I am Steven, a kid around 11 years old, and i will die soon. Ever since I was born I have been diseased and bedridden, and my life feels like a complete waste, like all I've ever done is be a burden to those around me. My father, whose hands were always rough from working at a saw mill, always felt warm and comforting when he would see me, laugh with me, tell me everything would be alright. My mother who is a very kind soul, who would sit with me, talk with me for hours, tell me what we would do once we left this accursed hospital. My brother and sister who knew of my condition yet accepted me as one of their own, never letting my disability get in the way of having fun. Those days with them were always fun, they were bliss in the agony of my life. My only solace was my NintendoDS which I had gotten for my 9th birthday. I played many games on it. I cherished all the time i played on it, i loved every character i played as. My experiences with these games were the crutch with which I could lean on in my times of suffering. When i was playing these games i could relax, let my personality shine through the characters, and go on adventures. Ah, how badly I wanted to go on adventures like the heroes in these stories! My favorite game to play however, was Pokemon Fire Red. I had other Pokemon games, but i played this one more than the other ones, i gravitated towards like no other game. It was my favorite and I had beaten it many times, with many different teams, many different strategies, I even did the internet challenge of "nuzlocke" a few times.

So as I lay here weezing, with no one to comfort me, I feel something inside me stir. It is coming, my death is soon arriving. I wonder, will i be happy in heaven with my grandma, or will i be reincarnated and be able to live a full life as someone else? Maybe 5 minutes or so and I will find out I guess, not knowing how I could accurately guess the time, but my gut was telling me it was soon. I could not even cry out, the disease had taken my voice. Then I saw a dark figure approach me, but I did not feel the need to yell or scream. Even though i should be scared, i should be terrified by this stranger, i could feel his warmth, i could feel his presence as a sign of good.

"My Child" the man spoke in a deep gravelly voice,"You have suffered for over a decade, you have gone through what many would consider a nightmare." The man continued to slowly walk closer and even as he got closer his appearance did not get any clearer, the darkness around him continued to seemingly get darker. "Yet in all that time your spirit almost never waivered, and even though I have tried to postpone it, your time has come."

I looked at his shadowy figure and thought to myself how mystical this situation was, how by all accounts death, who was omnipotent and said to be uncaring and cruel, seemingly did have a heart. These thoughts brought a smile to my face as i thought to myself how wonderful a life this had been despite all the suffering i had gone through. How my family would miss me even when i had passed and how i never did get to go on that adventure.

"My child, I am pleased to hear that you think that even a being as cold as i, can care for the living as much as life herself cares for her creations" the shadowy figure said. Even though I could not make out his face, I felt what could only be described as a smile. "You have suffered for what must have felt like an eternity, racked with pain, tortured past what most would consider acceptable for even the most sane of beings" the figure continued on, his aura emitting what felt like sadness and grief. "I have recognized you, as a being of incredible willpower, someone who can thrive despite the most tortuous of situations. Even though you went through all that, you have never even felt the outside air, and it truly saddens me to have to be here, to escort you away."

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He looked at me directly in my eyes and i stared back into what could only be described as the universe itself. Darkness beyond dark, a void within another, endless and infinite. Yet it was beautiful, and I couldn't help but feel sad for him. 'I am sorry I must be a burden to you, it seems that's all I ever was to anyone. My only wish was to go on an adventure like the ones in my games. I hope that I will get to do that wherever I go next. I hope you will be happier from now on as well Mr.'

The shadowy looked genuinely surprised for a second despite not having any noticeable features. "Hmmm… I see, to care for the one that has come to take your life, you truly are a one in a trillion kind of person. You are one of the bravest and kindest people i know." The shadowy figure looked down at my hand that was holding my DS and its copy of Fire Red. "I have made my decision my child, I have seen your conviction and I am certain you are a person worth a second chance. You will get your adventure as you so desire!" he said, the last part coming out prideful and gleeful. "I will transport you into this universe of yours, so you may go on an adventure. Now my child, have a wonderful life beyond!"

Suddenly a golden light enveloped my body and I started to float upwards. Except it was like i was a ghost, because my body did not come with me and i was see through. I looked at the shadowy figure once again and thought to myself, 'Thank you I hope you find happiness by the next time.' Then I felt from the figure what could only be described as satisfaction, pride and a little bit of glee.

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Death stood amongst the child's now lifeless body as alarms from the room were going off. It was then that time itself seemed to stop and two figures radiating golden life energy walked into the room. "Hello Life, God, what brings you two here today?" he asked half sarcastically, already knowing why the two had come.

Life stepped forward first and said,"Why did you do that just now? We both felt the energy you emit sharply take a nosedive just now! You could have severely weakened yourself or even died!"

God then stepped forwards,"I too would like to know why you did what you did. This is totally out of character for you. I have only seen you do this for one other person and he only got it because you deemed his action worthy in the highest magnitude! What could this kid have done that made you so infatuated with him to give him that chance?"

Death stopped and listened to them ramble on about what could have happened. It was true that now he was extraordinarily weak and it would take time to recover all that lost energy. He waited for the pair to stop blathering on and he replied,"I respected him." Which baffled both of the other entities, "Even in his final moments he still cared for me, the one who had come to take his life. The entire time he was suffering, in constant agonizing pain and he felt sorry for me, that i had to take on the burden of him. To me, someone who can look at others and feel sorry for them even when they themselves are suffering is someone who deserves my utmost respect. I guess you could say he reminded me, of well, me"