Death stood above me with a transfixed calmness, a lazy grin stitched on his translucent face. His presence alone sent shivers down my spine. I always knew he’d find me again eventually. I just didn’t know it would be like this, cornered between him and a brick wall. Mustering one last attempt, I tried to run around him but he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward his chest. I could feel his cold breath tickling my neck. “When will you learn you can’t outrun me?” Surely death could take me at any moment, but I've learned over the years that he liked to play games. “You’ve let me go before,” I replied coolly, “just to catch me again. Why are you so cruel?” Death released my arm and stepped back, his grey eyes flashing amber for a second. Suddenly the air around me grew colder. “You think I am cruel? I let you live when you should've died years ago.” A rage of my own filled my lungs. “Am I supposed to thank you for that?! Last time I checked, running is not living!” “Then don’t run,” he stated as he closed the distance between us once again. Lifting his hand to my face, he gently curled a strand of my hair around his index finger. “Why shouldn’t I?” I barely mumbled, my pulse racing through my body. “Maybe I enjoy your company,” Death smiled and dropped his hand from my face, “After all, you are the only human who can see me.” It was then I realized that Death was a lonely creature. A tinge of pity washed over me but I quickly shook it off. Death was still cruel for playing cat and mouse with my life. “I don’t want to see you.” “Oh but you will again. Soon.” Death’s smile never left his face, “That’s a promise.” I blinked, and he was gone as abruptly as he had appeared. The only trace left of him was the bruise forming on my arm. And now I had a choice to make; run again or embrace Death’s visits. Either way, he always found me. It was only a matter of time.