Facing Mortality

Everyone in the village knew the death stories. Enough accounts had been written that were available for everyone to read. A preparedness kit of sorts. A guide for the rest of the village to show they didn’t need to fear death. When Grim comes for someone in the days prior to their death being nothing to fear. Death comes for all living beings at some point. There is nothing to fear. It’s simply another adventure every living being goes on. That we, as humans, fear death because of societal stigma and beliefs that left humanity fearing death. The unknowns of it being a factor in that. Not knowing what lays beyond the veil of death. 
Grim walks them through their death. How peaceful it’ll be. A painless way to go. Often as they sleep. He takes the person on a Gondola ride. A ride where they share their life. They talk about what they would’ve changed. What they loved about life. Often the simplicity of living in the village. The simple life they lived. A ride where Grim also shares advice about accepting their mortality. The days leading up to him taking them being what they should likely expect to happen as their body begins its dying process. I’d read the book far too many times to count
Everyone in the village knew about the BOD. The Book of Death. Everyone wrote their experiences in the days prior to their death. Things they felt to brief conversations with him. I’d read it far too often. More than most actually. I didn’t fear death. I never had. It’s just another adventure. Another life we live in another realm. There’s nothing to fear. Grim Reaper is the person that walks with us when we take that journey. His Gondola being the vessel we rest on while our soul adjusts to our new realm. That’s what I’d like to think anyway.

“Here again I see, sweet Harlowe” Priestess Maxine said
“Yeah, when am I not here” I replied 
Why do you look at that book so much, you’ve read it a million times by now” she retorted
“Yeah, I know. This time feels different” being my only response
“I was afraid of that” she’d said in a shocked voice 
“I’m not. I never feared death because of this book. Now is no different” I calmly said

I’d told her that he’d come to me three days prior. That my time in the village was coming to an end. That I’d been walking along the edge of the woods near my house when he appeared out of nowhere. To me, he looked like someone passing through the village. Until he called me by name wanting to talk to me. I knew who he was after that. I also knew what was coming.  I’d been sick for a while. None of the Priests, Priestesses or anyone else for that matter knew what was wrong with me. My health began to vary every day. Some days I was relatively okay while other days I did things in phases. I’d come to accept this. I’d also accepted my mortality. That Grim could very well come for me at any time. I’d been relatively healthy most of my life. Aside from seizures. It was my Marijuana usage that helped with that. It also helped me sleep. I’d felt him near me for a while. I knew it could be any time at this point. I didn’t fear death. Why should I after all? It’s just another adventure I’d be going on that he’d be helping me go on. The one to help me go from one realm to the other. 

“Have you written it in the book yet?” She’d asked
“That’s why I came today. I wanted to write it down while I could” being my response
“That soon?” With a worried look on her face
“He didn’t say when. Just that he’d be back soon for me” I’d said with tears in my eyes
“It’s okay to be scared” she’d said with tears in her eyes as she put her hand on my shoulder
“I’m not scared. Happy tears actually. I’ve been sick for a while. Long enough. I’m crying for everyone here that I know will miss me” as my voice broke, finally letting the tears flow 

She knew what I meant. She cried with me knowing my time was nearing its end. She knew I was at peace with everything. That my entry would be different. She’d summoned the other Priests and Priestesses. There were only a few of each in the village. They thought I’d already passed. Only to find me writing my entry into the book. I’d left them in tears as I retold my encounter with Grim. They knew I may not be strong enough to leave the hut after today. I knew that also. I’d already prepared for that. Unbeknownst to everyone else. I didn't have much compared to everyone else. I had notes already written out in the event he came for me that night or in the next few nights. I knew it wouldn’t be long before he was here for me though.

“Harlowe, I’ll be back for you tomorrow night” Grim said as he sat down on the edge of the bed
“Okay, I’m more than ready to go now if you wanted me to go with you tonight” I replied
“I appreciate that. You’re out of Marijuana though. You just smoked the last of what you had tonight” he retorted
“How did you-” I began 
“I watched you smoke it. You couldn’t see me from where I was standing. I wanted you to smoke in peace” he’d mentioned
“I appreciate that. I’ll pick up some more in the morning then” I’d said
“Good idea. You won’t need much. Go early. Get a few grams and smoke it all tomorrow. Write everything down in the journal you told me about when you first met me”
“Okay. It’ll be a good day to be completely off my ass” I chuckled

He’d sat there talking to me for a while knowing I was still nervous for what lay ahead the following night. He also knew I was more than ready to go onto my next adventure. He’d asked me where I wanted to go after I died. He knew my love for drawing. That wherever I went there’d be more than enough supplies for me to draw. I wanted nothing more than to live in a cottage by the sea. The same kind of cottage that lay within my dreams.
Dawn seemed to have come quicker than I thought. He’d sat there telling me stories until I’d fallen asleep knowing I’d likely be unable to sleep despite the strain I used being one that usually helped me sleep. I’d gotten both of my usual strains. I wanted to feel normal that day. Or at least as close to normal as I could be. My last entry being one of how happy I’d been lately despite my health declining. I shared how much I enjoyed my time in the village. I missed being by the sea. It’s where I’d likely go after Grim came for me. 

“Harlowe, come on, it’s time” Grim whispered 
“Okay, let’s go” I’d readily said
“Not many people are as ready to go as you are” Grim said a little confused
“I know, I’m one of the very few that’s already accepted their mortality and ready to die. I know it’s just another adventure I’m going on so why be afraid” I’d responded
“You’ve been sick for a while though, you had time to come to terms with it” he mentioned
“I never feared death in the first place. I’d read the book too much” I retorted
“Maybe it was a good thing you did”  being his response 

Both of us wanted to go to a nearby beach. He knew it was to symbolically, in some ways. He’d told me he’d forgot to do something and went off into the woods. I walked alone, deep within my thoughts, until I saw the bridge he mentioned. I didn’t even know how long I’d been walking. I looked up long enough to see the river and admire its beauty. It seemed so peaceful. A place I’d gladly stay if I wasn’t meeting with Grim.
I crossed the bridge over the river knowing I was about to die. I knew everyone in the village would eventually realize I was gone. That Grim had taken me. I knew life would seem a little darker without me. A little more dim than before. I’d crossed, in awe of the Gondola itself. I’d never seen a boat that large before. Then again, that wasn’t an ordinary boat. I’d stopped at the peak of the bridge wanting to admire the river's beauty a little longer. I wanted to take in the peacefulness that currently surrounded me. Until I heard Grim calling for me from the other side of the bridge. 
I walked over the rest of the bridge where he met me on the other side of the bridge and walked with me to the beach where the Gondola sat waiting for us. He’d let me know he’d forgotten to fix a few things on the boat before he left. He’d seen how deep in thought I was and wanted me to move through whatever it was I was thinking about. I knew I was dead by that point. I’d felt different, at peace, after he began walking with me to the beach. I knew people back in the village would know, at some point, and mourn me. 

“That’s one beautiful Gondola” I said, whilst in awe
“Thanks, I knew, and wanted it to be unique when I had it built” he grinned

It was one unique Gondola alright. It was far larger than any boat I’d ever seen. Then again, it fits who Grim is. The Gondola is his home after all along with being the vessel that transports people to their next adventure. He wanted to have everything he’d need built into the Gondola along with other amenities for all souls aboard. 
I wasn’t intimidated by its gargantuan size. I was more in awe of its architecture. It had styles from all time periods. Styles that made it stand out far more.  It had a space near the bow where the wheel was to lounge and talk to him while he navigated the waters. The chair behind the bench was the style of chair I’d fallen in love with growing up. A wooden beach chair one would often find outside of a cottage where I could put my feet up if I chose. I sat down and lost myself within my thoughts. 

“Tired? Or just deep within your thoughts?” Grim asked
“A little of both. So many things on my mind right now though” I’d responded
“I can only imagine. It’s okay to take a nap, we’ve got a while before we get to your Bungalow” he’d mentioned
“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep” being my only response 
“I know there’s quite a bit that you’re still processing. Lot of questions still?” He inquired
“Yeah, wondering who found me, lot of other questions” I’d replied
“Gio found you not long after you died. They’re already mourning your death” Grim said

I knew he’d be the one that would find me. Gio was an older brother to me. He wasn’t blood but he’d always been there for me. We’d met each other later in life. He’d been traveling through from Greece when I met him. He’d decided to stay because of the peacefulness. He also wanted to look after me in my last days. I knew he would feel bad for not being there when I died. I’d left him a note telling him everything. I knew my death would hit him hard. He’d mourn my death differently than everyone else.  
It didn’t seem real when we arrived at the Bungalow. It was the same Bungalow from my dreams. It was far more than I’d imagined. There was no shortage of Marijuana or supplies for writing and drawing. Gifts from Grim. He’d even showed me where I could plant seeds to grow my own Marijuana. He'd mentioned that he’d come back to show me how to properly grow it in a few weeks. The wooden beach chairs facing the sea were the style of chairs I loved. The kind of chairs where I could sit back, relax and watch the waves. 

“What’s wrong?” Grim inquired
“I can hear Gio, crying. He-” I began
“It’s okay. You’re not crazy. That doesn’t always happen so soon. You two were close though. It happens when people like you and Gio are close” he replied
“Am I able to send him a sign letting him know I can hear him?” I asked
“Yeah, anything you want. A butterfly, a red bird, anything really. You think it he’ll see it” Grim said
I’d sent a butterfly to him. I thought about how I’d say hi to him along with what I’d do after he’d seen me. I heard him say hi to me. I heard him thank me for sending him a sign so soon after my death. I heard everything he said after that. Grim told me how to visit him in different ways. He sat with me for a while telling me everything I needed to know. I thanked Grim for telling me how to visit him in different ways. He saw how tired I was. He wanted to know if I wanted to smoke before taking a nap. I was on the fence about it. I smoked anyway knowing it’d help me sleep. 
Grim stayed with me until I fell asleep. He’d opened the windows so I could smell the sea breeze. We watched the sunset as I fell asleep. He’d told me he’d come back to see me in a few days. He knew I’d want some time to myself those first few days. He knew I’d want to do nothing but draw. To write poems to go with my drawings. To write about my death as well. I had a lot of questions I wanted to ask him. I knew he had work to do. I fell asleep feeling at peace.