The Little Reaper

 “My granddaughter,” Rebecca sighed, closing her eyes wistfully. “She’s having a dance recital in her school right now. I had promised to attend a few months ago, but it’s impossible now.”

These were the words which had broken the peaceful silence in the hospital ward. All the beds were empty, besides the single occupied one by the window. Rebecca watched a flock of birds fly by, and felt rather calm for the situation she was in.


Only one person was in the room besides her. A little boy was sitting on a chair by her bed, legs unable to reach the ground. He swung them eagerly, listening to the first words he had been offered since he had sat down.


“I’m missing so many things in my family’s lives, and I’m going to miss so many more soon,” She lamented, shifting her gaze to the various monitors and wires hooked up to her. Wrinkled fingers attempted to move a wire out of her face, but were too weak.


“They will miss you, and remember you dearly” The boy said, sounding strangely sure. A small gap was present between his teeth, which was made apparent with his shy smile.


Rebecca laughed and smiled back. “I’m sure they will. I’ll make sure to watch over them.”


With these words, it seemed like they would lapse back into silence. But it wasn’t a mournful quiet, but more of an accepting one. Rebecca didn’t want to delay this any longer. It would only make her think of the future, and pity herself further.


“Well, mister reaper, won’t you take my soul now?” She questioned, even as the birds outside her window froze with her words. Not a feather moved out of place, yet they never fell from the sky. The constant beeping of the monitors, which had been driving her mad, had finally stopped. The murmur of doctors from other rooms halted.


The boy smiled wider, before wiping the grin off his face. With a twirl of his hand, a large scythe appeared in his grip, massively dwarfing the tiny child. The silver metal glinted in the evening sun, oddly calming instead of menacing.


“Don’t worry, Rebecca Carter,” The boy reassured her, a kind action for his rather solemn profession. “You lived a good life. You will have a good afterlife as well.”


Rebecca smiled one last time, and closed her eyes.

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