Ginny sat at the river bank, her eyes fixed on the river current. It was gently passing by. Flowing unhindered like her life used to flow. She used to be a paper boat inside a glass bottle, but that glass bottle had shattered, and her life had been drowned in tragedy.
"Ginny."
Ginny turned around. It was Bale.
"Bale," she said.
"I have something to tell you."
She didn't say anything.
Bale continued. "I know who your stalker is, Ginny." And he told her about how he was harmless.
"But then who? How did everyone die?" Ginny asked.
"My true identity is Death. I've reaped souls for centuries and prowled the earth for as long as it had existed."
She waited, looking at him.
"Ginny," he said. "The one who is responsible for everyone dying is none other than me."
Her face scrunched up like she was crying but the tears did not flow. She raised a hand up and brought it down onto his body. "Fuck you, fuck you, Death! I hate you! How could you? What did I ever do to you?"
"You did nothing. I'm sorry."
"Why did you take them from me? How do I live without them? I can hardly breathe in this hell. When am I going to die?"
"I'm sorry, Ginny," Death said. "But your life is unnaturally long."
"No, no, no," she cried out. "My chest is giving out. My world is crumbling. Why have you done this to me? I hate you! I hate you so much!" Ginny continually beat her hand against his chest.
But her eyes spoke of love.
❃❃❃
Death stood among the clouds. His feet were covered in smoke, suspending him in midair. His superiors sat behind a golden pedestal that spanned from east to west.
"Death," she said. "You have broken the rules."
"Yes," he replied.
"Killed a woman before it was her time."
"I have," he said. "I admit my mistake."
"Do you accept your penalty?"
"I do."
She reached a hand out. "Mortality will be a suitable end for you, who was once Death."
Then he plunged back to Earth.
❃❃❃
THREE YEARS LATER
"Do you take Bale, as your husband, Ginny?" the priest asked.
"Yes!" Ginny said.
"Do you take Ginny, as your wife, Bale?"
"Yes."
"And you will leave all grievances behind?"
"Yes," they both said.
❃❃❃
TWO YEARS LATER
Ginny picked up pieces and pieces of clothing into the washing machine. Holding onto these clothes reminded her that she had once hoped that she would be a mother who did laundry for her kids. They would have little clothes and she would buy the cutest outfits for them.
But now, all the clothes she was holding were adult. Hers and Bale's. They had chosen not to have any children because they knew her heart would break if her children met horrible ends as well. A tear slid down her cheek as she thought about it and she threw another piece of clothing into the machine.
Her hand froze.
There, at the bottom of the basket, was a napkin with blood on it.
❃❃❃
"Bale! What is this?!" Ginny held up the napkin for him to see.
"You weren't supposed to see that. I couldn't find that anywhere. Give it back to me."
"What is happening to you? I thought we promised each other to not keep any secrets?!"
"Leave it alone, Ginny."
"Tell me what's wrong!"
"You know what's happening."
Her hand with the napkin lowered. "Don't you dare, Bale!"
"I'm sorry, Ginny."
❃❃❃
The doctor pointed to the dark spot in the x-ray. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Ginny nodded. "I do."
When they returned home, Ginny dropped to the seat at the dining table.
"Bale…"
He sat down beside her. "Do you remember the paper boat in the glass bottle?"
"I do."
"That's you, Ginny. You'll survive this."
"I don't know how."
"I won't make it, Ginny. And I need you to do something for me before I go."
"What is it?"
"Kill me with wine. Put whatever you need to in it. But I want to die while I still have no pain."
"How can you ask me to do that?"
"It's what I want. I know you love me. Do that for me if you love me."
Ginny didn't say anything. But that night, she fetched a glass of wine along with its bottle and returned to the dining table with Bale at the table. She put the wine glass next to Bale.
"This is it?" Bale asked.
She nodded. Then she poured a fresh new glass for herself.
"What is in that glass, Ginny?"
"You know what," Ginny said without looking at him.
"I don't like this, not at all," Bale said with a tired sigh.
"It's what I want."
He sighed. "Ginny - "
"Let me do this, please."
Bale didn't reply. But he nodded. And they both finished their glasses of wine. They retreated to the living room, hands interlocked, watching the television.
"I love you, Bale."
"I love you too, Ginny. You know you still have time to change your mind."
"No," she said. "Let's close our eyes and wait for peace."
And the paper boat joined the other in the water.