The next person

"W-Who are you?!" I asked the shady figure in the corner, panicking. "What do you want? What did I do wrong?" I bet he can see the fear pulsing in my eyes, even I can see it.

"Well," He steps into the light, throwing a can up and catching it. He's wearing an old-fashioned suit and tophat. It seems a little excessive, but not bad. "I'm a little friend of yours."

"What?" This throws me off, I don't know him. I've never seen him in my life. "How'd you even get in the hospital?"

"That's a little secret of mine," He's grinning, seeming happy and cheerful with every sentence. "don't worry about it. Anyway, it'll all make sense to you in the end. However, the end for you is far away, so just forget about it for now. Back to topic, I'm here to tell you something."

"What? Tell me what?" I can hear him, but I'm not getting any of this. He's shady, I can tell you that. How did he get into the hospital? What does this have to do with a gay romance? "Why do I need to know this?"

"You may not believe me, but the next person you see is the next person you will witness die. You'll see their death right in front of your eyes. It could happen five seconds after you seeing them, it could take a whole five years, maybe more. You'll see their last breath and watch their soul leave their body. The fun part about it is that it can take up to eighty years for them to die or eight minutes, you'll never know until the time comes." He's still smiling, I want to punch his fucking face to the moon and back.

"Why?"

"What's that now?"

"Why are you telling me this? Why is this happening? Why can't I know the time limit?"

"Well, you see dear-"

"Don't call me that. I don't know you, you creepy fuckface."

"Wow, I love your language!" Now he's poking at me. "Anyway, it's my job to tell you. I can't control any of it, your life's just a mystery. Life is such a fun game!"

"I hate you so much."

"Oh, I know. I can't help that. But, I can tell you I'm leaving now, people are about to come into the room, you don't want them thinking you're crazy. Anyway, I gotta run. I'm a busy man, you know!"

"Good riddance, scum..." I sneer, I'm glad he's leaving. "Also, aren't you going to die since you're the most recent person I saw after hearing this?"

"No, but don't you wish? Oh, and before I leave," He stops as he opens the door. "this is an obstacle in your story, so have fun! Bye!" He leaves.

I hear footsteps coming down the hall, they're probably going to enter my room. It's probably just a nurse or something. I don't want to see them die, but I guess it's inevitable. Wait, what am I saying? There's no way that random stranger is telling me someone's going to die right in front of me. Unless he's planning something...whatever. I'm not going to worry about it. But, no matter how many times I tell myself, I can't help but feel it's real. There's no way though, right? Right?!

The door opens and I expect to see a nurse or doctor walk in and check up on me. It's not rare for one to die. Well, here it is, but not all over the world. I wouldn't be surprised if they died next, at least in front of me. Many things can go wrong in a hospital, death, in general, is common. It's just part of our daily lives. The next person I see will die right in front of me. I don't know when or how I just know they will. So when they enter my room, my stomach drops. No, it can't be. Why? Why her, of all the people? Why is it Laureen?