Into the Dark

Death is absolute, accept it and move on.

Most people can’t understand it, let alone accept and to be honest they’re better off that way.

Philosophers have spent centuries obsessed with the embodiment of death, some as a force of nature no different to gravity, unconsciously affecting everything; I don’t think anybody truly believes the traditional reaper with the black cloak and scythe, the most recognisable persona reduced to a myth.

I read once about a tribe in new guinea, who believe that we each have an individual Death, with us from the moment we are born; an ever present non-living entity not dissimilar to the human soul, and upon passing over, our Deaths guide us into the beyond.

Finally of course, there is the fourth horseman, the shallow footsteps of the pale rider echoing in the wind amidst the massacre of warfare, waiting for the last shred to fade away from a scared young boy.

The beautiful, and altogether much more haunting, truth is that death is all of these things; the omnipresent force, watching and guiding us into the empty reality.

No-matter what form it takes however, do know that there is no measuring death, no precipice from which to leap into its cold embrace; for as long as there is life, death shall have no dominion.

After reading and re-reading the Word attachment she had sent him, Dylan looked up in confusion at his best-friend Hayley, now sat cross legged on his bed, staring at him expectantly. “Well?” she asked him, a tone of anxiety clear in her voice.  "It’s good, but ah, what is it?” he asked trying not to offend her; fortunately she seemed to understand or at least recognise his confusion.

“Its just a few thoughts about the whole ‘living embodiment of Death’ idea”, she told him, in truth though she was only half sure of herself and had gone a little nuts with the idea. “Yeah, I gauged that much from it, but why the new found interest?”

“It’s just that… no, you’ll think I’m insane if I tell you”.

“Give me some credit, I’ve put up with you so far haven’t I?” he said, laughing as Hayley launched a pillow towards him which smacked him square in the face.

“Huh, offended! Anyway, it’s probably nothing but I suppose I should tell someone so why not you?”

“Whatever it is, I promise I’ll hold off the men in white coats until I’m sure you’re insane.”

“Okay then; I’m guessing you’ve heard about all the deaths lately? And how the police are labelling most of them as suicides?”

“What about it? People top themselves all the time; either they’re cowards too chicken-s**t to face up to reality, or Emos who’re probably happier dead anyway”.

“So many though? And so close together? Don’t tell me that it’s not suspicious at the very least!”

“Even so, how does it connect to all this ‘Living embodiment of death stuff?”

“I don’t know, it’s just a feeling, something big is going on here, I can’t tell what but there’s something!”

Before he could respond, Hayley’s phone began to vibrate and he took the opportunity to study her closely; Dylan could see in her eyes how serious she was about this, but behind that he could also detect fear, she was scared of something; he pondered this while Hayley was on the phone with her mother, hanging up she turned her attention back to him.

“Sorry about that, Mum says I have to go home now but we’ll talk more tomorrow? See you later!” and she was gone before Dylan could say another word, out of the door like a bolt of lightning.

Moving over to the window, he watched her as she jogged to the other side of the street, scaled the old wooden fence and crossed the wasteland- in the exact opposite direction of her house. He watched her until she disappeared completely, then retreated back to the computer sat blank screened and waiting; reading the text once more he sat on his bed and tried to sleep.