"It's fine. We have all the time in the world."
Yeah, of course, dumbass. I'm dead, and this is your domain. You might be able to control time here and fast-forwarding to the point that I finished talking.
"Your mind has an interesting way of thinking, aren't it?"
"Wait, you can read my mind?"
"Well, of course. This is my domain after all. But no, I can't control the time. I'm not some god who can do anything I want. I'm just a mere guide guiding lost souls."
"You're lying, aren't you?"
"I never lie."
As that confirmation as been told, I began to wonder how this life came to be.
Now, how did it all began?
I was a junior high school student. At that time, I was "enjoying my youth", caring nothing about the world and doing whatever I want. I felt that nothing can stop me. I am powerful. My grades hasn't dropped nor getting better during this time, and I thought that it was fine. I was considered a genius, though, because I can perfect exams without learning a thing.
But then, time kept up with me, the ones who called me genius, became better than me. I was stuck in this false belief that everything is fine if I don't change. But, change is inevitable, and everything will pass by. I've always feigned ignorance. I've always acted like a kid. I've never grown up. I've always thought of all the time I wasted on nothing.
My friends now have kids, a stable job, and they're happy. Meanwhile, I'm still here, who doesn't have a college degree or any certificate, working at a local McDonald's every night. I still ask my parents money if I desperately need some.
I turned in to drugs. First, it was cigarettes and alcohol. Then, I used marijuana. And I almost used more harder drugs, like cocaine and heroin, just to make me forget about everything.
I tried to kill myself. But I can't. I can't end my own life, my own suffering. But this accident gave me this chance to be dead. And I'm staying.
"So, that's all you're willing to tell me?"
"Yes."
"Well, let me ask you this. Have you ever been on a date before?"
"Of course I have, what do you think of me, a lonely virgin?"
"No, because those are the only info you said. Anyways, I'm asking you on a date. A date in this dark oblivion."
"What?" I frowned at it as I became confused on what he said. Is he hitting on me or something? Is he making me stay here fully aware of what happened to me and suffer, making me his slave and torture me until I lose my mind. Well, I've already lost my mind, I'm dead. Haha. I don't really mind staying but damn, I prefer being dead, as in dead-dead, not aware-dead. Like, not able to think, not having any feelings, that kind of stuff...
"You really do make a lot of conclusions on just a couple words, aren't you?" Death sighed, and his eyes glowed again.
A vortex of blue flame formed around us. It was beautiful, really beautiful. Then, the vortex dropped down, like paper falling on air. The library was now gone, and it was replaced by a park, with glowing people and blank faces.
"Do you recall this place?" Death asked.
"No." I replied.
"This is a park I formed with your memories. I made it one by one on how you remember it."
"I still don't remember."
"It may be because you tried to forget it."
A little girl passed through me. It was heading towards a picnic blanket. It seems that it was her mother and father. Somehow, they have a mouth, unlike the other people I see.
"Mommy, look." She handed what seems to be a flower. It's beautiful. It's not like any flower I've seen. It's color is like a rainbow enveloping an innocent girl.
"What a beautiful flower," her mother said in awe. "Come now, you must be tired. Poppy's waiting for you." She grabbed a very familiar plushie. It's a pink teddy bear with a red bow tie on its left ear. She gave it to her, and the little girl hugged it really hard. She is really happy.
"Ring a bell?" Death asked.
"Yeah. I remember. It was me when I was six. We went to our local park when my dad had a rare vacation day. It was really fun." I answered.
"Mhmm... well, I'm really bored, so let's move to another place." The blue vortex then reappeared and disappeared, like before. But this time, we are at another place once again. It seems like an auditorium. An auditorium? Wait! This is where I graduated high school.
"Death mister! This is definitely not how a date should be!"
"I'm really sorry. Do you really think I've been on a date before?"
"Well, if you're just gonna make me see all of my memories, then just tell me it is."
"It's boring that way."
Wow, the audacity.
"I can hear that!"
I really remember this scene. It's really weird seeing all these precious memories be seen in a different perspective. Wait, precious, my life had been precious. No, it has always been. All I've thought for all my life that I am nothing more than an useless piece of garbage for what I've done. But, realizing it, I am not that bad. I'm sure there are some people that had it worse than me.
"If you want to compare, I have a list of torture victims, rape victims, and the like."
"Fuck you."
"Pretty bold to call a powerful being to fuck himself."
I chuckled. "Guess this wasn't a bad date after all."
"Guess this was a success as a first date as well." I looked at him and he looked at me as well. He flustered, and I laughed seeing that our boy Death is a softy virgin.
"You know I could kill you, right?"
"Not that I'm already dead!"
We both laughed as we enjoy ourselves bickering at one another. It wasn't a bad date, it really isn't.
As our trip to my memories ended. But seriously, that was creepy, we travelled back to the library.
"Now that everything has ended. I will give you two choices. Stay alive and be happy with your newly enlightened life, and enjoy it as it goes by, or be dead and stay with me."
"With all that thing you did, you'd really think I'd stay?"
"Ah. Of course you won't. Therefore, I will open a new path for you. A path that will never make you lose your way. With a shining light, so bright it can blinds, a mockingbird's revival."
"Did you just call me a mockingbird?"
"It's a figure of speech."
"You should stop reading way too many fictional books. It's affecting how you speak. Also, your haiku's terrible." I grinned at him.
"Yeah, yeah. Just go already." A pathway lit up in front of us lit up and indeed, the light it gives really is blinding. A pure white shimmering light that is so warm. I never would've thought I'd say this.
I am dead. But I am alive.
I will not stay dead. I am alive.
I will keep on living, and one day I will regret dying.
I walked on towards the path, or rather something near it. I ran.
Towards Death. I hugged him so tight. I can feel my tears falling.
"Thank you. Thank you for everything. For everything you did for me. For realizing my worth. For giving me another chance."
Death patted my head, and gave me his last farewell. "I will miss you, mockingbird."
"Don't worry, we'll meet again."
As I gave my farewell, I walked towards the path, and took hold of my future destiny. My path. My fate. And my past will no longer matter. I will strive, for that it how we humans live for so long.
I am alive.