(no subject)

[odditycollector]

gehayi again.



Adam sits in the plastic chair by Pepper’s bedside. Her hair is grey, now, and there are lines through her face, and looking at her, Adam realizes he can’t remember when she got old. He knows there are worse places to do this than the hospital, surrounded by family and friends. But right now all he can think of is the sharp smell of antiseptic, the slow stench of death.

“I can see you, you know,” he says.

Death leans against the wall, a concept old as life and dressed in a black tanktop and tattered shorts. She smiles across at him. “Yeah,” she says. “Thought you would.”

She walks towards the bed, whispering private words about the difference between letting go and admitting defeat. Adam turns away and shuts his eyes, but the other senses are more difficult. He doesn't look back until he hears the sound of wings.

She winks at him, and reality begins to bend back around her. “Wait,” Adam says. “Will I – I’ll see her again, right?”

Death looks at him, not impassively, although there is no human word for the expression in her eyes. “Sure,” she says. “Some day. If that’s what you want.”

Something in Adam relaxes. “Yeah,” he says. “I think it is.”

They share a brief smile, and then the world starts again. Wensleydale and one of Pepper's children are sharing this vigil. A machine shrieks, and they turn to him.

And whatever answer there is must be written on his face, because they start to cry.

Comments

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

This is so sad.

She walks towards the bed, whispering private words about the difference between letting go and admitting defeat.

Oh, Pepper. Sniff.

[odditycollector.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you were saddened. (Um...)

[foreverdirt.livejournal.com]

*hugs self*

Hurty-hurty-bad in a good way.

[odditycollector.livejournal.com]

Oh well, at least it's in a good way... ;)

(And you know, it's funny, the situation with Pepper was supposed to just be background, but it kind of took over the snippet.)