wondering what kind of twisted surprises Yam had in store for me. 
 
 `` Think of them as a, sort of, general trial theme. You pick one, open it, and the paper inside explains what your trial will be.'' 
 
 `` How much time do I have? ``, I asked, hoping I'd get some time to consider these choices, and whether they'd turn out to be the american-chinese version of a monkey's paw. 
 
 `` You have 5 earth minutes to decide. ``, he replied, looking visibly disappointed. 
 
 `` What?! That's not fai-'' 
 
 `` It's a rule, Jim. I ca n't be with you for a long time, I have other responsibilties. It's not such a hard choice, Jim. I'm sure you'll make the right one''. 
 
 `` Yes, right. I'll... give it a try''. He seemed like a nice guy when I first saw him. But the more time I spent with him, the more he started to resemble that guy at the DMV. Come to think of it, that guy was the reason why I did n't get my license and had to walk back home that day. 
 
 `` Tick tock'', proclaimed Yam, the DMV kin. 
 
 `` Right, right, I'm thinking'', I replied, trying not to look too flustered. I had to make the right choice, this was my 2nd chance at life. I had to consider my options. Blood. I did n't really like blood. I did n't want to lose any of my own blood, but I had no inclination of being around blood that was n't mine. So that was out of the question. Sweat. I had n't worked hard a single day in my life. The most work I ever did was moving that couch from by the trash bin into my house.If sweat turned out to be a test of strength, I would definitely fail. Tears. I was never very emotional.Even when my dad took me to that Star Trek movie, I did n't shed a single tear when Spock died.I came closer to crying when my dad started calling me Jim ever since we saw that movie. And I was already dead, what could possible make me cry? 
 
 `` Tears. I'll go with tears.'' 
 
 `` Are you sure, Jim? Remember, once you open the fortune cookie, there's no turning back.'' 
 
 `` I suppose. It's something I think I can pass'', I said, trying to muster all the confidence I could. I picked up the pink fortune cookie, and broke it open. It broke into bits, escaping through my fingers, leaving only the piece of paper. I turned it around to read a name of it. My wife, Tina. 
 
 `` Yes, I'm afraid, if you're to live, Tina has to die''. Before I could say anything, Yam pulled out a screen. It had Tina on it, she was in my home. She must've got back early from her mother's place, probably to surprise me for our 4th anniversary. It was 4 days before out actual anniversary, but she liked to celebrate our anniversary on the Friday night closest to it. 
 
 `` Your trial will be to sit right there, and watch her die, without shedding a single tear'', he said, with a fiendish look on his face. 
 
 I could n't believe what I just heard. I guess is was my own fault for trusting death. My life for hers. I sat there, looking flummoxed, just praying I could be with her one more time. 
 
 `` Well, let's begin'', he said. As soon as he said that, she got an uncomfortable look on her face. She was visibly dizzy. She sat down on the couch I dragged into my home. Our couch. She grimaced, I could tell that she was in pain. She started coughing, her breathing growing heavier by the second. Tears started rolling down her face, she... was in pain. I could n't bear her pain. 
 
 `` STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT NOW! I WO N'T LET YOU HURT HER'', I yelled. 
 
 `` Are you sure? You're under trial remember?'' 
 
 `` YES, DAMN IT! Yes... I... ca n't lose her. My live will be pointless without her in it. I'll take death over harming her in any way''. 
 
 `` Very well'', he said. I saw her instantly start feeling better. She sat up straight, looking confused, then proceeded to get up and have a drink of water. 
 
 `` Thank you'', I said, finding myself choking up. I did n't notice I had started crying, tears streaming from my eyes, along my cheek, and all over my breasts. 
 
 `` Well Jim, congratulations. You passed the test''. 
 
 I could n't believe what he just said. `` I... passed?'' 
 
 `` Yes Jim. You passed. I've met many creatures, both human and otherwise, who let a loved one die just for another chance at life. We do n't give them a second chance. But you, you proved you deserve one. Here, let me make it official.'' 
 
 He pulled out an official looking document. He put it in front of me, and said `` This is a certificate that says you officially passed my trial. Congratulations, Jim. Or should I say, Gemma.'' 
 
 `` Yes, Yam. Please call me Gemma from now'', I said with an air of authority. 
 
 `` No can do, Jim. Gemma Triskin, such an ordinary name. But Jim. Being named after the greatest starship captain in the federation should be an honor, even for a girl. It's only logical''. 
 
 `` Well, what now? ``, I asked, growing impatient and annoyed. 
 
 `` Now, we say our goodbyes. We probably wo n't be seeing each other for a while now, Jim. In a moment, you'll be transported back to earth. I already took the liberty of sending you all the way home. Have a nice rest of your life, Jim. Live long, and prosper'' 
 
 Before I could say anything, I found myself in front of my apartment. I found myself back in my clothes. I was wearing my favorite pink sweater. Quite ironic, I thought. I pulled me keys out of my pants suit, and as soon as I unlocked my door, Tina yelled'SURPRISE'. I had to pretend to be surprised, I doubt she'd believe where I had just been. She hugged me with all her might. 
 
 [ continued ] 
 

