Friday, February 20, 2009

Dying Life

6:15 in the morning. I got up from bed and prepared myself for school. I am living with my uncle who was rarely even in the house. He's always busy with business.

My name is Jacob. I am now fourteen. My parents died because of a fatal car accident when I was five. They saved my life. When the car was about to crash, they hugged me tightly. When I lost my parents, I gained this ability. Above every person's head, I can see numbers. It's their life span. Together with this, I could also see and speak to the Reaper.

Reaper: Hiya! Another day for school?

That's the Reaper. Reapers are not always like the man in black robe holding a big knife. The Reaper I'm with is like your average neighbor. He wears casual dress and does not carry any sharp material for killing. You might not know, you could have passed by this guy.


Reaper: Hello?! Reality check! Am I talking to anyone?

Jacob: Yes, you are talking to someone. It's just that I am not in the mood to talk right now.
Reaper: Oh! Aren't you..?

TIC
-TAC-TIC-TAC..
Here it is again. When the clock starts ticking so loud,


Reaper: It's time. See you somewhere soon.

Another death. Another life taken away. With this ability, the only thing I could ever think of is death.

It's already 6:46. I always walk to school. As I am walking the same road everyday, I also see the same faces. The only difference each day is the thing above everyone's head. It's slowly decreasing.

When I arrived at school that morning, people were in a rampage. There was an ambulance. Our teacher in Physics. He must be the one.


Classmate: Hey Jacob! Have you heard? Mr. Gorge, our Physics teacher, had a heart attack about 30 minutes ago!
Jacob: That's.. unexpected.

Unexpected. Yes, it was. But not for me.
People were talking about the incident. It was shocking. But I knew it. I knew that Mr. Gorge would die at exactly 6:15 in the morning.
Classes were postponed because of what happened. I didn't want to go home yet.
I walked around the park and..

BUMP!


Jacob: Sorry. I was..

Seven days, two hours, four minutes. I was staring at a little girl.


Girl: I'm sorry sir. I'm at fault, too. I was hurrying for the train station. Argh! Gotta go! Goodbye and sorry!

She went away. A week. After that, the girl will die.

As I was walking, I saw the Reaper sitting on a bench. In his casualties as usual.


Reaper: Woah! You're early today! Something happened?
Jacob: You already know the answer to that question.

Reaper: Looks like you have free time today. Want to have some fun?

Jacob: Fun?! How could I possibly have fun when all the time I'm aware that someone is dying!

Reaper: Wait! Relax! Everyone knows that sooner or later someone will die. It's just that you know exactly when they will die. I know it's hard.

Jacob: Hard? It's harder than you think!

Reaper: And you think mine is not? I have to kill people I don't know. Just a touch from me, they're dead.


I fell silent. It's no use. I would always have this ability.

Reaper: That girl. She's my next victim in this town. Do you want to know who she is?
Jacob: Huh? Why would I want to know?

Reaper: Just maybe. She's a pretty interesting one.

Jacob: What? You have a crush on her?
Reaper: That's not what I mean. What I'm trying to say is that maybe you might want to know who this girl is.


I don't know exactly what the Reaper wants me to do. To know her? Why?
I still did what he told me. I found the girl in the train station. She was giving food to the beggars, assisting the people on the train. She is a very nice girl. Each day, I would go to the train station and watch her until finally I approached her.

Jacob: Hello, little girl.
Girl: Huh? Oh! You're the guy I bumped unto three days ago!

Jacob: You.. You still remember me?
Girl: Uh-huh! I'm used to remembering other people's faces. Weird huh?
Jacob: That's not weird.

If you think that's weird, then my ability is worse.

Girl: What d'ya want from me, mister?
Jacob: Nothing important. Just curious why you are always here in the train station.
Girl: Ow! You noticed? I'm actually waiting for my parents. My Granny told me that a month after I was born, my parents left. She said that they will come back to get me.
Jacob: Have you seen your parents? Maybe once?
Girl: Nuh-uh! Never met them. They must've been busy. But it's okay! I can wait for 'em.

I look up her life span. Four days left.

Jacob: Want me to help?
Girl: Huh?
Jacob: We're going to look for your parents.
Girl: Really? Mister? I'm so happy.

Tears filled her eyes. She hugged me after that.
Four days. Will I ever find her parents before she dies?
I offered her to walk her to her house. She thanked me and led the way.

Jacob: Little girl, we don't know each other's name yet. I'm Jacob and you are?
Girl: Angel! My name is Angel. My parents named me! They said that I am their angel. It's a pretty name, don't you think?
Jacob: Angel.. Yeah, that's a nice name.
Angel: You are a very nice person, Jacob. Would ye mind if you answer this question? Why are you helpin' me? It's not like I don't want yer help or anythin' but..

Why? I can't say it. I can't say that I'm trying to make you happy before you die. That's just absurd.

Jacob: Because.. You are a very good girl. I've seen you help many people. I just thought that I want to help you in return for all your good deeds.
Angel: Really? That's great! Hearing it from you feels good!

She told me that she can walk by herself from here and said that I should be going home.

Angel: Your parents might be worried about you.
Jacob: That's.. impossible now.
Angel: Huh?
Jacob: Nothing. Are you sure you can walk yourself here?
Angel: I'm used to it.
Jacob: Then, okay.

I met her at the train station after class. I said that I will do my best to gather some information about her parents. I tried my best to ask the people in the train station about Angel's parents. No one could help me.
Two days have passed and within those two days, I found out the real Angel.

Angel: Do you know why I keep remembering other people's faces?
Jacob: No. Why?
Angel: So I could recognize my parents when we will meet. I might have passed them by or seated beside them before.
Jacob: That's pretty clever.
Angel: Jacob? What is life for you?

I paused. What is this girl talking about?

Jacob: I.. I don't know..
Angel: Is it a burden? The people I helped at the train station kept telling themselves that they shouldn't have lived. If they were to live like that, they prefer to die.

Life. Is it really a burden?

Angel: I don't think it's a burden. I think it's a gift and that we should appreciate it because we might not know when will it be taken from us.

That's right. No one knows. No one except me.

Only two days left.

Jacob: Angel.. I'm.. sorry..

She frowned. She wanted to see them. I want to help but it was hopeless.

Angel: If only they took me and never left me with Granny...

That's right her grandma! She might be able to answer some questions.
I told Angel to bring me to her grandma.
It was already night when we arrived. At first, I can't believe it was their house. It was like one of the houses in magazines. I don't think Angel's parents needed to find more money.
An old woman opened the door for us. Two years more, that's what her life span tells. She will live longer than her granddaughter huh? She smiled at me.

Angel: This is Jacob, Granny! The friend that I've been talking about!
Granny: Oh! So he is Jacob?

I went inside. It was like I was in a castle.

Angel: He is here to ask you some questions, Granny. I wish that you could help him.

The old woman's smile faded away for a moment. Then, she smiled again.

Granny: I wish that I could help. Angel, could you please get our guest a glass of juice and some biscuits?
Angel: My pleasure!

When Angel went away, I started questioning her.


Jacob: Ma'am, I would like you to be honest with me. Are Angel's parents..?
Granny: They are actually dead.

I guessed about it but never expected that it would be true.

Jacob: Then why didn't you tell her?

She let out a sigh and said.

Granny: She was still a baby. Her parents met an accident that rainy day. They lost control of the wheels and crashed unto another car. They died after that. I was afraid to tell Angel. I never want that child to grow up so sad. I thought that maybe if..
Jacob: So you think lying to her would help?

I couldn't control myself. I looked at the her life span again. She will still live longer than Angel. How could she keep the truth from a child who is going to die?

Granny: Because.. I didn't want her to be so sad. I didn't want her to be similar with that boy.

Boy? What boy?

Granny: The other car..

She began weeping.

Granny: There was a boy with her parents in the other car. He survived the crash. I've learned that the boy was traumatized. He was silent and kept staring at people's heads. I was afraid that Angel would be like that.

I didn't know what I felt that time. I stood up just when Angel arrived. I said my goodbye and left. I hurried outside. It was raining.

Jacob: I left my bag. Well, never mind.

What that grandma said could be a joke. But how could it be so similar with my experience? The crash. It keeps running in my head. Repeating. The pain. My parent's death.
As I was pondering about these thoughts, the Reaper showed up.

Reaper: Woah! What do we have here? A soaking kitten?
Jacob: You.. You knew about this! About the connection between that girl and me.
Reaper: What are you talk-
Jacob: I know that you knew! You wanted me to hear the truth. You want me to know that Angel's parents caused my parents' death! You..! You really want me to suffer, right? Then you've just succeed. I am suffering now!
Reaper: Do you really think that was my motive? Look at you! Do you know why you are still alive?! You are supposed to be dead right now! But your parents protected you from my touch by hugging you so tightly.
Jacob: So what do you want to say? That I should kill myself now?
Reaper: That you should see the real meaning of living!

Silence. I don't know exactly what he is saying.

Reaper: Have you ever wondered why you can't see your own life span?

I've thought about it but I guessed it was because I am only able to see others' life span.

Reaper: You can't see it because you have none. You are not alive Jacob. You are not also dead. It's something hard to explain but you can actually say that you are immune from my touch. I've been through this before. A friend rescued me from an accident. I could also see others' life span. When I killed myself, I never thought of the consequence.

I was so confused. I couldn't understand a thing.

Reaper: When you die in your state again, you will become like me.
Jacob: You mean.. A reaper?

Before he could answer my question, he faded away.
A reaper. When I die again, I'll be a reaper. Is that what he meant?

I unconsciously went to the train station the day after. I just realized I was on the train station when a little girl tugged my shirt. I looked at the little girl who only has three hours left to live.

Angel: Why did you left Jacob? Aren't you going to help me? Are you going to quit? Please tell me you won't.

I looked at her. Then a sudden burst of hatred flowed in my veins pushing her away from me.

Angel: W-why.. Why did you do that?!
Jacob: P-please.. Stop.. Stop following me, okay?! Don't you ever come to me again! Never!

As I walked from her, I could hear people mumbling. But I could overhear Angel's little cry. I was already far when I halted. I thought about the horrible thing that I did to her. It was not her fault. It was not even her parents' fault. It was an accident.
Then I remembered what she said about life,

Angel: I don't think it's a burden. I think it's a gift and that we should appreciate it because we might not know when will it be taken from us.


I looked at my watch. She only got thirty minutes left, I estimated. I hurried to the train station. I wish she was there. I spotted her.
She sat on the bench looking at blank space.
Only ten seconds left..
As I approached her, she started walking.
9..
8..
7..
6..
I hurried to her.
5..
4..
While she was crossing the street, something fell from her pocket.
3..
2..
The next thing I know, a truck was heading on her way and the Reaper was beside her. I ran. Then darkness.

Pulse. I couldn't feel it. Light. I only see darkness. Noise. I hear silence.

Angel: Jacob! Jacob!
Jacob: Eh? Where am I?
Angel: Why did you..

She cried. What exactly happened?

Jacob: Are you alright.. now?
Angel: Uh-huh.
Jacob: That's good.

Then I noticed that everyone was staring at us. The Reaper was also there. He has that stare that I couldn't explain.

Reaper: You made a terrible mistake.

He looked at Angel then smiled.

Reaper: Or maybe not?

Then he faded.

People took Angel away from me as I laid my head on the ground. I can't feel anything. I closed my eyes again.

A week after..

Angel: Good morning Jacob!
Jacob: Morning Angel.
Angel: I'm still not used with this.
Jacob: You'll get used.
Angel: I hate numbers.

That was just it. I saved Angel's life. Just as what the reaper said, the consequence was this:

Reaper: ... When I killed myself, I never thought of the consequence.

I am still physically normal. But only Angel can see me. She couldn't understand it at first. I know how hard it would be for her.
As I looked at her, a smile appeared on her face.

Angel: I wish that lady had a wonderful life. Don't worry about me Jacob. I don't think knowing other people's life span is bad. We could at least make them happy before they die, right? Think of this as a chance to bring happiness to other's lives.

Life. Whenever I see Angel, I could see the brighter side of life.

TIC-TAC-TIC-TAC..
Angel grabbed my shirt and looked at me.

Angel: Is it time already? Is she really going to die?
Jacob: You saw her life span.

She let me go and I faded away. In my mind, I kept pondering the things in my life. How I died with a living body and lived with a dead spirit. I could have lived my life to the fullest. I'm sadden to know that there are still people like me out there thinking that they have lived to die. Life is different from death. Life is to be lived.

I closed my eyes and I saw the next person with a dying life.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Life is a gift. Death is an unexpected tragedy. No one knows exactly how, when, where and why they have died. So before you complain about living life, think of how hard losing it without even enjoying it.

LitTLe . mAkE-BeLieVeR . sTorYtELLeR
iF tHerE's sOmeThinG sToriEs TeLL, wHaT cOuLd iT bE?



LitTLe
. mAkE-BeLieVeR . sTorYtELLeR


iF tHerE's sOmeThinG sToriEs TeLL, wHaT cOuLd iT bE?

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