A/N: Tw: normal stuff.

Thursday

"Azira's quiet," his mother sighed. His father looked down at his son.

"Your mother is concerned. Why are you being quiet?"

Azira sighed, "I don't know."

His mother asked, "Are you upset?"

Azira shook his head. "I suppose I'm afraid of dying. What it's like. I'm not afraid of what comes after; I'm excited about that."

"Oh, Azira, it won't hurt. It will be quick. Not a fear to have. You'll be with the Lord in no time."

Azira asked, "Will my chest be better as soon as I get up there?"

His father said, "Of course it will. You'll be completely healed."

"Oh, well I suppose I can deal with a single moment of dying if it means being healed. Plus, eternal life is pretty wonderful."

"It is, it is. Only ten more days," his father said.

Azira smiled and sighed, "Ten more days."

His mother squeezed his cheeks and said, "Only ten more days until we get to meet our grandson."

"He's a beautiful boy," Azira said, "I can't wait until you get to see him."

Everyone smiled and laughed. This was the life Azira knew. He wasn't worried.

Only happy times and happy thoughts.

»»————-♡————-««

"Ten more days," Anthony sighed, "We have ten more days."

Beezy suggested, "Why don't we bust through the gates with my truck? You can swoop in and save Azira."

"We'll get arrested for trespassing and destruction of property."

"Good take," Beezy sighed as they grabbed waffles from the freezer. "Want one?"

"No thanks. I'm not hungry."

Beezy said, "We can lure him out."

"He's not an animal," Anthony sighed.

"Well you're a temptation, use yourself. Climb to his window. Write him letters. All that good stuff."

"That's also illegal."

"Laws are stupid sometimes."

"Agreed."

Friday

The cyanide had been delivered in the dead of the night. It was being stored in the basement of the church. Nobody would be able to touch it until it was time.

The box's arrival comforted Azira. The quicker he died the quicker he'd get to a better place.

Now was the time to slowly say goodbye to life.

That night he ate cereal for dinner and had a great big ice cream sunday after it. He slept with socks on (which he never does). He painted pictures.

This was day one of truly facing the end.

Saturday

He had a blank sheet of paper in front of him. On it he drew a picture of Anthony.

"Oh beautiful boy, I'm going to have to let you go on this fine night."

He then burnt the picture.

Anthony watched him do so. Perhaps rules were made to be broke. He tapped on the window.

Azira looked at Anthony. He immediately opened the window and pulled him in.

"What are you doing here?" Azira asked.

Anthony responded, "I'm trying to get you out of here."

Azira hugged Anthony and sniffled. "Oh I wish I could leave. I was whipped. Also I have a broken rib."

Anthony asked, "Why are you hugging me then?"

"Because," Azira sighed, "If I stay for nine more days I can go on. I won't hurt anymore. Anthony, I want to not see disturbing things, but I'm willing to see a thousand dead bodies just to see the eyes of my son."

"Azira, please, if you've seen how bad it is, then come with me."

Azira sighed, "I'll think about it."

"Did you see a dead body?"

"I saw a body that looked dead but really it wasn't. I wasn't supposed to see that not dead body."

Anthony kissed Azira's forehead and whispered, "Shh, it's alright."

"I got whipped for it," Azira said, "So it's not alright."

"You got whipped?"

"Yes. On Wednesday. I was unconscious for a little while because of it. I've had a hard time breathing too ever since. That also could be because of my broken rib."

"How'dya break a rib?"

Azira responded, "Gabriel got possessed by demons and started punching me to bitter oblivion."

"Oh that's why your lip is busted and you've got bruises."

Azira nodded and asked, "Can we sit down?"

Anthony said, "Of course. Come on."

The two then sat down on the bed.

"How'd you get in?" Azira asked. He held Anthony's hands.

Anthony responded, "I drove into the town. I also drove into your subdivision. I then climbed up the side of your house and you let me in the window."

"That easy?"

"Well there was one wall I had to climb. It just surrounded the whole town. You wouldn't know that, because I don't think anyone is allowed near it. Except for on the main road out. That's one that would obviously have a gate though."

Azira nodded and said, "I know this is a sin, but after what I've seen, I kind of believe I want to leave. I don't want to go to a sick world though. I also can hold on eight more days."

"That's only about a week Azira."

"Only about week until I can go to a wonderful place!"

Anthony grabbed his hand and said, "If you come with me, I can also show you wonderful places. I'll show you sandy beaches, huge trees that are bigger then any tree you've seen before, grand towers, books you've never read before, a literal house for books -there's lots of them and they're called libraries, buffet restaurants, oh things you'd love so much, Azira. You don't need to die to taste Heaven, when you have a Heaven on Earth just waiting for you."

Azira said, "There's no Heaven on Earth where I can find my son."

"I wish I could change that, but there's medicine out there that keeps babies from dying in the first place."

"Nothing is bringing him back."

"... What was his name?"

Azira smiled softly and said, "I named him Anthony, after you."

"I'm sorry he died."

"He's in a better place, I should be happy for him. Plus, my time of mourning is over. I can't be sad now."

Anthony hugged Azira and asked, "But do you feel sad?"

"A little. I'll admit that only to you, because you're a sinner and won't judge me for it. Perhaps later I'll tell Gabriel. I ought to tell Gabriel."

"You ought to feel more things Azira."

Azira sighed, "You know I'm not allowed to. You also know you're not supposed to be here. You should leave."

"No, you need to stop getting like this. The moment I start saying something that would make you want to leave- something sinful- you shut down. They've brainwashed you here Azira. Listen to me. Don't shut down."

"Anthony I don't know who to listen to. I don't know if my angels are the ones screaming at me to leave or if that's what my demons are saying. I don't know if I could handle a new life in the way you did. I'm not you. Please go."

Azira kissed Anthony. "Goodbye, my dear."

Anthony whispered, "Goodbye, angel."

He then slipped out of the window. Azira watched him leave.

"I loved you, Anthony. I hope my choice isn't wrong. I hope you're the one who's wrong."