Writing Prompt #203 “Letters to Death”

I’ve always loved to write letters. This one is perhaps a little different.


Tomb of Wayfaring Souls

Dear Death,
I hope you don’t mind as I realise you’re busy and all, but I was wondering if you ever take time off?
I saw a film once where you took a holiday, fell in love, and learned a little bit about us as people rather than a note on your calendar for disposal.
Some people say you are Mr Nasty, but I don’t think you’re related to that guy on the TV talent show at all. Besides, sometimes you come and collect people when they’re asleep and that’s not nasty at all, so I think you’re just misunderstood.

I mean, if it wasn’t for you, the world would be too full of people and we wouldn’t have any space to move or put everyone. I saw a TV sci-fi programme about that too, so the Planet’s Leaders took Captain Kirk’s blood to infect people and let them die in due course.

I don’t think I’d like your job.
How do you get paid? Is there a currency called Souls?
Do people chat to you on the way to Forever? Is it up to you which turn they take, or do you drop them off in Heaven or Hell like a taxi service?
How do you know when to collect? Do you have a diary reminder like e-mail that pops up with your list of the day?
Do you always run to time, or have you been known to miss someone because you were running late?

That’s why I’m writing.
I’d like you to miss someone. If it’s possible of course, and you won’t get into trouble.
It’s my Mom.
She’s only young and has been taken into hospital for a big operation. Dad says she’s very ill and might die.
I don’t want my Mom to die, Death. At least not yet.
I hear my Dad crying at night. He’s not sleeping well, and trying so hard not to let me and my little brother know how unhappy he is.

It’s only my Mom and Dad, Timmy and me.
Could you forget to collect my Mom for say, another hundred years?
Being so busy with all the other people you have to gather together, do you think you could simply ‘miss’ my Mom?

Yours respectfully,

Jamie (aged 9½).



About pensitivity101


4 Responses to Writing Prompt #203 “Letters to Death”

  1. micketalbot says:

    That ended in a tear jerker 😦 😉

  2. scifihammy says:

    Aw this is so poignant.

  3. Definitely a tear-jerker there at the end. You really held character and the letter was precious

Leave a Reply


WordPress.com Logo


Google photo


Twitter picture


Facebook photo


Connecting to %s