When Death Comes

Today I was walking through the park when something shining through the trees caught my eye. I don’t know if you could even call it a shine rather than a glint, as if the sunlight was reflecting off of some small item; I probably wouldn’t have even noticed it if I hadn’t stopped to tie my shoe. Something inside me was telling me to keep walking and not to look back but my curiosity got the best of me and I walked over to the tree line. The closer I came to the edge of the park and the start of the forest, the more uneasy I became.

I should have turned around right then, why didn’t I? Once I stood before the trees I found the source of the glint. Just beyond the edge of the forest was a dark figure, it stood there motionless, its face hidden behind the hood of a long black coat that hung to its feet. I could not see its eyes but I knew it was staring right through me, looking into my soul. The glinting light I had seen earlier was the result of the sun reflecting off of the steel blade that sat upon the wooden handle of the dark figures scythe. I did not need an introduction or an explanation of what this being was for in that moment I knew, it was death and it had come to collect its soul.