She never tries to cheat death — with marked cards or weighted dice. When his shadow passes over her, rather than breathing her last, her lungs refill with air, her brain synapses re-spark, her heart beats in rhythm to her rebirth.
She is not an immortal. No contract signed with Mr. Down Below for a life extension. No possession of philosopher stone turning lead to gold; death to life. Each time, she thought, “If this is it, then this is it.” Feels absolute calm and serenity flood her mind and body in transcendental bliss. But, then her feet find grounding on the seaweedy, rocky tidal river bottom, legs push herself upwards towards light and air. Or food, caught in her airway, dislodges – coughed out onto an ER floor. Always, it seems, last gasp becomes first breath.
She thinks perhaps it was because Death forgot their first date, missed their first dance. The inevitable one in both her family trees: a first child did not live long enough to celebrate a first birthday. Death dropped by – sometimes sudden, sometimes slow. But, always before the 12th month fully passed.
Her parents counted weeks, then days. To ensure Death did not RSVP, no preparations of cake, or blowing up balloons for a first anniversary of her birth. Then on 53rd week, her parents exhaled, and celebrated. A picture survives somewhere, she is sure, of that day. Smiling face smeared with chocolate ice cream. Not yet understanding how special she is, that first first.
For mlmm Tale Weaver 126, Death
July 5, 2017 at 9:25 pm
Reblogged this on Coloring Outside the Lines and commented:
Something to read
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July 5, 2017 at 9:13 pm
Great image and story to match. I would be stunned to find you were not unique as a first first. 😉 Cradle rocking across the line
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July 4, 2017 at 10:58 am
I love cute stories about Death. Not dying, but Death, the person, so to speak.
You did a good job. I really like this story.
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July 4, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Thanks — it’s a memoir, really. I forget how special a first first is. As you know.
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July 3, 2017 at 7:17 pm
WOW, staggeringly good read!
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July 3, 2017 at 11:19 pm
Thank you. True story actually. No names were changed to protect the innocent.
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July 4, 2017 at 12:21 am
I suspected it was true–you and I have always tended toward the truth, even in fiction <3
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July 2, 2017 at 9:32 am
This an interesting story. 😊
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July 3, 2017 at 4:56 pm
Thanks. I wrote at least 4 stories, and decided to go with this one.
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July 3, 2017 at 5:13 pm
I am glad you did!
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July 2, 2017 at 9:06 am
She thinks perhaps it was because Death forgot their first date, missed their first dance.
Wow – now that is one hell of a line – what a clutch and grab thought that you have to sit with – almost wrestle with – and what follows is just enough – just enough to let ideas form and then dissolve – and the ending line – absolutely power packed.
(God, suddenly, this made me think of me, in some way – how “oddly interesting” – such as it is – you see, you never know for sure what power your words may invoke)
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July 1, 2017 at 5:45 pm
Wonderful response Lorraine and a deep piece, I’m sure the tragedy of the past made less so with survival to that 53rd week.
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July 3, 2017 at 4:51 pm
Strange, but you probably guessed, I am the first first of the story. A weird legacy to carry as the first first problem continues for others after my birth. I do sometimes wonder why, when the serenity envelopes me, and I say If this is it, then this is it, and then boom. It isn’t.
My mother said you don’t go before your time, guess the clock is still ticking. My purpose for being put here, whatever that is, yet to be fulfilled.
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July 3, 2017 at 5:43 pm
Maybe your purpose is to entertain folks like me…..even though I know you are going to say there is not much entertaining about you, but of course our own perspective is always different from what others see of us…
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July 3, 2017 at 11:21 pm
Yes, it would be interesting to see ourselves through others eyes. Surprising. Insightful. Hopefully “positively” amazing.
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July 3, 2017 at 11:23 pm
Of course. :)
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July 1, 2017 at 5:13 pm
I love this. Incredible.
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July 3, 2017 at 4:48 pm
Thanks. You blog on a platform that rejects my comments, so I want to say here, like the photos and the stories they tell.
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July 1, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
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July 3, 2017 at 4:36 pm
Thank you for the reblog.
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