For All Time (Part 1 of 3)

It occurred to me that it has been over two years since I received an honorable mention in the Felix Dennis writing competition in the Stratford Literary Festival for a story I wrote about Death. Literally. My main character was Death. And it occurred to me that perhaps, I should share that story with you. And then it occurred to me that that story was too long for one post, so I decided to split it across three. Enjoy! (And please pardon the cheesy plot: after all, I was younger then.)

For All Time

“This job is getting old,” Death said to himself. And his statement was quite literal. For, you see, Death’s story went back way past most anything you could imagine. Past the Louisiana Purchase, past Babylon, even past the dinosaurs. For, in fact, Death’s story started way back when the universe itself was said to have been created. He witnessed what you mortals nowadays can only dream about. Let me explain.

Millennia ago, when the universe itself burst into existence, so did Death. Death was not cruel, as many today picture him. He was, much like you, a normal human being. Well, almost. For, you see, Death was immortal. He himself was created, like the rest of us, different. Taking the form of a human being, he was created as a full grown man. Yet he knew not of his job to-be, nor how he came to exist. In fact, none of us did, save the Sun, who guided us into our rightful positions.

I was there when the Sun told Death his name, his new line of work, and the job criteria, so to speak. Old as I am, I still remember the conversation I witnessed, fresh as grass in spring. “Your name shall be Death.” The Sun began. “Your job is to take the Lives of those who are Ready, and welcome the new Dead to the Underworld.” Death seemed to understand the job reasonably well. He dispatched himself to the Underworld to begin his job.

That was when the Sun turned to me. He spoke in a stern, deep voice, yet it was still kind. “You shall be the Moon. You shall light the Night with the Stars during my rest. The people will look to you for guidance as you reflect my Light unto them.” To my surprise, I understood exactly what he meant.

We all went to our works. Centuries passed. Every decade or so we held a council to discuss our jobs. That’s when things changed. We had gathered for one of our councils, and the Sun had started talking to Death. “And how is your job?” he asked, expecting the usual response.

“Honestly, it’s getting kind of boring,” Death replied. “Could we, say, exchange jobs for a day? Or take a vacation?”

“This is your job, Death! There is no vacation from a job as important as yours!”

“Well, has it ever, ever, occurred to you, brilliant you, that I might not like my job? I quit!”

Sun gasped, then regained his composure and replied, “There is no quitting your job, Death. Don’t even try. You are destined to pluck Souls and welcome them to the Underworld.”

“Easy for you to say. Everyone looks forward to the Sunrise, when the dark and scary Night passes,” Death scoffed. “I, on the other hand, am feared, banished to the Underworld, and hated! People always look forward to you, but I am despised. I’m sick of it. I quit!”

“Death, you cannot quit. Please try to make the most out of your job.”

Death slumped his shoulders and went home, if anyone can call the Underworld a home.

I hope you enjoyed the beginning of my story! The rest will be posted these next two Sundays, if you’d like to finish it. Or, perhaps, you liked the message of the Sun’s statement as a final note, and you don’t really want to read the rest of the story, in which case, don’t! It’s all up to you!