Death's Meeting

The day was ordinary as far as ordinary days go. The people consciously avoiding each other as they passed by on the busy street. The scuffle of shoes, the puffs of breath. Inside the pub the noise began to cease as life’s most valuable lesson is now told.

The old man frightened by his visions or rather haunted by his demons clutched his rosary tighter around his clenched fist. But still I walked on. I passed the butchers sweat shop, the raven’s store, the bakers aroma long gone at this hour. But still I walked on. Top hat firmly in place my cloak rustled by the barely there wind. Cruel thoughts pass through my mind “A fool knows no bounds for his heart’s desire.”  But still I walked on. Seeking, Seeking, always searching, I can’t stop for fear he might catch up. Shadows cast in darkened corners, the cobblestones beneath my feet blissfully silent of night predators. Perhaps I too like the old man should be frightened of what haunts me. A glance over the shoulder will not keep my demons at bay, for last night my destiny has risen to meet me. These feeble bones not made for this quickened pace. Still my memories taunt, for on this very street my fate entreats.

I met death last night on the back corner of an empty street. The fog signature of night’s long hours. I walked much like I was now, hurried to reach my destination. Mind wandered into some long ago memory the steps behind me dulled by failed senses. The steps now echoed my own, the clatter of shoes on cobble stone cease, increase, cease, increase, seem now intensified by concentration. Strained eyes made worse by fog peer into night, over my shoulder not once, not twice. I fix my hat more firmly on my head, my cloak better fastened on my shoulders, my legs too old for this dangerous plight, strained eyes made worse by fog peer into night, over my shoulder not once, not twice. Pace quickens, legs quiver, breath tight, obstructing the fogs dense shade.

The shadows now ominous cannot compare for the footsteps that mock my own have stopped, signaling worst to come. My attacker once far behind now in plain view in front of my eyes. Strained eyes made worse by fog peer into night, look up not once, not twice. For now I see my clock had struck its final midnight. Strained eyes made worse by fog peer into deaths grey evil eyes. Only to see by the lamps on an empty street deaths wispy black form has followed me. My story does not end well, but here it does not end for he leaned in and whispered to me my eternal fate.

My resignation eminent. He told me I would die soon I would, and though I had sought and searched for what I most desired I had not found it. I pondered my life hoping it was well lived. Death not satisfied with my torment asked me life’s eternal question.  “What is valued most amongst men. Is it love, power, or wealth?” I pondered deaths question and answered as best I could “it is none fair sir for all a man wishes for is time…time for love, time for wealth and time for power. Death now paused seeming satisfied, seeing reason in my truth walked on to seek the ever elusive answer to life’s eternal question.