Chapter2

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.

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