Triumph in Death

Alexnandru Van Gordon

Between fevered dreams and hopeless tears,

you stand before Death,

waiting,

hoping,

wondering if you’re ready to die…

-

Half of your soul is already in the grave.

-

As you stand on the precipice between here

and there,

part of you fights to stay.

-

The other half has already taken the plunge.

-

Lips are cold;

body is numb;

you feel your last breath rattle in your throat.

Your heart has given up the fight long ago,

both literally

and figuratively,

but you can hear every word…

-

‘Too young to die…’

-

Death seems to think differently:

-

‘The way behind you is barred.

You gave up.

Move on.

All that you treasured is lost.’

-

But is it?

-

You glance behind

and see everything that was

and everything that could have been.

The point at which you strayed from the path

has darkened.

The rest of the way is blank,

and endless,

seeming to run for an eternity,

never to be used again.

At the end there lies a future…

-

…that will never be.

-

In the new future you see your loved ones grow.

They learn to live again,

love again,

and though you were stolen from them,

cut from their lives so suddenly,

they’ve become stronger from the loss.

-

‘What a beautiful corpse…’

Death remarks from where he stands beside your grave.

He can see all the way through the dirt

and into your coffin.

‘This is true art, young man.

-

Don’t ruin it.’

-

But you were so young

and bursting with life—

in love with life—

how could you abandon it now?

There were people you cherished,

and people you would cherish

if given the chance to meet them.

There were places you treasured

and places you wanted to see—

and there are some many things left to do!

How could you abandon it all now?!

-

How could you…?

-

You wipe away the tears

and face Death once again.

He moves aside to reveal the tomb,

cold,

silent,

dark

and unyielding.

All things that come to this place

rest in this place

and never leave.

-

In this place,

you will never see the sun rise again

or hear the laughter of a child.

-

In this place

you’ll never feel the warmth again

or smell the budding rose

or taste the salt of your tears.

-

In this place

there is only death…

-

…an eternity of death…

-

‘All things must come to an end.’

Death explains,

coming closer,

wrapping his arms around you in a cold embrace.

‘All things come here,

eventually,

to be sealed in the tomb.’

-

An eternity of nothing,

of solitude,

of silence,

births an ache in your heart

and quiet tears flow freely from your eyes.

-

Death’s lips brush against your own,

a moment away from stealing what’s left of your breath…

-

…when something warm,

soft,

and gentle

touches your hand.

-

‘Death is not the end!’

Exclaims the familiar light beside you.

‘The grave is not a tomb,

sealed,

barred

until the end of time!

-

‘In this place,

you will never see the sun rise again

for it will never set,

nor will you hear the laughter of a child again

for their bliss is beyond proclamation!

-

‘In this place,

you will never feel the warmth again

for the cool blaze of eternity will sooth your flesh;

you will never smell the budding rose again

for all things will be blooming with life;

you will never taste the salt of your tears again

for all your fears and sorrows will have been vanquished!

-

‘In this place,

there is only Life…

-

…an eternity of Life.’

-

The Death that has embraced you,

that has lingered on your lips,

is but a kiss away

from stealing you forever.

But the hand that holds yours

tightens its grip

and Death relinquishes his hold.

He takes a step back

and offers you his hand.

-

The one beside you continues triumphantly:

-

‘Only you can seal the tomb

and abandon all hope.

The grave is not meant to be feared!

From Life there can only come Life,

and, once one is complete,

the path to another is unveiled!

Eternity awaits you—

An eternity of music

of light

and of love!

Go now and welcome it,

or turn back and return to the Life you once cherished…’

-

‘The way behind you is barred.

You gave up.

Move on.

All that you treasured is lost.’

Death repeats,

stone cold and unyielding.

‘That place is for the living.’

-

“I am living.”

You reply.

“And I shall live

until I am ready to return.”

-

The tomb is sealed before you

and the light at your side burns brighter

until it is blinding.

-

At once you return to your loved ones.

-

They will never know your trial,

your triumph,

nor will you ever remember the encounter.

But when you die,

Death will return

and the battle will be fought again…

-

…but Life will be there to guide you,

always.

A/N: To a dearly beloved friend.