Hello, Death

You may think you’ve never met Death before. Not in your lifetime, surely. Yet the sad truth of the matter is, you have. And no, you did not meet in passing, or even just once. Death is not just another awkward new acquaintance. Or one of those potato faces that blur at the edges, impossible to remember anymore. He’s not a guest you met just yesterday, at your 92nd birthday party. Or even someone who showed up to the 50 year High School reunion you grudgingly attended. 1

Death may not be an old friend, but he is an old presence. Death was there to welcome you into this world, with a smile on his lips and empty eternity in his eyes. Ready, at the greatest provocation, to whisk you away early and be done with you. But no, you made it all the way to preschool, and he followed. He was there at every doctor’s visit, presided over every ear-infection, every cold, and took special delight in that time when you suffered with pneumonia. He felt close then, closer than he had before, closer than he would for a while. 2

Death is the black unconsciousness that hovers over your left shoulder. He’s anxiety- the cold sweat, the adrenaline crash, and the sleepless fever. He’s every hopeless feeling and every inferiority complex. Escapism and despair at their absolute best. He’s the easy, heady sleep that promises the heavy oblivion you can’t wait to embrace. He waits with minute patience for the day that you finally give in. For the day you turn and let yourself fall into the waiting arms of the black curtain rather than squaring your shoulders and facing the day. 3

You may dread your upcoming formal introduction, never being one for making new acquaintances, but Death has known you your whole life, and he’s not one to tolerate the usual social pleasantries. 4