Sophie’s eyes shut and her heart stopped beating. Her souls escaped from her body for a break.

“Hello again.” she said in a peaceful voice.

“Hello little sophie, come sit with me for a moment.” Death gestured her to his lap.

“Alright but i can’t stay long, my mother will worry.”

Sophie made her way to death and death cradled her in his lap like a newborn baby. Sophie felt safe in deaths arms, she felt at peace. She wished so badly she could stay with death forever. Death always had to send her back to life. Life was cruel to her, cursing her with this condition. She hated that they couldn’t find out what was wrong with her or how to fix it. She hated that she couldn’t live how other people lived. Life must really hate her. Life blessed others with gifts like talents and good health. Sophie wasn’t as lucky. It worried her mother, her mother was always terrified of the day sophie didn’t come back. Death would never let sophie say long, he had to send her back.

“Death?” sophie whispered.

“Yes sophie.”

“Why can’t i stay with you?”

“Oh my sweet, sweet sophie, i wish very much you could stay with me but you can’t. It’s not your time sweet girl. Don’t you want to live? See more?”

Sophie shook her head softly,” There’s no point.”

Death held her closer,” My dear child, you are a survivor.”

Sophie shook her head again, she may only be eight years old but she was smart,” you can’t survive something unidentifiable.”

Death tilted his head subtly, he loved this girl with all he had. She was his best friend, like a daughter to him. Death wished he could protect her from Life. Take her away from this curse. Take away the pain. He had no control of when she came to stay with him permanently. He just hoped she would be okay without him.

“It’s time to go now sophie.” he said in a soothing voice.

“fine.” she replied.

Her soul found its way back to her body and she took in a deep inhale. Sophie stayed perfectly still and calm. Her mother looked down at her crying.

“You got to stop doing that Sophie,” she laughed,” it scares me.” her mother said.

“Mamma why can’t i just let go. Why won’t death take me in?” sophie asked.

Her mother looked down at her, tears still rolling down her cheek. “ Oh sophie i’m so sorry.” Her mother cradled her head in her hands and kissed her on the forehead.

“I just want it to stop mommy. I want the pain to stop. i want it all to go away.” sophie pleaded.

“I know baby, i know.”