[ WP ] Death falls in love with you , but you 're very ill and want to die . He refuses to take you ( until ) ... .

I have longed for death for quite some time now. My emaciated body has been through the war grounds of cancer treatments and back again, and my mind wen from hopeful to tired. I am so tired. When the doctor came into my room with what she supposed was a sympathetic face, I knew. I politely listened as she waxed on about how I was out of options, and how that she and the rest of my team of doctors would do everything in their power to make me comfortable. I put on the correct face I suppose. The one that says my heart is breaking about my life coming to an abrupt halt, but inside I couldn ’ t have been more elated. Did I mention how tired I was? 
 
 It had been days since that conversation. I had many family members come in and tell me tearfully that this was not the end, that I was a fighter. I nodded along with them, I had to. In my coming death, I knew that they needed me to be strong for them. It ’ s weird I know, that they should have been strong for me. The dying always has to comfort the living, especially those of us that die slowly. After all, they are the ones left with the gap in their lives, and I get to move on. I no longer have to hurt. I lay there in my hospital bed, waiting, listening to the faint beep of the plethora of monitors that have been hooked up to my husk of a body. I was alone, finally, counting my breathes anticipating my last, when I felt that coldness, that unnatural disturbance in the air. 
 
 I cracked open my eyes to find a man, who looked like many others I would find on the street. It was his eyes that captivated me, the other worldliness, the timelessness, eyes that I when I looked into them I saw my own death. I smiled, finally my time had come. Death reached out and with the back of his scarred hand stroked my cheek. I closed my eyes, preparing so separate from my body, and shuffle of this mortal coil, as they say. 
 
 “ You are so beautiful, ” is what I heard instead. My eyes flew back open in surprise, and I see Death standing there staring, indecision marring is face. Wasn ’ t I supposed to be gone? Or maybe Death just likes to say something nice before you ’ re gone? Why was he standing there looking so damned confused? 
 
 “ Umm… excuse me, I appreciate the compliment and all, but really I ’ m good. If we could just get this done and over with. Trust me I ’ m ready. ” I say this all out in a rush. Not only because talking is a tad bit painful, but because talking to Death is not something you ever picture yourself doing. 
 
 Death takes a deep breath in, and mutters something I can ’ t hear. He shakes his head, and looks at me and back and forth between me and the door. Finally, he strides over to the plastic sea green chair, pulls it next to my bed and sits down. “ I ’ ve never done this before, you see, I ’ ve read about that this can sometimes happen in the manual, but I was pretty sure someone was pulling my leg. You know, what you call hazing now days. It hasn ’ t happened to anybody in my department so I was sure it was a prank. ” He shakes his head again, and starts to fidget while staring at me with those bottomless eyes. 
 
 “ What the hell are you talking about? What is going on here, and what department? Look I ’ m ready to die now ok? ’ I ’ m trying to sit up, as my voice is straining in a weak attempt at a shout. I ’ m pretty sure Death has gone off the deep end. 
 
 “ Oh, well of course you wouldn ’ t know, ” he pulls at the collar of his shirt loosening his tie, while he chuckles a bit nervously. “ I ’ m a Death Agent. It doesn ’ t really matter to people of the living, but well if you show aptitude after you die you can transfer over to the bureau… oh that doesn ’ t matter now! I ’ ve found you! ” 
 
 “ Of course, you found me. I ’ m dying, so you ’ re supposed to come here. Look I don ’ t really know a lot on how this is supposed to work, but I don ’ t give a fuck what you call yourself, Death or death agent, but do your damn job! ” I ’ m worked up now. I ’ m supposed to be somewhere comfortable. You know like with a halo and wings, or on my way to start another life. I don ’ t really care about the specifics about this point, I just know I want this one to end. 
 
 “ I can ’ t let you do that. ” He reaches out to me, and gives me a wistful look. 
 If I had the strength I would punch him, but I don ’ t, so I settle on a very pissed off glare. “ Why, the hell not? ” 
 
 “ Because it ’ s you, I ’ ve found you so now I can ’ t take you to the other side. You ’ re… ” 
 
 “ I don ’ t give a damn what I am! I am done, so done! So, get you ’ re scythe or lay on hands me, or do whatever it is you do and get this over with. ” My voice is cracking, my vocal chords aren ’ t used to anything more than a whisper 
. 
 Death, or the Death Agent sits forward, and urgently grasps my hand. “ Listen! You want this life to end, fine. I can do that. I just can ’ t take you to the normal other side, that ’ s the problem. ” He says this with such an intensity, that his words sink in and I pause for a moment. 
 
 “ Why, ” is all I can manage to croak out. I am so intent on his answer, that until he looks down at our hands, mine encompassed in his, I had forgotten that it was there at all. Waiting for him to speak, I thought about our hands like this, and found it strangely comforting, like it belonged there. 
 
 “ When you get your manual, there is a small part that talks about finding your souls twin. I ’ ve never heard of it actually happening, and neither has anybody I ’ ve known. It ’ s one of those things that we thought was put in there just to poke fun of us. ” 
 
 “ So, you ’ re saying that I ’ m… ” 
 
 “ Yes. ” 
 
 “ So, this means? ” 
 
 “ When you die, you come with me. ” 
 
 “ Where ever it is that you go? ” 
 
 “ Exactly ” 
 
 I nod my head uncertain, but if I get to die it ’ s worth it, right? I close my eyes, and then I ’ m standing next to Death looking down at my body. 
 
 “ Does this mean I get to work as a Death Agent? ” I ’ m really curious to know, as I watch I team of nurses and doctors swarm over my body. 
 
 “ That ’ s what I ’ ve been saying! You ’ re my partner. ” 
 
 I look at Death very much relieved that this wasn ’ t a fling the girl over your shoulder and carry her off to who knows where moments. After all I barely know this agent. 
 

