Joshua laid on his couch staring at the ceiling as he had for the past 3 days, drowning in the inky darkness of his own mind. Truthfully he wanted to arise, go take a shower, put on fresh clothes, do something, but when he tried to even sit up he felt a deep weight crushing him, and pulling him back down. So all he was left to do, was to await for death, which, would have been better, maybe, anything would be better than this.

  Joshua closed his eyes, and started drifting back into sleep, the closest thing to what he wanted. An escape from reality, but he was disturbed by the sound of knocking. He opened his eyes, and went to inquire but found he had no strength in his voice, the knocking lasted no much longer, and Joshua went to go back to sleep when he heard another sound.

  The rattling of spurs, he felt his heart skip a beat, and he found the strength to turn his head at least and look down at the door way. In the hall to the doorway stood a tall figure, clad in black and white, his attire resembled that of a western cowboy which perplexed Joshua, and the figures face was covered by a white sheet laid over his head.

  "have you come to take me?" Joshua said, finding some strength to speak with, he was too weak to resist, and he didn't really want to. "I'm afraid not, Joshua" the figures voice was raspy but soothing, The figure walked closer to Joshua.

  The figure took off his western hat and laid it on the table next to the couch. "when was the last time you've eaten or drank?" Death asked. "I don't remember.." replied Joshua, death nodded. "would you like some tea?" he inquired.

  Joshua nodded faintly and death left to the other room, he came back with a cup of warm tea and sat it on the table, "here, let me help you up" he said as he took Joshua's hand and helped him sit up, through the pain and weight. He then handed him the tea and Joshua took a sip. Death sat across from him in another chair.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "what ails you, my dear friend?" Death asked. 'I..don't know, I've, here recently its felt like there is no future for me, every time i try to move in a direction it feels like Sisyphus lifting the boulder up the hill. Pointless" he answered. Death nodded in return. "i understand" he spoke.

  Joshua looked across the table at the being. "you said you didn't come here to take me, why are you here then?" he asked.

  "Because you need help, and I don't want to see your potential go to waste" said death

  "what do you mean?" asked Joshua

  "I don't know what yours is, but every being has a purpose, a reason for its existence, and i know it is to do good. And i want to see you fulfill yours." said death

  Joshua looked at his tea for a while before speaking again. "why do you care? what's in it for you?"

  "what's in it for me is, I want to hear your story when Its time for me to collect you" replied death

  Joshua nodded.

  Death then stood up, "but, that is for later, right now, we need to take baby steps to helping you get better, I'm here just to nudge you in the right direction" death said. "I'm gonna fix you something small to eat, to help get you some strength in" he added before disappearing into the kitchen and coming back with some soup. He gave it to Joshua with a spoon and Joshua ate a little bit. And slowly started to get his strength back.

  "Thank you" Joshua whispered. "No problem" replied death. "Also Joshua, you're adversary, this depression wants you to be alone. I can't stay for long, but I know what will help, you should call your mother" he said

  Joshua nodded, and Death handed him the phone, already on the contact for his mother, Joshua hit call as death made his way to the door, as death was leaving he heard Joshua speaking on the phone.

  "Hey mom, I'm sorry i haven't answered your calls, can you stop by? i need some help" he said as death left.