Every Fifty Years

"You're early," says Death with a hint of surprise. “Not that I'm complaining, though."

"Surprise, Dad!" his daughter Beauty smiles at him.

"Why are you back early, dear?" Normally when she joined him, the family of three made a day of it, as their paths hardly crossed anymore.

"I'm not staying, but there's someone I want to greet and guide to the river. Mother figured you wouldn't mind and would understand." Beauty waves her hand, and her robe turns from a yellow and green background with black swirls to a black background with butterflies and roses in yellow and green - always a perfect combination of both parts of her.

"I'm glad you are here today. I have a few tough passengers this evening.” Death offers her his arm. “So whose is this passage you want to guide?"

"Oh, so when I joined Mom last switch, she showed me this woman who made the most beautiful gardens. Even though she couldn’t see me, I would visit her every day. And unlike mom, I could see her time was coming. And, well...." Beauty gives her dad a sad smile.

"I understand, Beauty." He pats her arm. "How is your mother these days?" His heart aches - oh, how he misses his love!

"She is the same as always. She misses you. But is still happy. Dad, I'm nearly a thousand years old; can't you tell me a little bit about your and Mom's story?" She asks this question every few years.

Death sighs and thinks for a moment. "Come, let's meet my difficult passengers, then I'll explain a bit more of your mother's and my story."

Beauty looks at him like she is going to roll her eyes but doesn’t.

They walked into a hospital. "Oh, these ones are always hard." She releases her dad's arm and walks to the little boy with tubes and wires all over him. She takes a breath and touches his arm. The little boy stands up beside her. Death watches as Beauty explains what is happening. She knows which other kids need to join them today.

Death walks over to the NICU ward. Then he sees her - his love, the mother of his daughter, Life herself. She is holding a baby. She always tries to check on new life. They see each other, he smiles, and she blushes. She angles the baby so he can see the little one, and he gives the baby a small ware.

He is grateful he isn’t here for the one she is holding. He lifts up one of the other little ones in the nursery. The baby hardly stirs, curls up in his arms, and sleeps soundly. Life and Death share a sad smile and part ways.

When he returns to Beauty's side, she has gathered all the children. She is creating flowers, butterflies and birds that make the kids smile. They seem less scared. The kids always respond better to her than to him.

They lead the group of kids, who seem to be in awe of the world around them. Beauty glances at her father. "You saw mom, didn't ya?"

"What makes you say that?" He smirks at his daughter.

"You’ve got that look on your face - you always have it when we leave her to go home." She rolls her eyes.

"I did see your mom when I was picking up this little one."

They walk in silence for a while. Life and Death each take turns collecting the soul waiting for their call.

"When I first met Life, she was mad at me for taking someone away from her. But as time went on, she saw that we could work together. Slowly, we spent more and more time together. But as people created more cities and built civilizations, they feared me more and I took it hard. Watching them praise Life for her work and then despite me for mine." He looks down.

"But Dad, that isn't fair; your work is just as vital as Mom’s." Beauty smiles at her dad, trying to get him to smile.

"You and I understand that, but you and I and your mother can't die. We will never have to grieve as humans do. So I don't blame them." He pats her arm, telling her that he is okay.

"Dad, what happened?" She looks at him, begging for more of the story.

"Well, the weight of the hate was too much, so I avoided Life as much as I could. I wanted her to enjoy being loved by the people without feeling guilty." He chuckles.

"I'm betting mom didn't approve of that." Beauty covers her month, hiding her giggle.

"Not even a little bit. So she hunted me down again and again, trying to make me see my value. After years of this chase, I got tired of running….'' With a wave of his hand he shows her a flashback….

"Death, please stop running from me." Life ran, following after Death. It had been days and she refused to stop.

"Life, do you not know how hard this is for me? They hate me." He stopped long enough to turn and look at her. That’s when he really saw her face for the first time in years. Her eyes were bloodshot. "Life, you've been crying."

"For years, Death. They may love me, but no one cares for me. They wreck my lands, they kill my animals, they kill and destroy each other, and no one cares! Then you run from me I can't even see you take care of my lost souls!" She fell to the ground, tears flowing.

"Oh Life, I do care for you. It's why I run; I thought I was hurting you." Death’s thin fingers removed tears from her cheeks. "I care for you so much."

"I don't hate you, Death; I never could. You are the one thing that brings me peace in this never-ending life." She took his hand and held it tight.

"I won't run anymore, I promise. But can we stay side by side anymore... Humans have gotten to be so numerous that we have to be in so many places. What can we do?" He rested his head against hers.

"There is beauty in both of us. So let's let that tie us together." She opened her hands to him.

"But Live, I can't create anything. I only take away!" His hands didn't move, but his posture faltered.

"With me, you can." So together they created a little girl. She had bright eyes like Life but skin as pale as Death’s. Her hair shone like sapphires but was as deep a blue as the ocean. Her smile sparkled like the stars. She was perfect. "Death, what shall we call her?"

He held the little girl close to his chest and smiled as she curled in close. "Beauty. The one thing that exists in life and death. She will be a help, a comfort, and a connection for each of us." Death had never helped Life make anything before. He had never felt so alive. "She should stay with you; the human world will be kinder to her than the depths of a river.

"You must visit often then. I want her to know you. She should come to stay with you when she's older. She's got both our gifts after all." Life stroked the little girl's hair.

Death waved his hand and ended the flashback.

"Oh wow! Dad, I...I didn't know." Beauty seems in awe of him.

"We never wanted you to feel like you owed us something. We made the 50-year agreement so you can practise both your gifts." He stops walking. One of the children had stopped walking; he could feel it.

"You or me?" Beauty looks back and forth between him and the kids.

"I'll go. You entertain the kids." Checking on the baby still asleep in his arms, Death walks over to the little boy who had stopped.

"Oh hi, Mister." The boy looks back at him.

"What ya waiting on, Bud?" Death sits on the ground beside the boy.

"My best friend - we go everywhere together. I don't want to get too far ahead." The boy is watching the direction they have just come from.

"Ah! Well, Bud, I don't think we can wait, but I promise for you it will feel like that," Death snaps his finger, "and then he'll be here. And look," he turns the boy's attention to the group of kids around Beauty. "We are going to go on all kinds of adventures." Beauty is creating all kinds of animals for the children to play with.

"Whoa... That's so cool! Is it always like that?" The boy's eyes are as wide as saucers.

"Every day," Death replies as he offers the boy his hand. They start walking again, and Beauty keeps creating while they walk. Eventually, the kids run ahead, and Death turns to Beauty. “It's time my, dear."

Beauty looks to her dad. "Do we have to?" She takes his hand which is now free from the little boy who is running with the other kids.

"Yes, we do. She'll be grateful to finally meet you!" They enter the hospital to see a patient surrounded by family.

The children who had been playing are now silent. They move to join the group of older people who had been following behind them. It is as if they understand this person is important to Beauty.

Death softly touches the older lady's arm. "Welcome," he says with a smile.

"Oh! I didn't realize I would leave today." She looks at her family with a sad smile. "Death, can I ask one favour?"

"Of course, ma'am.'' He waits, sure that he knows what she is going to ask.

"Can I see my home one more time?"

"Of course. My daughter has told me some much about your home, and I would to see it for myself." He gestures for Beauty to step forward.

"My aren't you beautiful, dear child." Beauty offers the woman her arm. The group starts walking again, till they reach the woman’s house.

"Oh no! I suppose my family would have struggled to keep my garden alive."

Beauty sighs as she waves her hand, switching her robes. "I wish I was as strong as Mom, but I’m not strong enough to bring your garden back to life as a parting gift."

"Good thing I stopped by then," Life steps out of nowhere. “I knew this would happen." She smiles and takes her daughter's hand. "Let's make her garden breathe again."

Death watches as mother and daughter dance through the garden, hand in hand. The children join in. The older woman approaches Death. "Thank ya for this gift."

Death smiles. "It's as much for me as it is for you." Death hands the baby to the older woman and joins his love and his daughter in dancing.

And so he reminds the crowd that in both Life and Death you will always find Beauty.

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