The day seemed to celebrate with her, as she gave birth. After an early labor, her child was born premature, and was given special treatment. Slowly days and weeks passed as she grew more, now looking like a newborn. It had been a strenuous birth and two months that felt like eternity as they waited for her to grow. Their home was filled with sorrowful silence that overflowed with hope and joy as they waited patiently for their daughter.
" she's beautiful " a male voice echoed as he held his baby daughter for the first time.
Her cheeks were flushed red and her eyes were similar to olives. She was precious to them, hence, she needed a name, a name that captured how endearing she is, or how beautiful, or how much of a beacon of light she was, her brother called her Amber. A name he came up with befitting her golden brown locks.
" Where are you going with this?! " Life said cutting him off
" I'm making a point. I need to show you, I need you to understand how fragile life can be "
They were a happy family, they played and learned about each other and grew together, they even bought her a cat she named muffins. Ten perfect years. Ten years of happiness and joy. All it took was one, to invalidate everything. In one year a time so short it barely meant anything. A series of events. All coincidence, all inevitable. Every last one of them faded away. And just like that her life was ruined, at ten she has nothing. She faced scorn, depression, sorrow and anguish, all she had left was muffins.....he just died recently.
Now death looked into her lifeless eyes.
" Do you ever wonder how painful it is to kill yourself. Not just the action itself, but the thought, realizing you have nothing left and there is no way out, the thought of accepting what has to be done. "
He said gazing up at the rope her lifeless body hung from.
" You can't imagine how much her hands shook when she set the rope, or how many times she stopped herself believing someone would save her from this.....and you have no idea how much she cried when she realized what she had to do. A life filled with pain and anguish— " he said turning to life.
" Is it truly worth living? "
Every word he said, felt like a punch to her. Every word said with calmness and sorrow, his voice a low monody.
" Does it really have to be this sad, does the ending have to hurt so much "
" Yes, she suffered, and I can assure her death was indeed painful but this is not a sad ending, quite the contrary actually "
he said grinning as he turned towards her hanging corpse, stretching his hand he took hers in his. The very moment he made contact with it, the body began to crackle away into dust taken away by a gust of wind. Soon there was no body left, but something held his hand. It was petite and small and her nails were immaculate.
" I said earlier didn't I, my job as much as it is to take lives so is it to guide the souls "
Slowly a girl walked forward, her body made swemenly of light, but all her features still very visible. Her cheeks still a rosy red, her eyes, still the same olives and her hair, still the same golden brown. It was Amber, the soul, her soul.
" Hi mister " she said, her voice light and childish
" Hello Amber " he said in a soft voice, and a gentle smile
Slowly she removed her hand from his.
" I'm sorry but my mummy said I shouldn't talk to strangers, by the way do you know where she is? "
" Why yes I do, she actually sent me here to get you, she and your big brother and your daddy are waiting for you, they all asked me to get you "
" Really, really really, do you promise? " She said elated as she ran around, jumping and yelling.
Watching her a smile came upon his face, a gentle warm smile, just then he felt a tap on his shoulder.
" Something is wrong, she seems not to remember what she just did "
" She is pure now and free as well, free of mortal peril, for the soul does not remember the sins of the flesh, but it holds dear memories of love, that's why she remembered her family— "
" C'mon c'mon " Amber said tugging at his cloak
" Let's go, they're waiting aren't they "
" Sorry sorry, alright then, let's get going "
Just then a bridge opened as they walked in. At the end of their journey was a place filled with souls, where the sun never set, nor ever rose, a place filled with the finest meals, and the nicest people, at the end of the bridge were three people. Slowly realization set in. She barely recognized them, but her body did. Without thinking she ran towards them, tears streaming down her face as she hugged them tight.
" Animals have souls too you know " he said as let down the soul of a cat
" They aren't as complex as humans but if you love them enough they can manifest "
Now he was looking at life as the cat ran to Amber.
" My job is a sad one, true, I've seen a lot of bad things, on rare days like today, they have good endings, but it's usually depressing. There are certain things that are exhilarating, fun.Things that get me emotional. The warm welcomes when someone new and something eventful happens, I've seen people's laughter at the mere sight of something, I've seen the happiest hello and the saddest goodbyes. Goodbyes that are sad but hopeful, tearful goodbyes that leave a hole in your heart, but a smile on your lips, but most of all, are the WOW moments, y'know "
" WOW moments? " Her eyes filled with confusion which was met with a gesture. Death with a smile pointed up.
Hurriedly she gazed upwards and at the mere sight, her eyes were filled with light, a sight of true beauty. Above her a vibrant hue danced upon the canvas of the sky, a bright blue filled the sky as it was overwhelmed by souls. But not souls of humans, but those of the animals, small as the sparrow and as large as the blue whales, billions of souls flew across the sky without a care in the world.
And as color took flight on wings of radiant light, the people down below gasped and marveled at the beauty. Just then the sky became increasingly dim as the blue of the sky faded into a deep crimson. The sun was setting. The once white glow of the sun changing into a crimson as the light bounces of the souls of the animals filling the sky, with a kaleidoscope of colours, as the blues and reds turned into a rainbow of vibrance, but in time, the souls passed by and the evening became dark, fading slowly into the night.
" C'mon " death said, already a few meters away.
" This wasn't what I wanted you to see, but it doesn't ruin anything " now she was running towards him.
" I have so many questions, what was that? why were there so many souls? and why did the sun set? it's meant to be eternally bright and dark right? "
" Hmm. What you witnessed was a soul bridge, every so often the souls of the animals swim through the skies "
" Why though? "
" Why not? There's no reason why they shouldn't do it, so they fly, and soar and swim. I'd say they did it just for the fun of it "
" Ok, ok, ok, what about the sunset, how is it night "
" That was one of 7th's mark "
" Seven? Mark "
He put his fingers against his lip urging her silence as he gestures for her to follow him.
" Death isn't what I thought he was, he's unbelievable kind, reasonable, and he seemingly has true emotions. How on Earth can a being who destroys lives, a being who ruins everything be just as intelligent and compassionate as me, it's absurd, he has to have some inner motive, he has to be wrong, to be evil, else nothing makes sense. " She thought to herself as she trailed behind. The path bent and curved, it flowed past rivers and roads and soon they arrived at a gate.
" Just through here " he said as he went through.
Inside the gate was a garden. A flower garden filled with every type of flowers. The colours pale but vibrant. These were not regular flowers. The room filled with the aroma of the flowers as some emitted light. This garden was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. The beauty so captivating she stopped the moment she saw it, but death didn't.
" Don't step on them " he said as he followed a path she didn't notice. Now she was watching him as he walked towards a girl in the distance, her hair was yellow and her eyes blue. They both spoke for a while and slowly they approached her.
" Here she is " death said gesturing at life.
The girl looked scared as she hid behind death, holding onto his cloak as she mustered a few words. She was beautiful. Her eyes were a brilliant bright blue that glistened like the sea, slight marks of freckles that seemed to make her look more unique, and her hair, a wonderfully bright yellow. Her skin was pale and see through like every other soul, but she could see faint hues of red on her cheeks. Now they were inches apart, and life's eyes glittered with amazement as she stretched her hand to hold her cheeks. With the slightest touch, the woman pulled away as though it burned, life hadn't noticed because of how enthralled she was, but since the woman caught sight of her she was in a panic, and now life has touched her, she was scared.
" So is there a reason why you're harassing my gardener? " He said in a joking tone.
" Oh. I actually just wanted to say hi. She was so pretty and I got carried away. " Life said slightly embarrassed as a hand was extended to her.
It was the woman. There was a warm smile on her face as she gestured for her to grab her arm.
" Em, this is the newest life. She's the one that'll replace seventh. " He said gesturing to life as she took em's hand.
" Nice to meet you, lady eighth " she said, her voice like honey as she smiled.
" No, don't call her that, just life will suffice. "
" As you wish Hades. "
" Don't call me that either. "
" Why? You fit the role perfectly. You're moody and depressing, and you talk to souls. I can't think of a better name. " She said playfully teasing him, as a grin formed.
Seventh. The title returns again. Over the course of the few moments of her life she's heard that number time and time again, and death just confirmed it wasn't a count of the number of life's that has existed. Who is seventh?
" Anyways, I have to leave, nice catching up with you though. " Death said as he turned away from her.
" Come with me " he said whispering to life.
She followed him without issue. The two walked across a windy path that had a river at the end. The path endlessly cycled between a barren land, a lush forest and a garden.
" Who was that? "
" That was Em. She's a close friend of mine. "
Silence filled the air as both walked slowly.
" That was a strange garden. "
" You think so? "
" Yeah. I thought life could only thrive in the second layer? "
" That was HER mark. " He said as his eyes gazed into the distance.
" Her? "
" Seventh. It was a gift from her to me. Maybe I'll tell you more about it sometime. "
" Who is she? Seventh I mean. "
" She was a life, the one before you. "
" Why do you call her seventh then? Why not call her life? like you do with me. "
" Flowers don't grow here y'know, life doesn't exist here either, it doesn't exist in any of the layers, the first layer is too bright, to powerful, all life withered away to the point no life could exist, I believe I don't need to explain why life can't exist in the third layer. The second is the only place life exist. Nothing grows here. It's all bland. It's always day, there were no gadgets, and no flowers. " Death said looking down.
" This place is still paradise, and it's still beautiful, it's just boring. That is until 7th came around. She made flowers, the evening and sunsets, she created gadgets that'll work here, she even brought fashion stores ( a smile filled his face ), that was her mark, some of the twenty she left behind. You lifes don't like being forgotten, so you make changes, big changes to any of the layers, to better the lives of the residents. They usually create two things that revolutionize existence, things that reflect who they are. For instance the second life made the first and third layer, and purple made the nebulae. But when she made these flowers she told me something. No one would thank her, and no one would probably care, but they'll notice, at the corner of their eyes, and it'll bring a smile to their face. The little things don't make a huge difference, that being said, they're what adds the finishing touch."
Plucking a blue and grey pattern rose he stands up and puts it on her hair.
" So what'll be your mark? "