Few years back, I read this book entitled, "Death,Be not Proud." It was a story of a father fighting to find cure for his sick son. I can't really remember the story now, but I was just reminded that Death is always lurking around.
Death,a HE or a SHE, is always around and some picture this being as a hooded person with a big scythe. I see it as my best friend who is always there and would never miss.
I got acquainted with Death at an early age. I didn't understand it right away. I was told that a person would go to sleep and would never wake up. People around, who are still "awake" would cry and some prayers will be said for the person inside a box. If the person goes to sleep for a long time,then why people cry? Do they envy the person who sleeps? Then why not sleep themselves so that they won't be sad and stop crying. That's how I got to know my best friend.
Death is always there, always with me. Death makes some people "sleep" eternally. I never cried though...until Death decided to ask my grandfather to go to sleep already.
Every friendship will be tested and that day my friendship with Death was almost severed. Why Death asked my grandfather to sleep? I want my grandfather awake. He was away from me for such a long time and I wanted more waking time with him. Death just gave me a cold shoulder, offered me no answers. I turned my back and left my best friend. I let Death go and try to forget about it. I sought other friends, Youth. The friendship didn't last long. There was Innocence also, but that was really short. Experience and Knowledge came, they stayed and I became close with them, but there is something that I wanted and only Death can give. I longed for my best friend. I want to be with Death. Experience and Knowledge tried to help but Death was special.
Then one day, I was reunited with my best friend. I was with one of my "awake" friends when Death came. We were slowly introduced again. Death paid a visit to my 6-years-old "awake" friend and asked her to sleep so that the pain of leukaemia would go away. She was very instrumental of uniting me with my long lost best friend. From that day on, we were inseparable. I have witnessed my best friend's methods of making people go to sleep. Death got a lot of tricks. Even all magicians and illusionists put together and combine their tricks, they can't beat my best friend's ability.
It was me who was proud of Death, very proud of my best friend.
My best friend is always around and always reliable. When there were times I would drift away and forget about my best friend because of some matter of consequence, Death is there, never leaving near me.
2010 started, I somewhat forgot my best friend. Experience and Knowledge didn't remind me either because Work entertained us. Death came again, reminding me that even if I started to forget, Death didn't. My uncle was visited by Death in early 2010. My uncle doesn't want to sleep yet. He stayed awake and he tried to stay awake, but my best friend got a very good ability, sang a really good, haunting lullaby that made my uncle go to sleep and left my aunt and 3 cousins in tears. My best friend's performance is always really good. Not an eye without a tear whenever Death performs the "Art of putting 'awakes' to sleep." Always grand, always unforgettable and everyone would always remember it.
My best friend made another grand entrance before 2010 ended. My grandmother's turn to sleep this time. My grandma already had foreseen it. My best friend was ever so helpful making my grandma's sleep so comfortable for her. She will be sleeping with my grandpa, they will be together again. My grandpa had been sleeping all alone. Death allowed my grandma to join my grandpa.
2011 came, just after the New Year, Death again surprised me with another unforgettable performance. An aunt of mine obliged to my best friend's request.
I'm always proud of my best friend. Other's come and go. Some may stay but sometimes not exciting. Death is always exciting to be with. We go a long, long way. Death never and wouldn't ever leave me. We will always be together and I would always see my best friend's performance.
Death, be not proud indeed! Because I, it is I, who is very proud of you.^.^
