Elias, Your Last Hour Is One of Joy

Death waited silently at the bank of the river. He usually never waited this long, but it seemed there was still one more mortal he was supposed to ferry off. He decided it was best to check on the poor soul.

Death took the form of a crow and entered the mortal realm. As he stared through the window of the mortal’s home he understood now, why this human chose to remain just a little longer. This human has faced him multiple times, and rather bravely. His name was not known to Death, but Death recognized him all the same.

The man was very old, he sat in a small house, but he was smiling, he was surrounded by family. They had brought small little things, but Death knew better than any mortal, that the true gift as one begins to fade, is the presence and warmth of others.

2 little girls were on either side of him helping him solve a puzzle. An older woman stood behind his chair, gently speaking as if she was just watching, proud to see what he had become due to all his years of life. He saw the man's mouth fall open in a soft laugh. One of the girls had placed a piece and he had said it was incorrect, but then she showed him and he smiled as she was correct.

An older man who didn't seem to be from the same family, likely married in, stood across the room. Holding something. It looked like a small gift. He chose not to deliberate over it any further and slowly approached the table of joy.

When the old man asked him to open it for him. The man agreed, slowly opening the velvet box to reveal a silver watch. It must have been a very old antique, but appeared brand new, Death suspected the younger man had polished it. As Death continued to watch the interaction between the family and friends and the old man. He noticed that the old man has sensed his presence.

When the old man was staring out the window and met the gaze of what should be a crow, that was really Death, he simply smiled. Death found himself curious as to why the old man didn't cower in fear as his life neared it but he decided he would give the mortal this mercy, one more hour of life before he had to be carried off to the River of Souls.

Death watched and waited in silence. He witnessed every action between the family and the old man. The laughter, the cries, the jokes, the games. Part of him wondered what it would have been like for him to have a mortal family, but he knew it could not occur, for it was both forbidden and terrible. Such a fate, the messenger of death having to carry away the souls of the people they loved. It would be too cruel.

Slowly the fanfare began to die, and Death thought it was time. But he was wrong. He watched as the little girls began to tucker out and the adults began to play more and to speak more. As if they were glad the children were asleep so they could continue to party and inform them whether the old man passed tomorrow. Death continued to remain in the windowsill, watching every action. He was fascinated by the way the adults comforted the old man in his last hour. And he had to admit; it was such a terrible thing to witness the kindness that mortals give to one another.

And it was even worse how selfishly he sought it.

The children had fallen asleep near the twilight of the day. He quietly watched and watched, and that twilight had become near midnight before the adults had decided to take their rest and tucked the children in to bed.

The old man sat alone in his wheelchair at the dining table. Death quietly opened the window and revealed his true nature. The old man didn't look with fear then either. He simply smiled once more and gestured for him to follow. Taking the wheelchair he sat in and beginning to roll it down the hallway, he turned and entered his room. Asking Death to follow him. Death, of course, did not say no.

The room was filled with things. A dresser that had a jewelry box on top of it. Displaying a watch, a ring and a photo of what Death believed to be the old man's wife. Death recognized this face. She was quite a lovely old woman, even when she was terrified of stepping onto the ferry to pass across the River of Souls. She seemed to have passed before her husband. How unfortunate.

Death chose not to say anything, deciding that some things were better left unsaid. He turned to the old man, and the old man turned to him in the center of the room, filled with objects likely collected around the world and over the many years he lived.

The old man smiled and said, “I haven't seen you since the accident with my parents.”

Death nodded silently.

The old man sighed and continued. “When I first saw you, I will admit I was terrified. But now? I believe it is time and I am ready.”

The old man nodded and gestured to the room. “I am giving this all to my granddaughter in hopes that one day she will share some of it with her granddaughters like I have done.”

Death nodded and reached out to the old man in the small amount of kindness he could manage for the mortal.

“I have but one question, were you ever human once, like I am now? Or have you always been this way, without a human family like I have?” Death paused at those words and did not speak for a moment. He reached out towards a notepad and pen. Taking them and writing quietly. Notepad said this,

‘I have no family. I was never mortal.’

The old man nodded. “Then you understand the joys of having a small amount of company, even for just a moment.” Death nodded. His hand was still outstretched to the old man. “Well then, let me give you a little bit of company for the moment.” Death wrote his own question on the notepad,

‘Mortal, what is your name?’

“Elias,” the old man replied. Had the hood not obscured the face of death, the old man—Elias—would have seen Death smile, just slightly.

Death extended his hand once again. This time it was filled with a slight gratitude.

Elias took it, and Death carried him to the to the River of Souls.

Death helped Elias onto the ferry, and they began the journey across the river to the land of the dead. When Elias stepped off the ferry. Death was told to leave immediately as he was not welcome there ever. But he did hope that Elias reunited with his wife.