Oh, what a stupid death that turned out to be! I used to think, for some reason, that a stupid death is when a ridiculous coincidence of circumstances occurs. For example, an ordinary housewife, sitting in her flat on the seventh floor, decided to water the flowers on the windowsill and absolutely accidentally pushed the pot right on the head of an unsuspecting passer-by. But my demise was not far from that. No, I died quite honourably: I went to pull the girl out of the river. Except at that moment I didn't think I was a lousy swimmer myself. In the end, the river took one human soul anyway. But at least I saved the girl.
The fact that I am now in a post-mortal, so to speak, state, there is no doubt, if only because I can not imagine in my city such a room. A huge hall flooded with bright, white light. The walls are nowhere to be seen. I would have thought there were none at all, but the ceiling is clearly supported by something.
- Turn it down a bit! - I shouted into the void as the light began to cut into my eyes.
- There's no need to shout like that, young man, I can hear you just fine," the man in front of me replied. He snapped his fingers, and a soft twilight enveloped the space around me. Wiping away the tears that came from the bright light, I was able to scrutinise the stranger, but he was also scrutinising me, and he was in no hurry to speak. He looked, to put it bluntly, ordinary. Black, short-cropped hair, brown eyes, average height. He was dressed in an ordinary grey suit and a white shirt. He looked about forty-five to fifty years old, no more. But the look... The look said that in front of me was obviously not an easy man, and not that he was a man at all. The man, as if reading my thoughts, smirked and said:
- Yes, you're right, I'm not really human. I have many names. You can call me Death, that option should be familiar to you.
- Oh-oh, no luck, no luck," I muttered disappointedly.
- Yeah, that's what everyone says when they hear they're dead," he continued to smirk, looking me in the eye.
- You misunderstand me. That I'm dead, I realised that myself. It's just that in all the books, Death looks either like an old woman with a scythe or a pretty girl," I stretched out and looked at him eloquently from head to toe.
It's a shame I won't have any descendants to tell about the time I made Death stupor.
The man stared at me in surprise for a few seconds, then laughed.
- Oh," he managed to squeeze out a laugh, "it's been a long time since I've had any fun around here. I'm sorry I didn't live up to your expectations.
- It's all right. You'd better tell me how I got the honour of being greeted in person. Or is this how you inspect everyone?
- No, no, no, you're right. Not many people get in here at all," he circled the space around him. - It's kind of like a hallway. Usually souls skip this place without stopping and then move on. Only exceptional individuals stay here.
- So I'm considered an exceptional person here? - I asked in surprise. - I don't think I've done anything so extraordinary in my life.
- Don't underestimate yourself. You sacrificed yourself for another person you don't know! I realise you didn't think of that," he continued quickly, seeing me open my mouth. - But that's just the way it is, and such cases are rare, no matter what you say.
Just like that, in just a few moments, my death had gone from stupid to heroic. But I still couldn't understand what they wanted from me or why they were keeping me here.
- And I'm keeping you here," Death continued, as if nothing had happened, "because I want to offer you a choice. You can go to paradise and rest in peace, - he pointed his hand somewhere behind his back, - or I can send your soul to a new body.
- Is that like a second life? - I asked excitedly. I was already liking the idea. After all, I hadn't lived long enough, and there were so many interesting things I hadn't done. I could always get to heaven.
- Not something like that," he mocked me, "but a second life. Except there are a few pitfalls. The thing is, I don't know exactly where you'll end up. It could be the family of an African tribal shaman, or a medieval knight, or even you yourself from a few years ago! There are an infinite number of realities and you could end up in any one of them.
- I agree, but hopefully it won't be a tree. - Not that I mind, but a hundred years of looking at the same place must get tiresome.
- I can promise you it won't be a tree," the man was still smirking as he looked at me. I guess he's always like that.
- Then let's go! - I couldn't wait to go to my new body. I had no family in my world, so it was surprisingly easy to leave. My friends will be as sad for me as I am for them, but we'll manage.
- I like your enthusiasm! I think I'll keep an eye on you sometimes. Unless, of course, you turn out to be some stray, old cat," he muttered the last one under his breath, and I couldn't hear what he said. - Well, on your way. We'll meet again.
- See you later! - I shouted as the man and the hall around me began to fade away.
***
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