Mission Five: Mary

"Hi! I'm the Grim Reaper and I came all the way here just to stab you"

My perfectly fine daylight flickered and the next thing I know was that I'm being held down by an entity that spoke like a man who does networking for a living. Its only identifiable feature was its white blank mask as well as it's firmly built limbs extending out its body covered in a black haze. It tilted its head as it leered at me from head to toe. It spent a good minute before it settled down and opened its notebook beside me.

"Hello Mary, I have something to say that might surprise you." He took his time to finally break the silence over my messy living room. "You're already dead"

I tried to avert my gaze from the darkness that creeped out of his eyes but it didn't work. The only thing that I could move was my eyes and lips. My chest felt cramped and it was like my limbs were replaced by iron beams. I realized I might as well look at him since he's the first one to recognize me for a long while and besides, I already know that I'm dead.

"So uh, How did it go cutting your wrists?" His voice became sharp despite it still maintaining that playful tone. "Did it feel good?"

Again, I fell into silence as I tried to distract myself by counting my underwears scattered on the floor. My eyes wandered over to a few bottles of alcohol sitting at the corner of my couch. My memory then flashed back and I remembered, my eyes were swollen and I was checking my phone, my mind then went blank and all that I had in mind was to ease this heavy feeling in my chest by sating the itch that I had in my wrists.

My memory jumped from there until I found myself at the comfort of my couch all over again, disconnected from the world that I lived in. My surroundings had a different and darker shade. I watched some people walk but none could hear my cries or screams. I could see and hear the leaves rustling from the wind but I could never feel its cold breeze. I never felt the need to eat, drink, sleep and even I tried jumping off of a building only to find myself sitting where it all began. There's nothing that I can't pick up other my own things and there are doors that I couldn't even open. I'm like a bird trapped in a house full of one-way windows.

"So uhh Mr. Death, do you have a name?" I don't know anymore, but It feels really good to talk especially if you know that someone hears what you say — yes even if he has a kitchen knife in his hand.

"Nope, Death is that guy above that white light whose job is to brief those who passed away, I'm just his agent tasked to help some poor souls. Also, You can call me Albert" He spoke in a whimsical note. I managed to put up a smile as I looked over to the clutter piling up at all corners of my home. I never had the need to take it out until now, if there's one last thing that I could do — it would be me getting the strength to pull myself back so I could fix my home for my peculiar visitor.

"So you're here for-"

"I'm gonna help you pass on" He placed his knife on the ground and he gave me a thumbs up before he pointed me towards the night sky. The idea made my chest feel a little bit lighter.

"Sounds honorable" I let out a chuckle, I feel tired but I'm happy. I couldn't help but smile at this black thing who was sent to help me and see me go. "How are you gonna do it?"

"Well, by stabbing you of course!" I realized that talking at this point is much of a privilege, I can't help but laugh after hearing that upbeat and sincere voice. "This week was nothing but terrible for me. I had too much workload but it's nice that you're easy to talk to."

"I would have run away if my body was not this heavy you know but still, is this gonna hurt?" I peered through the darkness that sits on the holes of his mask, and I somehow felt that he was smiling. I know what's going to happen next but I felt like I don't want to drop the conversation at this point. I just wanted to talk.

"Yes, it will but it's a little less than what you have felt your whole life" He pushed himself up with one arm and he raised his knife with a very firm grip. His voice seemed relieved despite the antagonizing aura that leaks out of the while blank mask. "And just a heads up, after this you'll meet a Pangolin wearing a tuxedo. Try not to be rude, Tell em I said hi"

I nodded before I let out a breath and closed my eyes. My hearing started to blur, all I could sense were the echoes of his whispers. I felt the pressure of his knife on my chest and it wasn't long before it got through. My tears fell down as I tried to keep myself together by gritting my teeth. He then drew a line by pulling his knife down to my stomach. My will to live had seeped out of my body and the littlest of my memories came crashing down. I remembered that I cared what other people would think, I cared what would they… I cared… What? What was I even thinking in the first place?

"Well, Goodbye." I felt his warm breath brush past my ear. It was bittersweet and his voice sounded like he's about to cry. "I can't believe I still have one more job after this."

Then the white light that I have been seeking finally blessed me with its warm radiance. My body gradually became lighter as the pain in my chest slowly fades away. I drew my last breath with a satisfied grin on my face, after all, I am no longer bound and all I could remember is my name.