The old man’s eyes flutter open as Jai enters the room. He doesn’t have much time left- it’s written on his face. His wrinkles and liver spots tell a story of a long and adventurous life that is now coming to an end. And what an end it is.

The bedside table is filled with get-well-soon cards that- short of a miracle- won’t do anything for the man’s health. Pink and yellow and baby blue images of teddy bears and flowers mean nothing to cancer.

Jai flips through the man’s charts and heaves a heavy sigh. A sigh that carries the weight of the world. The weight of countless burdens. He is by no means a stranger to this reality, but that doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to someone you care for.

As he’s adjusting the old man’s oxygen tube, a leathery, freckled hand rests on his tawny fingers. “You’re so young,” the old man’s voice is heavy with age and disease, “how can you work in a place so filled with death?” This was their usual game: the old man would ask this question and Jai would make up some excuse or otherwise just flat-out ignore it. But not today.

“I am used to death,” Jai says without making eye contact. His voice still carries the faint accent of his home country, a country that no longer exists. “Death was my closest companion growing up. And it never abandoned me.”

“But surely you must have a life outside of here?” the old man is fraught with more concern than necessary.

“I do, but it is much the same. I make my rounds in the streets. I get paged and rush into alleyways. I am Death’s Hand.” Jai says the last words with a sense of finality. Recognition dawns on the old man.

“You are the hero of the shadows? A nurse- a bringer of life- reaps souls in his spare time?”

“I do it at work too.” Jai looks the man in the eye.

“That’s why you’re here, then,” the old man wheezes, “it’s truly my time.”

“Death itself told me.”

“It’s been a pleasure to know you, Jai.“

“Likewise.”

“I’m not afraid of the other side. I know I won’t be alone there.”

“I promise you won’t,” Jai smiles sadly.

With that, the old man closes his eyes one final time.

Jai holds the old man’s soul in his hands while the machines wail around him.

“I’ll miss you.”

And then he lets go.