Another little prompt from that writing group on Facebook. We did a live sprint, or rather, several, and then ended up with a ten minute flash writing challenge.
The prompt was Death.
This was what came to me…
DEATH
Death.
Huh.
You don’t scare me.
Really.
You’re just a namby-pamby character in a stupid, dark, hooded costume.
That scythe? It looks like you ordered it from Amazon.
Seriously.
You know what scares me more?
Suffering.
It’s not the fact that you want to take me.
It’s more how you plan on doing it.
Will it hurt? How long will it last?
And will I be able to see my family one last time?
Now that.
That scares me the most.
Never seeing my family again.
Not being able to say goodbye.
Not being there to give guidance to my children, be the lifetime companion of my partner, be the support for my elderly parents.
Death, you can take me.
Just make sure you give me enough warning.
Enough time to embrace all the ones I love, just one more time
Enough time to write letters to them all, with my words of advice for them.
Enough time to make sure I’m not leaving them in dire straits.
Please.
That’s all I ask.
It’s not much, really, is it?
Well, obviously it must be at the moment.
You are in a right rush, aren’t you?
Taking people left, right and centre.
All I see are people weeping, broken because they couldn’t say their farewells.
I’m hearing reports of these poor folk ill, suffering, alone in a hospital bed, with no one but the medical angels around them, scurrying from patient to patient, easing their last moments as best, they can, knowing there is little they can do.
Seriously, Death, I’ve had enough now.
I’m actually not ready to go with you.
I’ve got far too much to do.
I’m stronger than you – well, my willpower is, anyway.
I’m not going anywhere.
Just you try.
Anyway, I’m not allowed out anywhere at the moment.
How are you going to get in, when I’m not even opening the front door?
Goodbye, Death.
I’ll see you when I’m ready.
Ritu 2020
