Sweet Death

Sweet Death



Funny how people can obey misconceptions without even knowing it. I thought death would be cold, pitiless, lonely and sad. But I’m warm, with family and friends around me making me laugh as we remember the best moments of my life. Another misconception: not my whole life is flashing through my eyes, just the most marking moments of it.
My ex-husband is here, right by my side, with Alexia his lovely new wife. I remember our wedding, him in a white tuxedo and me in a black dress, our friends laughing so hard I was afraid they would hurt themselves. Josh and I are the eccentric type… this was a convenient marriage between best friends so Josh would not be thrown out of Britain. Would he remember our pact? That day, we were both drunk and he was depressed because of his mother’s death. So we made a pact: if one of us were to die, the other would throw a party like no others to honour the departed one. Well, looks like this party is going to be mine…
My husband and our three children are here too. This wedding was a more traditional one. I remember Jack smiling down at me while I was walking down the aisle. I remember the birth of our children, first Gabrielle, then the twins, Michael and Raphael. They are all grown up now. Would the four of them be alright? We’re a family of doctors: two surgeons, a psychiatrist, a cancer specialist and one researching a cure for AIDS. We deal with death on a nearly daily basis. But we’ve always been together…
Rain, making the road slippery… a car losing control… crashing into me and my bike… sending me flying into a tree… then, nothingness… next thing I knew I was in an ambulance, on my way to the hospital. I’m one of the surgeons of the family. The doctor within assessed my wounds. I gave myself 15% of chances to survive to trip, 5% to live through the operation that would have to follow. Thinking about the chances to open my eyes afterwards was too depressing. I knew the odds. And I fought them. My children always say to whoever is willing to listen that I am full of life and a natural fighter. Jack uses less flattering words. But I guess that’s why they didn’t look so surprised when I came back round.
But now, I can feel my body shutting down, even through the painkillers. My weak attempt to reach for the switch of my electrocardiograph is unseen by all safe Jack. I can tell he knows what’s happening. After all, he’s the other surgeon. He turns off the machine. The others turn silent. Teary eyes and sad smiles, that’s not what I want. I scowl at them and Jack bursts out laughing, soon joined by Josh and the rest of them. And I smile back at them.
“That’s going to be the best party ever!”
“Oh yeah? Wait until you get up there. Hell’s gonna break loose when I throw mine,” I reply with a big, if tired, smile.
Then, I fall asleep.