I am the undertaker. The grim reaper. The god Thatanos. Many people have called me many things throughout the course of history. But to put it simply, I am Death. The keeper of fallen souls and escort of pale bodies.

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It’s not easy being me. Every day I chose who is next. Who I will take into my cold hands and sever their last tethers to life. I have many assistants, but sometimes the souls need a little extra coaxing to move on.

Today it was a young boy named Leo. He was only fifteen years old, yet had already wandered into my grasp. It was sad, yet it was the way of the world. In order birth new souls, old ones had to die. Even if they weren’t that old.

“Its time, isn’t it? Time for me to die?” He was propped up in his hospital bed, which was facing out the window. He was watching the sunrise.

I nodded solemnly. The living couldn’t see me, but someone as close to death as Leo could.

“But I don’t want to die! I can’t just leave my sister and Dad, they’d be devastated! And my friends! I only just started high school, I wanted to be a jazz saxophonist! I can’t just leave it all behind!” Tears rolled down his face. It always pained be to take souls so young, but it was his time. His own body had betrayed him, left him weak and fragile. It was time for him to move on, wether he wanted to or not. I just needed to help him along a bit.

“Leo, I know it doesn’t seem like it, but it’ll be okay. Your sister and father have each other, and they will be devastated at first, but they’ll eventually learn to live with it. Same for your friends. I know you wanted to do so much more with your life, but look at what you’ve already done. It’s not that bad, not really. And all the pain you’re in right now will vanish as soon as you accept your death. Please, Leo, come with me.”

The tears still rolled. “No!” His voice cracked. “I can’t just leave!”

I had to admit his devotion to life was spectacular. If he wasn’t sick I was sure he could’ve done great things. That’s the worst part of dying, all the “if’s”.

“Leo, if I can’t convince you, I know someone who might.” I usually didn’t bring other souls in on the job, but I felt that it would help Leo greatly. I called on her from her place in my realm, and she materialized before us.

Leo gasped. “M-mom? How?”

She floated over to her son. “Leo, my sweet boy.” She stroked his hair. “I’m so sorry about this. About all of this.” Tears steamed down her face too. Leo’s mother had a genetic disease that had killed her, and she had unknowingly passed it on to her son, and it now killed him too.

“It’s not your fault, mom. I enjoyed the time we had together, and I don’t blame your for anything.”

“Oh, you’re too sweet, my Leo.” They cried together some more. “Does this mean that your ready to move on?”

Leo thought for a moment. “Is it nice there? In whatever’s after this?”

She smiled. “Oh, it’s wonderful. You’ll love it there.”

Leo nodded. “Okay then. I- I’m ready to move on.”

He closed his eyes as his mother leaned down and kissed his forehead. Then Leo’s soul raised from his body, and they both vanished together.

I smiled. It was bittersweet moments like this, souls reunited, that made the job worth it. I vanished back into my realm, where the sound of Leo’s saxophone and his mothers laughter could be heard all over.