Life and death

Half of their world was lush green grass, constantly lit by warm sunlight, the other blackened debris cast into a cold eternal night. In the middle stood a tall tree. One half was covered in a dense web of leaves, speckled with colourful flowers, and home to countless creatures, the other dead and empty. On one side, Life stood with her back pressed against the trunk, while Death sat cross-legged on the other.

Life was pale, her hair as white as snow, and her eyes as blue as the sky. Her eyes reflected each sliver of light it could find, causing her iris to shimmer like a rainbow. Flowers grew, in all sizes, shapes, and colours, like a halo around her head. A sparse mixture of leaves and the same odd array of flowers spread down her arms from her shoulder and stopping at her wrist. Her face was completely symmetrical, and if beauty were a person, it would be her.

Death too was pale, yet her hair was black as tar, and her eyes blood red. Even her sclera, usually a pale white, was pitch black. The left side of her face, starting at the corner of her mouth and ending just above where her ear should be, had rotted away, exposing the bone underneath. Her right hand had followed suit, the skin peeling off from the tips of her fingers to her elbow. The left side of her chest too was made of nothing more than bone. Were it not for the torn black hoodie she always wore the absence of her heart would have been apparent. Pitch black horns curled at either side of her head like a Ram, ending in a sharp point.

"Death, why do people love me, but hate you?" Life asked Death.

"Because you are a beautiful lie, and I am the ugly truth." Death responded.

"Why?"

"Why?" Death repeated.

"Why must you be ugly if I am beautiful?" Life clarified.

She stepped away from the tree. Thick patches of grass grew under her feet as she stepped through the darkened Debris on the other side. Death glanced at Life who now stood before her. Two horns, like tiny trees, sat on top of her head. The vivid green leaves and bright pink flower buds told Death it was spring.

A small bird, perched on one of her branches, slowly fluttered into Life's pale hands. Life smiled at Death and crouched down, offering the bird to her.

She often gave Death presents such as this. As always, Death accepted.

The bird's breathing grew shallow before stopping completely. Slowly, it crumbled into a pile of dust, sinking between Death's slender fingers like sand and scattering in the wind.

"Because if death were beautiful, no one would want to live." Death spoke. "Death is eternal, while life only temporary."

For a moment, Life stayed silent. Then, she kneeled before Death. Flowers bloomed where her skin touched the ground, and her pale hands rested on the dirt causing two more patches of grass to grow.

She leant forward and asked Death; "Are you scared?"

"Scared of what?" Death questioned.

"That I will leave you too."

Death did not hesitate to respond; "Yes."

"I won't." Life smiled at Death. "There cannot be life without death, nor death without life."

Death thought for a moment. Then a small smile spread onto her lips.

"Thank you."

Life smiled once more.

"I love you, Death."

"You know I cannot love, Life." Death responded. Life's smile did not falter, for she did indeed know. Death reached forward, brushing a strand of white hair out of Life's face and tucking it behind her ear. Life leaned against Death's hand and closed her eyes blissfully. Her pale cheek was soft and warm against Death's icy cold palm. Death continued. "But if I could love, I too would love you."

"That is enough for me."