Once Again!

Summary

Death, personified as a being who takes lives, encounters an unexpectedly strong will to live in an old, sick woman, which both surprises and saddens him as he fulfills his centuries-old duty.

Abstract

The narrative titled "Once Again!" introduces Death as an entity with a singular, age-old role: to end lives. Despite the inevitability of his presence, people often choose to ignore him until the end. Death is depicted as a methodical and patient figure who takes pleasure in the challenge of claiming souls, particularly those who resist. His latest encounter is with an elderly woman who, despite her frailty and illness, surprises him with her fierce determination to cling to life. This struggle, while futile against Death's ultimate power, provides him with a momentary thrill and a reminder of the resilience of hope, even in the face of certain demise.

Opinions

Death views his role with indifference, seeing himself as a necessary conclusion to life, akin to a period at the end of a sentence.
The narrative suggests that people's awareness of death can influence their appreciation for life, with those who ignore death potentially missing out on its lessons.
Death is portrayed as a being who appreciates the fight for life, finding beauty in the struggle and the hope that drives it, despite knowing that hope cannot alter the final outcome.
The story conveys a sense of respect for those who face death with resistance, valuing their will to live and the unexpected strength they exhibit in their final moments.
There is a hint of disappointment or sadness in Death's perspective, as he recognizes that those who submit too easily will never fully grasp the beauty and value of the life they are leaving behind.

He has only one job. He had that job for centuries.

Endings are never happy. Nobody knew better than him. It is his job which he has been doing for centuries and he has seen it all. He has seen it all — the screaming, the silent acceptance, the ignorant, the surprise. Yes, he is Death. The methods are his and the consequence are always the same.

Most people spend their lifetime ignoring him as if he never existed. Yet his visit is the only certain event after birth in everyone’s life. Still, people ignore him. But he doesn’t care. He is period at the end of sentences. He knows whatever happens the period is always there.

When he comes, it is over. He interrupts lives to complete them. The times when people survive are not when they defy him. It is just that he never came. How well they survive death-like situations determines the quality of their remaining life until he actually comes in to picture.

Tonight he is visiting another stranger. In his line of work, everyone is a stranger to him. It is easier that way. But the struggle excites him. The challenge of prying out the soul from an unwilling body is the thrill that he craves. He detests people who submit without his approval. He has to rush and he doesn’t like to work in haste. They will never learn the beauty of life.

Sickness is his ally. Sickness drains away all vitality and hope before he arrives, making his job easier. He is not expecting any resistance tonight. She is old, frail, and has been lying sick for the last two weeks. Sickness had prepared her for him and she would be grateful for his arrival. He will soon find out how wrong he is.

There is constant beeping of the machine near her. His environment has changed over the years. But his task has not. He crept upon the helpless body. This was his moment. The slow and creeping approach gives him the thrill. She opens her eyes towards him when he reached her side of the bed. He thought she saw him. But it doesn’t matter. All that mattered is he has the trigger.

She surprised him. He saw wide-open eyes ready to fight eyes and not the weak look of resignation. He felt the resistance. She is not submitting. She is fighting and is pushing back with her will. After everything she has gone through, the will to live is still there. This has amazed him throughout the centuries. Fight even when all odds are against it. Hope is their weapon. Many before him relied on hope alone. But hope remains only hope when he is there. He is the finality. No weapon could beat his trigger.

He sucked out the life once again. His perfection remained unchallenged. Yet he was sad. He loved the fighters. Fighters had something in their tank left. They want to give more to life. They also gave him the thrill he always wanted with a weapon he has beaten always — hope.