Doctor Carolina comes into the room looking less happy than when she had visited Alease just a week ago to run some regular checkups to supervise her health.

Alease slowly props herself up to face the doctor.

“Morning,” Alease lets out a breath from propping herself up.

Caroline, being uncomfortable watching Alease struggling, starts crying.

“Doctor? Are you okay?” Alease felt her heart tighten as if anticipating something wrong.

Caroline, without an answer, grabs a tissue box from the nearby counter and hands it to Alease.

She knew she had to just say it, she’s responsible for her patients but with Alease Miranda, it felt personal, as if she failed her studies, and herself and Alease.

‘What’s the point of being a doctor if I can’t even find something sustainable for my patients,’ Caroline curses in her head, before turning her attention back onto Alease.

Still standing thinking about how to word or tell Alease the news.

“Doc? You're scaring me,” Alease holds the tissue box close to her chest bracing for anything.

Caroline, still hesitating, begins sweating, “Crap,” She clutches her fist, squeezing her eyes as the words come out of her mouth as if a force is holding her back.

“3 days!” Caroline straightens her back and softens her voice, “The results from the last test showed some significant decreases. When comparing them to the other tests to see what we can do to stabilize this….”

Caroline pauses to confirm if Alease wants to hear more, to her surprise Alease stood her ground as if she was prepared for this.

Breaking Caroline’s heart watching this young girl act brave, she continues, “But the results showed your body isn’t responding to any medication or treatment. Even though when treated it’s only short-term as if we confuse your body to accept the treatment but that also means when your body starts being alarmed by the foreign antibodies they try to get rid of it. I’m sorry your body is declining rapidly. I want to say you have at least a week but it seems we’ve guessed it might be even shorter. We’ll try our best to make you comfortable,”

Alease who hadn’t said a word or batten an eyelash continues to stay still in silence.

Caroline wishes she could read her mind but she can tell from the silence Alease is processing this in her own way.

“Please, call me if you have any questions. Nurse Kim is on duty today and will come in to give you your daily” She turns to leave and whispers under her breath, “I’m sorry,”

And walks out of the door, leaving Alease to her thoughts.

Alease’s body is dying and there’s nothing that anyone could do to help her. On top of that, she only has 3 days at most?

Tears roll down her face unsure if she’s dreaming or really dying. She always thought she would have a future to see once she gets better but now that’s a ridiculous dream.

Just as her body was exhausted from the news she collapsed on the bed, holding herself. As she cries, she can hear the sick kids coughing or the temporary patients coming back for a check-up outside her door.

‘Life, Light, and joy?’ closing her eyes, listening to every persons’ voice

‘What a great day to be alive’ repeating that through her tears until everything fades to darkness. While the smell of fresh sheets and antiseptic that now makes her feel nauseous from the thought of this is where and how she’ll die.

…

“Miss Miranda?” A sweet voice that could be described as honey, awakens Alease.

“Kim?” Alease calls out, eyes still shut, unable to face her envious new mindset of others.

‘If I look at her, I would cry again…. Won’t I? Or at least want to scratch her eyes out.’

“Yes, I’m here. Sorry for waking you it’s time for your meds,” Kim places the meds and cup of water on the side table.

Alease is still laying down, eyes closed.

“Alease let me help you up,” Kim softly places her hands on Alease’s shoulders and helps guide Alease up.

But with the limited time Alease has made her feel less motivated to take anything, ‘I’m going to die anyway!’

“Alease, are you feeling okay?” Kim is still by Alease's side, “Does anything hurt?”

“I would like to be left alone,” Alease says in a slow manner staring at her legs, “And do you mind bringing me some paper and a pen”.

“Of course! I’ll be right back,” Kim, who seemed happy to leave the depressed Alease, ran out of the room.

‘Kim may be sweet but she fears death’ Alease laughing to herself lays back down but this time she stares at the 6 pills on the bedside table.

‘Who would have thought these pills ain’t doing shit’

Tears crept down her cheek not taking her eyes off the pills as her vision blurred. ‘Fuck this!’

Minutes pass as Alease falls asleep from exhaustion again

Awaking her up again was Kim, “Alease, I’ve brought you pen and paper, I’ll leave it on the side you don’t need to get up,” Kim pauses before finishing placing the paper down.

“Please take your medicine before 10 pm, I’ll be back to check up on you” Kim turns around to walk out.

Kim pauses between the door, noticing the room feels slightly cold as she walks out of the room into the hallway, ‘Maybe someone turned on the AC for this room?’

Closing the door softly Kim glances up at Alease, ‘She seems fine with it’, shrugging her shoulders she heads to her next task.

Alease is still laying down, too scared to write to her friends and family for the last time. But she wanted them to know that she was ready and is perfectly fine. Giving them some peace of mind.

Alease turns to her left side and curls up holding herself, ‘who was I kidding…’ squeezing even tighter ‘I’m not ready! I’m not!’

She held it in for as long as she could but the tears and pain were pouring out.

While nurse Kim checks the thermostat for the room. Alease awakes to her room getting colder.

Pulling the covers over Alease’s head, ‘why are the hospitals always cold!’

Still exhausted from earlier not realize her room wasn’t the only thing getting colder.

Hands becoming stiff, Alease panics

“Nurse!!” Pushing the panic button with the bottom of her palm.

“Something’s wrong!” She yells

Still, no one answers, glancing around the room for help. Still not able to move.

She sees a shadow standing in the corner, “help….”

Quickly frozen with fear, ‘this is my private room… I don’t share with anyone else’

as if something answered her pleas the warmth from her body travels down to the tips of her limbs, leaving her completely.

‘Oh god’

Not able to move or speak, the shadow slowly slides to her side.

‘What is it?’

“The face of death?” She mutters out

The shadow creeps in curiosity to her face.

“Alea…saa, Mirrraaada” with a face of pitch-black as a void…, the voice was soft but harsh as if they had something stuck in their throat.

“Yes…?” Still not wanting to alert it. Alease answers, “I am she,”

The shadowy being backs away as if to take a long look at her.

“Am….”

‘Agh, AckAck!’ flinches with every sound the shadow makes

Alease quickly covers her face with her hands

“Ugh… ahh… laaa” the shadow clears their voice.

A sweet, deep, cowboy-like voice comes out of the shadow, “sorry about tha’, I was sic not too long ago,”

‘Did it just talk?!’ Uncovering her eyes

“What?” Alease mouth drops

The shadowy figure slides off his hood to reveal a human.. a very good-looking human.

Chestnut curly hair, that falls to his eyebrows and lips with a pink tint.

Alease’s heart was no longer racing out of fear but out of a heart attack.

‘What the fuck…. He’s hot’

“Thank ya, I am not interested in humans tho” the shadow figure who is now a hot man, sits at the foot of Alease’s bed.

“Am I dead?” Alease readying herself

“Yes and no, I am the grim reaper but..” the atmosphere changes to an even colder room.

“I’m willing to get you a second chance at life,” the grim reaper says awaiting her reaction

“A what?!” Alease who had been in the hospital for most of her life, “you want me to continue being bedridden?”

Alease gesturing around her.

“No no, my dear..” The reaper gets up

Alease melts from the nickname.

“You will not be bedridden but after a year of playing around, I’ll continue again to check if you are ready to go,” The reaper flashes a smooth smile, making you want to die all over again.

‘Ready to go?… a year?’

“Please don’t think too hard, I need a quick answer, yes or no. Make the deal, you will not be disappointed” watching her every move the reaper slides closer.

“A second chance to find love,” the reaper whispers

‘Love?!’ Alease weighing down on her bed, getting exhausted from the interactions. ‘I wish to not be alone’

“That is fair and you will not,” the reaper fades into the dark, whispering “good luck”

Alease shuts her eyes as the energy is being sucked out of her.

‘Well, they did say when dying you start seeing things,’ a tear falls down ‘I wish someone was beside me while I die… I’m scared’

Her hearing fades as her sight. And falls into a deep sleep.

——

Alease’s body becomes light and feels as if she’s drifting through the sea.

Listening to the waves splash against her. The smell of salt calms her as she remembers the first time her family was at the beach.

She continues listening to the waves and wind until a seagull flies by.

Another one flies over her, yelling in search of food.

One by one more appears, “shut up!” She yells

“Alease!!!” One of the birds yell back

“Ugh…. I’m trying to relax!” She wiggles in distress

“Alease!!!”

A hand touches her shoulder and begins shaking her uncontrollably.

“Agh” Alease opens her eyes to her mother's face.

“Alease, it’s time for school,” Alease’s mom irritated, picks up clothes off the floor, “and don’t raise that tone with me again!”

As if a hurricane of emotions hit her, Alease cried.

‘It’s been forever! Was she always this beautiful?’

Bags around her eyes and smells of bacon. ‘Mom like I remember her’

“Oh, baby! I’m not that mad,” Her mom dropped the clothes on the floor rushing to her.

Reaching out to her dream mom.

“Mommy… is this real?” Alease squeezes her mom tight, not wanting to let go.

“Please tell me I’m not dead and we are alive,” Alease voice weak from the desperation of this dream.

“Honey?!” Pulling away, her mom places the back of her hand on Alease’s forehead, “you don’t feel warm…”

Her mom looks around the room, “maybe you can stay home today…” Her mom pulls out her phone, “I’ll also stay home with you,”

“Mom please don’t leave,” still not wanting to let go.

Tears start running down her mom’s face, clasping Alease’s face, “Oh Alease Gean Miranda! Everything will be okay,”

Overwhelmed with emotions, Alease curled up to her mother, who is now laying on the bed rubbing her back.

Alease finally relaxes in her mother’s arms, not caring if this is an infinite dream of death.

She never thought she would be able to see, hold or even smell her mother.