When death comes knocking

“Thanks again. You’re a lifesaver.” 

Your coworker thanks you profusely through the phone

“No problem, just send the files over, I’ll take a look at it. Quicker we solve this case, the quicker those pensioners get their money back. Alright, I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.”

You reply through the phone, phone wedged between your head and shoulder as you search through your cabinet, searching for sustenance for what you were sure was going to be a long night.

Standing at your kitchen island, you yawn as you open the tea bag, a cup of hot water in your hand.

As you walk to your table, the low hum of your computer the only sound disturbing an otherwise peaceful night, you hear the doorbell ring.

That’s odd, you mused, it was late. Who could be here?

Throwing a sweater on as you walked, you stepped to the door, opening it while rubbing your eye.

At the door, stood a slender figure, body covered by a long black robe, a scythe in one hand, and a scroll in the other. A scroll with your name on it.

“Good Evening, I’m here to collect your soul.” The black clad figure said.

“Oh, honey, it’s late, why don’t you come in for a cup of tea? Everything else can wait.” You beckoned her into the room, much to the confusion of the figure at the door.

“Please do come in and close the door behind you, if you would, it gets windy at night, and it’s a tad chilly.” You say, walking back to the drawer, taking another tea bag.

The figure stood confused, but she nodded, stepping in, closing the door behind her as her scythe shrunk to the size of a hair, picking it and putting it into her ear.

“Please, sit. Is there anything else I can get you?” You asked, setting the cup down before her, bundling up the documents on your table and setting them aside.

“You’re not afraid?” The figure asked, looking at you in confusion.

“What do I call you? Calling you Grim Reaper seems a little lengthy,  Thanatos is, well, it’s not the simplest either.”

“Mina.” She said, slowly reaching for the cup, still trying to figure out what you were doing.

Was this some kind of trick, to stall her long enough for you to make a worthless attempt at running, or some attempted drugging of a non-corporeal form that just amounted to a sad waste of drugs.

Mina had seen it all, collecting souls for so long, some people did think themselves able to elude death.

“Well, Hollywood likes to vilify you, that you are the personification of death, and that you want to drag souls to the afterlife, kicking and screaming. But you’re just doing your job. Ferrying us into the next plane, soothing us along the ride.” You say, leaning back on the couch, sipping your tea.

Mina was stunned, to say the least. She had seen every reaction to her arrival. Fear, Anger, Desperation, Bargaining, Denial, Delusion, Acceptance even. But no one really understood her.

“That’s a new one.” Mina commented, a light chuckle.

“Perhaps. I see a lot in the world, so I have a rather unique view on the world, if I could say so myself.” You say, running a hand through your hair with a sigh.

“Besides, I can’t imagine it’s easy for you. Sure, taking the souls of the bad people, probably pretty satisfying. But the souls of the innocent, those undeserving of death. Watching them cry and beg for their lives. It can’t be easy.” You asked, Mina’s gaze softening as moments from her infinite life flashed before her.

“It isn’t all bad. It’s not always a good experience, seeing good people go, but I consider it an honour, to ferry their souls to the afterlife, to find peace.”

“Do you have a favourite story? You’ve reaped the souls of every person who has ever passed, I’m sure some have stood out to you.” You asked, seeing Mina look confused.

“You’re an interesting one.” Mina with a small smile, though you could see the confusion hidden within

“There was this lady, most who knew her called her Kam, and she had a wife, Jimin. They were good people. Jimin was the daughter of a successful businessman. When they inherited the business, they used their financial freedom to help those in need. They funded orphanages, organised several non-profits. They were good people. Her wife passed away several years ago. I took her on a quiet evening, when the two had gone camping. After the initial shock wore off, all Jimin wanted was 5 minutes. She woke Kam up, speaking her last words to her. A reassurance of love, last pleas to take care of herself. Before Jimin left, she had set Kam down, making her think it was a dream. So, years later, when I came to collect Kam’s soul, she seemed unsurprised. She spoke of that night. She asked if it really was a dream, or did Jimin really speak to her before she died. It was a heartwarming sight. To know that two people could love each other so much, that they feared the other being lonely more than they feared death.”

“Love must be a foreign thing for you, huh? I mean no offence by that of course, just that, I assume being the Grim Reaper doesn’t leave much time for love.” You say softly.

Mina shoots you back a small smile. It was nice to be understood.

“Well, I’ve wasted enough of your time, we probably need to get going soon?” You warily ask, feeling your heart thumping against your chest, fighting to escape.

“We have some time. Can I ask you some questions?” Mina asked with a smile.

“Of course. Before that though, do you mind if we go somewhere else? Outside maybe? I heard the stars are showing tonight, it’s supposed to be beautiful.” You say with a smile, moving from your seat, refilling Mina’s cup before walking out to the small patch of grass in front of your home.

Mina looked on in confusion, but mostly amusement. The path she was set on was a lonely one. This was fun.

“Come!” You pull Mina out from her thoughts, seeing you lying on the ground, excitedly patting the ground next to you.

“That’s a whole lot of mud.” Mina said, looking down at the mud in apprehension.

“So to escape death, all I have to do is hide in a puddle of mud? Come on, Miss Supernatural being, have a little fun!” You said, chuckling as you slammed your hand down onto the mud, causing it to splatter onto Mina.

“Did you just splash mud on the Grim Reaper?” Mina asked, and anyone just listening to this conversation would have nailed you for dead, but you saw her gummy smile, and the playful glint in her eyes.

Mina’s fingers plucked the hair from her ear, blowing on it as it grew into her scythe, then using the end of her scythe, began hurling mud at you with a chuckle.

“Hey! No fair!” You shout out in the middle of your laughing fit as you tried to block the mud with your hands.

“I yield! I yield!” You shout out, panting, chuckling as Mina put her hands up, the scythe shrinking back

Taking a hose to the side of your yard, you cleaned yourself up a little, face and hair primarily, before going back to lay down with Mina.

“The stars are beautiful tonight, aren’t they?” You whisper with a smile on your face.

“They are.” Mina replies with a smile, though her eyes fell short of the stars, instead falling onto your side profile, which gazed in wonder at the stars.

“Have you ever thought about how the stars we see right now, the ones that shine so bright and illuminate the night sky, really aren’t there anymore?” You said with a forlorn smile.

Mina hums in agreement, though her focus laid more in the stars she found in your eyes.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it. The thought that even after you die, as long as you shone during your lifetime, you’d leave behind something for people to remind you of, no matter how big or small the star. A reminder that they were here, and they mattered.”

“That’s a unique way to think about it. That’s the first I’ve heard of it at least. Most astronomers beg for their life, or try to square up with the scythe wielding hooded figure. They’re smart, but their fight-or-flight response needed work.” Mina joked, a smile on her face as you began to chuckle in tandem.

“It is a hopeful way of seeing the stars though. Most of the people I talk to, usually are more concerned with what happens after their light fades.” Mina said with a sigh

“That’s just the thing though, I don’t think the stars care about whether anyone depends on their light, or what happens after they die. They just burn as bright as they can while they’re here, and after they’re gone, their light stays with us, a reminder, a declaration. I was here, and my legacy will far outlive me. It’s a nice thought. That things don’t end when we think they do.”

“You talk of endings like you’re not afraid of them. It’s admirable.” Mina said, her tone a mix of admiration and sadness. It would be a shame once she brought you to the end.

“You understand that I invited the Grim Reaper into my house and offered her tea?” You joked, Mina giggling in response.

“Touche.”

“Okay, I’m not, not afraid, but I just…mortality is a tough thing to really grasp. I can understand that death comes for everyone, but I still don’t want it to come for me.” You lament, a drop in your cheery facade that took Mina by surprise.

“I’m glad it’s with you though. Thank you.” You whisper, Mina shooting you back a comforting smile.

Just then, rain began pouring down, pelting both you and Mina.

“Let’s head inside shall we?” Mina said, extending her hand with a theatrical bow, a move that shocked even her. She wasn’t one for, well, one for any of this. It confused her, but at the moment, all she really cared about was your hand looped around her arm, walking into the house like an old couple.

In the house, you took a towel, wiping yourself down, then changing into a new clean set of clothes. Emerging from the toilet, you saw Mina standing at the door, teacup in hand, staring out the window, clearly deep in thought. A little part of you knew, it was time.

With a final gulp, Mina set the cup down onto the cup, draping her hood over her head, scythe in hand.

“Thank you for the Tea.” Mina said, walking to the door.

With a deep breath, you followed behind her, only to be stopped.

“For our next meeting, I’d like Chamomile, if you’d please.”