Those Who Smile Back
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Death.
It was the close stranger that awaited every living thing at the end of their flickering lifespan. Though it was the inevitable end, the majority of those who had such a fate in store for them simply chose to ignore it up until the very last moment; choosing instead to avert their eyes from the slow passage of time that encroached upon them like a prowling specter.
As comical as it may sound, those who had managed to survive near death experiences often recounted seeing visions of an actual looming specter amidst the entirety of their life’s brief experiences flashing before their eyes.
They say it was a figure cloaked in a mantle so dark it could easily send shivers down the spine of even the bravest souls. According to them, the crimson gleam emanating from his peering eye sockets would glare down at them with a gaze so blatantly condescending it was as if he was watching worms writhing about in the dirt. Not to mention the intimidating obsidian scythe he lazily hoisted over his shoulder, that chilling image mixed with his demented smile just went to make the experience all the more terrifying.
“Shinigami, The Dark shepherd, Santa Muerte...” the emissary of death went by many names, but the most notable one amongst them all was undoubtedly “The Grim Reaper.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
After centuries of watching the last embers of mortal lives burn through their fragile brilliance, that particular name had somehow managed to catch on. The only reason it even took so long to begin with was because of the age old saying “Dead Men Tell No Tales". So even if one did manage to catch a glimpse of this so-called Grim Reaper, they certainly wouldn't live to tell about it, after all there were only so many of those lucky enough to slip through even the welcoming fingers of death itself.
In their final moments, despite averting their eyes from the cruel reality that had been awaiting them for the entirety of their lifespan, mortals would always end up complaining about their lingering regrets. Seeing as their dying whispers were too weak for any mortal ears to decipher, only one person was able to bear witness to the countless tragic tales, and in spite of he himself not even knowing why he was doing it in the first place, he would listen every time...all the way to the end.
The Grim Reaper these mortals had dreaded, feared and despised ever since the day they were born would ultimately be the only one able to lend them an ear in the end - Quite Ironic.
However, even though the majority of the souls he’d guided were often full of regret, ever so often a few anomalies would come up. A rare specimen that had no regrets whatsoever, the ones that had managed to live their lives to the fullest despite the brief time they were given - In truth, those were the stories he’d wanted to hear most of all, because in the end, those were the people who were brave enough to smile back.