Chapitre 2

It was on a twilight evening when they first met. When Death stayed underneath a dying tree and Life just behind him, silently examining him from afar. She wanted to be his friend yet she kept her distance, especially when her ancestors were life-giving people. And life-giving people should never befriend the people who take life away. And Death was no exception to the list. His blood was the one her mother had hated so. She never told her the story, but it must have been a bad history due to the amount of hatred her mother felt towards his family. It was unfathomable and almost too overbearing.

The sudden sound of a branch crackling brought Death out from his trance. He turns his head to see the woman who was loved by all. In contrast to his state and background. With cold eyes, he stares at her with a dead gaze. But unlike those who were terrified of his stares, she stayed there, looking at him with wonder and curiosity.

"Hello," she greeted him after a brief stretch of deafening silence. She awkwardly waves her hand, a small smile etched on her small lips.

He looks away before he could return her greeting. He knew of their family history, and he wouldn't want that to happen again. Not anymore, hopefully.

With light footsteps, she walks towards him, the friendly smile never faltering.

"If you plan to become friends with a creature like me, then as early as now, please disregard and discard that idea of yours. For I do not plan to be friends with you," with that, he stood up and walked away sharply. As he turned away from her, he heaved a small, silent sigh. He hopes she understands everything soon. That he is doing all these for her well-being and safety. That he actually cares.

Life only stared at his disappearing back. He just shrugged her away yet she was far from being discouraged. Something about him makes her drawn to him. She doesn't understand why her mother hated him, or why everyone does. But she genuinely knew it herself that she could never bring herself to hate him. Maybe, all he needs is company. A companion. A friend. And she will voluntarily give him that. Even if it meant treading on the pain he will inflict on her, just so she could see him smile just once.

Every day he visits the same tree, she, too, is there. Patient as ever as she tries her best to befriend the unwanted. And every single day, he shuts her out with his cold remarks and dire phrases. He doesn't want to hurt her feelings, but if he doesn't stay away, hurting her feelings would be nothing compared to the pain she will feel when they become close. Sometimes, you just have to hurt someone to help them become stronger and become better versions of themselves. And that is what he's doing. He's pushing her to become better.

Days turned to months, yet Life hadn't stopped visiting him. And Death was beginning to doubt his fate. Will it be alright to try again this time? Because maybe this time, he and she can finally be one. Maybe this time, their love story filled with bitter chapters and tears, could finally arrive to its final destination– the epilogue. The epilogue where all the pain ends and where the happiness starts. Maybe, just maybe, no one has to get hurt anymore.

"What do you want?" he finally asks her one day, already annoyed by her never-ending antics and greetings. He only wanted to be alone and in peace, yet she couldn't give him that whilst she's around.

His reply seemed to have shocked her because her mouth hung low and she stared at him with utmost surprise, "you actually talk?"

He gives her his famous ice-cold glare but that no longer scared her as she was already used to it.

"Funny," he mumbles, his voice hoarse and seemed forced.

She laughed before approaching him.

This might just be the start if a new found friendship.

They talked and talked. Day shifted to night. The sun, now replaced by the moon. And the clouds traded places with the shining stars.