Ashes to Ashes
Your tenure on Earth has ended. Your life in this game is over. Your existence was only up until this point. Thanks for playing.
What next?
Well, nothing. That’s it.
That’s it?
That’s it.
What about the others?
What about them?
Well, what are they meant to do?
Get on with their lives, of course.
But…
But what?
They get on with their lives as if nothing happened? Pretending that nothing has changed?
Well, obviously they can’t pretend. They knew all along that life comes with a sort of fixed-term contract and unfortunately, it doesn’t renew. They knew you would have to leave someday, just as they know they too will go. I don’t understand what the surprise is and why you’re taking it so hard. You knew. And you were severely ill. You didn’t want to keep living like that, did you?
I was quite ill, wasn’t I? I do feel relaxed now. Like I’m floating.
Exactly. This is better.
It definitely is. I feel no pain. I feel…nothing, actually. Am I even breathing? How am I alive?
You aren’t alive. That’s the beauty of it. Alive, you felt all the pain. Illness. That tube that they stuck in your nose. The oxygen mask they had on your face. You were struggling to breathe then, weren’t you? This is the sweet relief you needed. And the next part is even better than this.
Oh? What comes next?
The State of Nothingness.
I will…be nothing?
Exactly. Just as you were before you were born.
Ashes to ashes.
Ashes to ashes indeed.
When does that happen?
When your family cremates you. Until then, enjoy the freedom before your ultimate freedom.
…Are they okay? My family.
They will be.
And I won’t feel a thing? When they cremate me.
Can you feel a thing now?
No.
There’s your answer.
So it’s all over?
All over. You can have a nice, long sleep.