Tea Time with Death
written by: Author B.A. Rose
George Turner was dying. The test results had come back and nothing could be done. Only thirty, his life was going to be over in six months, maybe sooner if he didn’t take the medicines prescribed to him.
Walking to his car, he wanted to scream, “Why me?” Instead, he got in and drove home. How was he going to tell Cindy? They had gotten married only a year ago, and she was pregnant with their first child. For two years he had been in remission and everything was fine. He was never going to see his child grow up. Hell, who knew if he was going to see him born? Or her.
He parked in the driveway and sat there staring straight ahead. There had to be something he could do. Anything. Somehow he would figure it out. He needed to live.
All through dinner George pretended nothing was wrong. He didn’t want to upset Cindy. She had felt the baby kick today and was so happy when telling him about it. She asked if he was alright, but he just smiled telling her he was fine. That night, he made love to her, making sure to remember every part of her soft body. Who knew how soon the disease would take this part of him too?
He fell asleep holding his wife close. Dreaming, he heard a voice calling his name, and he saw himself walking into a room. “George, come inside. I want to talk to you. Come on, I don’t bite.” George walked slowly into the room which was lit with candles. It was still dark, but there was a lamp on a table and as he walked up to it he gasped.
A cloaked figure looking like a skeleton was sitting there drinking something out of a fancy teacup. His eyes were flaming blue orbs, just like the rim of the cup and he smiled. “Been waiting for ya kid. Have a seat and we’ll talk.”
George’s first instinct was to run out screaming, but something about this being made him sit down. He watched the skeleton pour him some of the brew. It looked and smelled like tea, except it was a deep red and bubbling. The creature laughed. “Think I’m going to poison you? Hell, you have enough poison in your whole body already doing that don’t ya? No, this is my own special brew. Try it.”
Picking up the cup, he smelled it once more before taking a sip. It had a slightly bitter taste but was also sweet. He drank some and leaned back, feeling strangely calmer. “Who, who are you and why am I here? Am I dead?”
The skeleton’s eyes glowed blue and it cackled loudly. “No George, you’re dreaming. I heard your thoughts by the way. Been watching you for years. You almost escaped death, but here I am.” He saw George’s eyes widen in fear and moved a bony hand over his. “Not gonna take you yet son. Settle down. I’m impressed that you survived this long. Shows that your soul is strong. Drink some more tea while I tell you my proposition.”
George took the cup and drank some more. He shouldn’t have trusted that the tea was harmless, but he figured he was dying anyway. He wondered how was it possible that he was having tea with Death himself. If this was a dream, it was a bad one.
Death sat there watching him as he drank the brew. “Here’s my deal. I have been waiting two years for your soul, but I’m willing to forgo it if you do something for me.” He saw George put down the cup and lean forward. “What will I have to do? Not sure I will agree, but want to know. I mean if there’s a chance I can live to see my child grow up and be with my wife tell me.”
He saw Death smile his scary grin and fold his bony hands. They creaked. “I require a life for a life. If you want to live then I must take another. One close to you. Who shall it be, hmmm?” His blue orbs glowed and his grin widened. He clapped his bony hands. “Oh, I know! I’m going to give you a choice as I’m feeling very charitable. If you want to live, then you must choose between your wife or child. Either soul will do as they are quite worthy. Your wife is a good one indeed and your son, well he’s strong like you. Do we have a deal or what?”
George gasped in shock. He stood up, knocking the cup of tea over. “You expect me to choose the two people who mean the world to me? Kill my unborn son or allow my wife to die? I can’t do that. I can’t sacrifice them for my life. I won’t!”
Death leaned back and waved his hand. “Are you sure? Don’t you want to grow old with Cindy? What if she meets another man and he raises your son? You haven’t even met him yet. Can you handle another man touching your wife and making her scream out with pleasure? She will remarry you know.”
George sat down, pain gnawing his stomach. He would kill anyone who touched Cindy. He knew she would remarry one day as she was only twenty-eight, but he couldn’t bear thinking another man would have her. Another man would raise his son, his blood. His emotions were all over the place and he couldn’t think straight. They could always have another child, but he couldn’t lose Cindy. Looking at Death who was sipping his tea quietly, he took a deep breath. “I accept the offer. God forgive me, but I can’t let any man be with my wife. I’ve made my choice. Will he be in pain?” George felt guilt for a son he would never meet. He almost called it off.
Death smiled, knowingly. He knew George wouldn’t pick his wife. It was the baby he wanted anyway. Young souls were always good to collect. He smiled and a contract appeared on the table with a pen. Handing it to George he pointed to the line that was to be his signature. “Just sign your name and you’ll wake up healthy. Go to the doctor in a week and take another test. Sign now.”
George picked up the pen with shaky hands, hesitating for a minute. He would live with this guilt all of his life and prayed that his unborn son would forgive him. Signing the contract, it lit up in flames and disappeared. “What happens now?” Death waved his hand at him. “Now you get to live. Go to sleep, George.” The last thing he heard before closing his eyes was evil cackling.
The next morning he woke up to hear Cindy groaning in the bathroom. Running inside, he saw her keeled over holding her stomach. “Honey, what is it? What’s wrong?” He felt so guilty knowing his son was dying. His wife turned to him, and he saw blood on her nightgown as she cried. “I think I’m having a miscarriage. Call the ambulance please!” George ran and dialed the number putting on jeans and a tee-shirt. He lifted Cindy off the floor and held her as they waited.
By the time they got to the hospital, she was unconscious. They wouldn’t let George past the operating doors as they ran with her. He had her blood all over him and didn’t care as tears flowed down his cheeks. Looking up he thought, “Oh lord, what did I do?” He went to sit down, putting his head in his hands.
It felt like he waited for hours, but it had only been an hour and a half when he heard his name being called. Looking up he saw the doctor standing there. “Are you George Turner?” He nodded and stood up. “Is everything alright? How is Cindy and the baby.” The doctor sighed, rubbing his neck. “I’m sorry George but your wife bled out and passed away on the table. It seems that she had a tumor that had grown over five months. Surprised nobody detected it. She was never pregnant. I’m very sorry for your loss. Is there anyone you need to call?”
George’s eyes widened in horror. Feeling himself going into shock he began to scream as the doctor tried to calm him. In his head, he heard Death cackling. “Never should have trusted me. Enjoy being healthy and alone.” The cackling continued as George fell to his knees wailing for his wife and the child they were going to have. Death now had them both.
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