“I’ll do mouth to mouth, go get the oxygen mask.” I asked my team, approaching the man running short of breath on the floor. I started my task but a few seconds later I declared the man dead. His time had arrived and nobody really knew it was me. “I am really sorry. I will inform the family, don’t worry.” I said covering the dead body with a white sheet. Calling the families was always something unique for some reason. I have been around for as long as the ocean waves, for as long as the sun and the moon in the sky, for as long as ever and yet I could still be puzzled with the thousands of people’s different reactions. These could be anything between “I understand, Dr Jones. Yes, you did all you could.” and “Go to hell, Dr Jones. You should have saved him. I will sue you for negligence.” Humans were interesting fellows and, despite my job, I thoroughly enjoyed my life among them. “We have had a tough day. Let’s go for a drink later. On me.” I said to my team. Even though they were all used to having patients dying - it happened on a daily basis, after all - they always hated when they lost a patient. They felt they were failing their jobs. So I always tried to cheer them up. “You sure, Dr Jones?” one of the nurses asked, taking her mask off. “You always pay. It should be one of us this evening.” “Nah, it’s fine. Just go home when your shift ends and I shall see you at The Drunk Beaver at 8pm.” “You’re really a cool boss, Dr Jones.” I smiled and checked my list of patients. Two more people to see. Unfortunately they wouldn’t make it to the following day either. I walked into the room of this middle-aged man who looked at me with resignation in his eyes. He didn’t know who I was, yet he was ready for me without even realising it. My Master had his ways, that was for sure. “Don’t worry. You will be ok.” I reassured him with the most benevolent smile my lips could draw. I honestly tried to make sure humans would go as pain-free as possible. Unfortunately they also had their ways that not even I could change. That was when they made my job seriously overwhelming. I absolutely hated wars. Still, I never failed my Master whenever he decided the fate of people. I just stayed there staring at the man until the sharp but quick pain in his chest ended his life. Same ritual of covering his face with a white sheet and calling the family. The next person was hard for me. Children were always hard, no matter how often I did it. But this young girl had terminal cancer and unfortunately her days were up. So sad... Just like the old man, she looked at me with resignation in her eyes. She had no hair, no eyebrows and looked terribly exhausted of the endless chemo sessions her small body had had to endure. “Is it today, Dr Jones?” she asked. The lump in her throat tightened. With children I always revealed my identity in their very last moments. For some reason, perhaps because of their innocence, they never really feared me. Maybe because they weren’t really sure of what exactly I was or really meant to humankind. “It is, darling. I am so sorry.” I looked at the doll she was holding in her hand and tears came to my eyes. How ironic that Death could feel pain too. “Why? Other children grow up, go on school trips, graduate... why can’t I do that?” she wasn’t revolted. She really was just curious. “Because the Master has so decided, sweetheart. I don’t get to decide, He does. I merely do as He asks me.” “Is that why people are afraid of you?” “Yes... and that is also why I never tell them who I am and I never show them my real appearance. Only to children like you because your cadence protects you from the shock. That is something I will always find beautiful.” “Will the Master tell me why he made me go to Him while I was still a child?” “I actually don’t know, my dear. He never tells me what the nature of the conversations is with those I send to Him.” She sighed and I sat next to her. She looked for my hand and grabbed it. Children would always amaze me for the courage they showed in their last moments. As if they trusted me for some reason even though I was the one ending their lives. I held her hand tight and stayed with her until her last breath. Then I closed her eyes and covered her head with the sheet. Called the family and stayed on the phone for as long as the devastated mother needed. No wonder most humans hated me - not Dr Jones, I mean ME - I could empathise with them. I arrived super late to The Drunk Beaver where my team was waiting for me cheerfully. I stopped by the door watching them laugh and crack jokes. I truly hoped my Master didn’t have any plans for them to go anytime soon. I still wanted to give them a few more drinks and make them happy. Making this bunch I was proud to call my team happy was the very least Death could do. Tomorrow would be another day in hospital.