‘It was one hell of a way to die’
They say human beings aren’t fast enough to dodge a bullet.
That the force of that tiny metal shot out is enough to break bones, to physically incapacitate.
That with one shot at the right place, a human person would die instantaneously.
They weren’t wrong.
With just one loud bang, I find myself on my back, staring at the clouds as they made their way through the bright blue sky.
I was walking with my partner, the small part of my brain reminds me. The part that had slowly began to lose strength.
I was walking, I remembered, and I was laughing. I was watching the light in their eyes shine as they chuckled with me, and I was happy.
How did I get here?
My partner and I had gone through so much. We’d battled so many monsters, broken through so many obstacles, faced so much pain.
Finally, finally, we were about to have our happy ending.
With the last bit of strength that my dimming mind had, it pushed to me a small memory.
A memory of sitting at the edge of a stone platform. Of swinging legs, of comforting winds, of a brilliant sunset sky.
A memory of soft contentment, happiness, and hope.
We’d been talking of how we’d like to die, if we had a choice.
They had said peacefully, surrounded by loved ones till the very end, then cremated to have their ashes buried somewhere special.
I’d grabbed their hand and swore that, if they’d died first, I would ensure that was what happens.
The kiss that followed upwards nearly killed me then and there.
They’d asked me, soft curiosity glittering in their gaze, what would be my preferred way to die.
‘I don’t know,’ I’d said. ‘But when I go, I want there to be no pain. I want everyone to be glad when I leave, because it’s my time, and I’m finally getting that eternal peace.’
To me, it felt like a good way to die.
After all I’d been through, I figured I’d at least get to decide how I die.
As my partner’s face appeared in my swimming vision, I realised there were tears streaming down their face. They were screaming at me, holding me in their hands and shaking me.
There was so much pain on their face.
Right then, I knew I could not die. I couldn’t-
I will not.
Not like this.