Death is infinite, but life? Life is much harder. Finite to be exact. We all know we will die, but no one knows the exact date or time. In fact, there are a thousand reasons why we involve people in it- for the connection. But we, you and I, are more than these connections. We are assassins. Yes, we met on the job and crossed paths but you’re the only one who can do it. Who can end my life.

So, nothing is more precious than that, than you. My be all end all. My harbinger of death. I never thought you’d be the one to give me such sweet release, but those who witness my death will think less of you. A murderer. No longer a man. A monster.

And while your hands wrap around my waist, you pull me in closer. Not looking anywhere else but staring deep into my eyes so that it seems like it really is just us in the world. Perhaps if we had met sooner, I could have loved you longer and life would’ve been infinite for us. You will yourself to not press the trigger, but you can’t do it so I place my index finger on top of yours as I whisper in your ear, “Let me go.”I inhale the last bit of oxygen that I will ever take and exhale.

From your lips I hear you painfully recite the oath we knew from the moment we were trained as assassins, “He will give you death, and you will love him for it.” Wet tears flowed from your face like they had when we were little kids and I bandaged you up when you skinned your knee. Except this time it was different. This time the damage would be permanent.

My knee wasn’t hurt, but my soul was. I was burdened by constantly taking lives. My mind quickly flashed back to the assassin academy when we all first recited the oath, feeling giddy wondering who the next wealthiest person was on our list. But now, I felt liberated knowing that it was he who would be my assassin instead. I closed my eyes and repeated after him, “He will give you death, and you will love him for it.”