Life in the Afterlife _dead_like_us_
I sat in the café, coffee in my hand. Mmmm, the smell of coffee and morning dew filling up my nostrils with its sweet scent deliciously. I smiled, as I looked at all the pretty flowers in the garden. How I loved this place, it was one of the very few in this vast city that struck my fancy. From the dawn of a new day, to the dusk of a day gone, this quaint place was always open. I liked it here; the shop owner always took great care of this garden, planting very pretty flowers in the spring, all different colors and all exuding the loveliest fragrance.
Pssst. Pssst. Pssst. Pretty skies of blue and fluffy white clouds.
“…when it rains the soft gray sky drifts to the ground brown rivulets. Trickle away… Trickle away... Washing sadness down weather vanes. Weep and turn… Weep and turn…”
There was much to do. The vision had been clear and we were finally ready to move on and start anew. I was sure that Sid and his team were excited to resume their reaping duties after taking such a long time off.
Pssst. Pssst. Pssst. Pretty flowers all around.
“…forgetting in the damp and gray that by and by the sun will shine… Sun will shine… By and by the sun will shine…”
I turned my attention to the group. All gathered together ready to hear what it was that I was about to say. I realized that there were some in the group that still had not come to accept the fate that death had dealt them and it made me frown a bit, making me feel the need to make some things very clear to them.
“I realize that the reaping business is quite new for some,” My eyes searched the crowd.
“We… death’s agents, are not an enemy; we are an integral part of life. Death gives meaning to human existence. It is the denial of death that is responsible for people living empty, meaningless lives; for when you live as if you will live forever, it becomes too easy to postpone the things you know that you must do. You live your life in preparation for tomorrow or in remembrance of yesterday, and meanwhile, each today is lost. That is why all of us are here, we forgot to live for today and we lived only for yesterday, taking tomorrow for granted.”
I looked around the room and fixed my attention on the newer reapers. “People live and then they die, poppets, and death is the only certainty in their lives. And it is our job to see it through, it is our job to see that they get to where they need to go. It is as simple as that.”
I turned my back to them and looked at all the flowers in the garden, taking another sip of my coffee and savoring it, letting its warmth and its aroma fill my nostrils again. There was much to be done.
“Now to business. It has been decided that the Sunnydale and Los Angeles reapers combine into one group…” I could see the sparkle in Lilah’s eyes. “And two team leaders have been assigned for the time being. This is a big group, and things would run much smoother if you work together for a while. Sid, Lilah, congratulations.” I said smiling at them both.
“Now for the reaps.” I pulled out my brightly colored post-it and handed them out to the new team leaders.
Do not stand at my grave and forever weep. I am not there; I do not sleep.
“This little piggy went to market,” I said almost singing.
I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
“This little piggy stayed at home. This little piggy had roast beef. And this little piggy had none.”
When you awaken in the morning’s hush… I am the swift uplifting rush… Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Finally, I pulled out my last post-it and fixed my stare on Fred. She was so sweet and young… alone in a room full of familiar strangers.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry. I am not there. I did not die.
I shifted my eyes to Lilah suddenly and smiled at her as I handed her the last post-it. “This little piggy went wee, wee, wee, all the way to reaper to home.”
Pssst. Pssst. Pssst. Pretty skies of blue and fluffy white clouds.
“…when it rains the soft gray sky drifts to the ground brown rivulets. Trickle away… Trickle away... Washing sadness down weather vanes. Weep and turn… Weep and turn…”
There was much to do. The vision had been clear and we were finally ready to move on and start anew. I was sure that Sid and his team were excited to resume their reaping duties after taking such a long time off.
Pssst. Pssst. Pssst. Pretty flowers all around.
“…forgetting in the damp and gray that by and by the sun will shine… Sun will shine… By and by the sun will shine…”
I turned my attention to the group. All gathered together ready to hear what it was that I was about to say. I realized that there were some in the group that still had not come to accept the fate that death had dealt them and it made me frown a bit, making me feel the need to make some things very clear to them.
“I realize that the reaping business is quite new for some,” My eyes searched the crowd.
“We… death’s agents, are not an enemy; we are an integral part of life. Death gives meaning to human existence. It is the denial of death that is responsible for people living empty, meaningless lives; for when you live as if you will live forever, it becomes too easy to postpone the things you know that you must do. You live your life in preparation for tomorrow or in remembrance of yesterday, and meanwhile, each today is lost. That is why all of us are here, we forgot to live for today and we lived only for yesterday, taking tomorrow for granted.”
I looked around the room and fixed my attention on the newer reapers. “People live and then they die, poppets, and death is the only certainty in their lives. And it is our job to see it through, it is our job to see that they get to where they need to go. It is as simple as that.”
I turned my back to them and looked at all the flowers in the garden, taking another sip of my coffee and savoring it, letting its warmth and its aroma fill my nostrils again. There was much to be done.
“Now to business. It has been decided that the Sunnydale and Los Angeles reapers combine into one group…” I could see the sparkle in Lilah’s eyes. “And two team leaders have been assigned for the time being. This is a big group, and things would run much smoother if you work together for a while. Sid, Lilah, congratulations.” I said smiling at them both.
“Now for the reaps.” I pulled out my brightly colored post-it and handed them out to the new team leaders.
Do not stand at my grave and forever weep. I am not there; I do not sleep.
“This little piggy went to market,” I said almost singing.
I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
“This little piggy stayed at home. This little piggy had roast beef. And this little piggy had none.”
When you awaken in the morning’s hush… I am the swift uplifting rush… Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Finally, I pulled out my last post-it and fixed my stare on Fred. She was so sweet and young… alone in a room full of familiar strangers.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry. I am not there. I did not die.
I shifted my eyes to Lilah suddenly and smiled at her as I handed her the last post-it. “This little piggy went wee, wee, wee, all the way to reaper to home.”