1 Jason Michaels

March 3, 2001

A baby boy is loudly crying. His mother cradles him in her arms, and the father looks down lovingly. An older brother peeks at his new sibling and smiles. The white hospital walls surrounding them as they embrace one another. Jason Michaels is born into the world.

August 8, 2006

"Come on Jason! Hurry up!" calls his older brother, Conrad.

"I am! I am!" is the reply. Both boys are grinning ear to ear as they run out of the car. Today was the day they'd get a puppy! Happily running into the shelter until their noses crinkled at the smell.

The place was brightly colored, the walls resembling a sunflower. But that wasn't important, what was important was-

"Doggy!" Jason cried. A black lab pup excitedly wagged her tail. Cute and soft and warm and cuddly, she was all that and more. Jason and Conrad petted her and played with her until finally their parents were done with paperwork. They named her Ella and took her home.

January 20, 2014

Katie!Katie!Katie! Katie was all Jason could think about. The girl had just transferred to his school this semester and she was the prettiest thing Jason ever saw. Totally not paying attention to where he was going, Conrad had to keep him straight as they walked home from school.

"Come on Jason. Get your head out of the clouds. Mom and Dad said they were taking us out tonight, remember?"

"Mhm." was the only answer.

Once they were home, they dropped off their backpacks and got in the car. Their dad asked if they were ready and drove to the theme park. I'd sure like to go here with Katie, thought Jason. However, even without Katie, the boys had tons of fun.

March 3, 2017

Today was Jason's 16th birthday. He had invited a few friends (and his girlfriend Katie) to the bowling alley after school. He couldn't wait! The school day was almost over, but unfortunately Jason got called into detention today. After the bell rang, he hesitantly went to Mr. Drake's office. It felt like an eternity before detention was finally over, and now he was late for his own birthday! He rushed out of the school building and headed towards the bowling alley. Two minutes until the predestined time. Luckily the alley was just across the street.

Jason looked and didn't see any cars so he began to run across the street without waiting for a stoplight. That was his last mistake. The speeding car stopped abruptly, but it was too late. The unconscious boy would never wake again.

I watched as the horrified people called the hospital. I watched as onlookers stopped in their tracks. I watched as the boy's friends came and found him dead. I watched as his spirit stood up, body still limp on the ground. Confused, the boy looked around until his eyes landed on me.

"Jason Michaels, I am here to take you to Death. Come." His eyes widened at my words, terrified by what they meant.

"No, no. I can't be dead. Today was my birthday.... I- I was going to go bowling. I..." His eyes welled with tears. "What about my family? What about my friends?" Tears pooled from his eyes as he asked me questions I would not answer.

"Sorry," was my only reply.