A robed figure stands before me, a hood covering his skeletal face. His empty sockets staring "You are young, so I shall give you a chance," he says "do you truly want to die or shall I let you live?"

"I would like to die, no one would miss me."

"No one would miss you? Not your mother? Not your father? Not your brother or cat? Not even your friends?"

"Yes, no one would miss me"

A skeletal hand emerges from the black sleeves of his robe "Then take my hand young one and I shall show you how the world goes on without you." I reach out and take hold of the cold, hard bone.

I see my mother laying in her bed numb and empty, mourning the loss of her child.

I see my father, who I've never seen shed a tear in my life, sitting in his office sobbing.

I see my little brother confused on why his parents are in such despair and why his big brother went bye-bye.

I see my cat sitting on my bed crying and meowing for me.

I see my one and only friend sitting in her bathroom holding a razor to her wrist.

I see the rest of their lives play out, experiencing every moment that I'd miss. My cheeks are warm and wet as I look out at it all. At their lives. Their lives without me.

Death turns to me "Now I shall ask you again, young one, do you truly want to die?" In my tears I shake my head "I think I do want to live." I say.

Death smiles, as much as he can with his unmoving skull of a face. "Then take your second chance and live."

Then I awake on my bedroom floor with a broken rope wrapped loosely around my neck.