Heaven

“No,” said Death, staring down the yellow spark of light dance in the middle of the room.

The spark flickered for a bit. No? Death, old friend, did you just say-

“No, J. I am not going to allow you to touch any of the lost souls in my realm.”

There was a low rumble.

I built up this land as a refuge for those who have not experienced comfort in their lifetimes. It is a place of peace for them, a place of gentleness, a place of-

“-fantasy,” finished Death, as he strode to the window, his blue robes flowing behind him. He looked down at the once happy town that was now a silent ruin. “It’s a fantasy. Don’t you know that the mortals call a place too good to be true a ‘heaven’? This place of yours, this heaven, is nothing but a dream to them, and a cruel one at that.”

But they taste a happiness they did not have in their lifetime.

The man in blue snickered. “Happiness. Peace. What use are these when they are already dead? You delude yourself into thinking they need such nonsensical feelings in the afterlife. Next thing I know, you’ll say it’s because you love them, you janissary.”

There was a peal of thunder. Death turned to see the outline of a woman in long robes form within the yellow light and move toward him. A smile played on his lips, and a slap erased it from his face.

How dare you. How dare you say that. You know that I do, that I do love them. I have walked among them. I know their suffering, I know their misery. I do care for these mortals, despite their folly and their wink of an existence.

The woman turned away from him and gestured outside. I built this place up for them, precisely because I wanted them to experience a bit of contentment after the hardships of a mortal life. It is a small thing, but it may be the only time they can feel happy.

Death shook his head. “Time to be happy. They don’t have that. They are doomed to fade into obscurity. They don’t have time to feel anything. Much more so get this ‘peace’ you keep talking about, J.”

She turned to him, her yellow eyes flashing. Is that why you allow the slimy bastard to take their souls instead? To play with them and their nonexistent feelings? To bathe them in hurt and rub salt on the wounds of a painful life?

“I do not give souls to him to do as he pleases. These souls, they find him themselves. He is a little unorthodox in his methods, but he gives them-“

A yellow light started pulsing around her.

If that sadistic monster can run Hell for his torture-loving whims, why can you not let me have my peaceful Heaven? I only want to soothe them before the inevitable end, while that slimeball wants to toy with them mercilessly. I want to be kind to them! Why won’t you let me?

A yellow light shone throughout the room and past the window. Death could feel anger, sadness, and bitterness in its glow.

“If you think it is a kindness to let them taste happiness before they fade away, you are wrong. All it does is keep them holding on to life and to their experiences more dearly. Instead of letting go, they claw on tighter, looking for that happiness, a fleeting feeling that can sometimes be impossible to feel again.

“He, on the other hand, pushes them to let go. By crushing their ego and pushing them through suffering, they let go sooner and are sooner spared from the weight of existence. In a way, they end up peaceful in their final moments of resignation.”

But with me they can fade away happily! They do need to suffer when they can fade away happily with me!

Death looked at J, almost in pity. “Nobody fades away happily. Nobody. I know this, not only because of my role in this world, but also because…”

Because what?

He answered her quietly. “Because I know what it’s like to be Man too, and I know what it’s like to have happiness taken away at the very last moment.”

The brightness faded slowly, and a cold wind blew inside the room. J reached out to Death, but he stepped away.

“I know of your intentions, and that they are good. But allowing souls through your gates means allowing them to experience a pain twice as painful than that of those who have not tasted happiness.”

He straightened his jacket and turned to leave. “If you understand this and still insist on having your Heaven, so be it. Open it up, have your marshal at the gates, scoop up your souls. You know my rules and I will expect you to keep them.”

She nodded her head. Yes, old friend. Thank you.

Death merely shrugged. “You will learn that these mortals are not worth your heroic efforts as you think they do. And believe me, I know.”

There was a rustle of cloth, and he was gone.

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For u/scottbeckman and Drew.
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Image source: deviantart.com/bleedinheart89/art/heaven-s-gate-319970483
First written January 28, 2018.
#121