Tag Archives: mortality

MARIA CARGILLE: No Returns, Exchanges, or Substitutions

The girl stood when Death walked in. Her coat was on, her bag was packed, and despite her tears, she wore a look of determination.

Death shook his head, understanding mingling with regret.

“Girl, wait until you’re older,” he said gently, and dodged around her to take her father’s hand.

Maria attends college in the midwest, and is becoming a proficient juggler of class, club, and those silly customs we call adulthood.

It’s hard to cry when the stench of death fills your lungs.

Still, seeing his frail body and gaping mouth, it’s hard not to cry. His breathing is ragged, eyes wide in anticipation of the inevitable.

Eighty five long years he’s had. Can’t help but cry for one’s own mortality.

Nicolas Frame is an author of short fiction, nonfiction articles, and some poetry.