He could see the parents crying, huddled in the corner, grief ridden, worry plain on their faces. The doctors had tried everything they could but it was futile, the child never had a chance. Now they were being asked to fill out paper work that they could barely read through tear soaked eyes.
Finally with a great heaving of shoulders the man finds the strength to leave his wifes side and look over the paper work. Included was the death certificate and in seeing the words, the man sobbed in agony, dropping the papers on the carpet, fleeing te room, his wife following.
He had seen it all before, countless times, and it never changed. If only he could do something for them, but until He changed his mind, death's hands were tied. Willing himself into the child's presence, he arrived in time to greet the newly released soul. They were always confused at first, not really knowing what happened. Even though this soul was inside a child newly born, it was an old soul, it knew only that something had happened again.
"Hello Death. We seem to be making habit of this, huh"
"Hello to you my good man. You were a man this time right? Or you would have been." Both turned to look at the small body laying on the hospital gurney. With a clicking of his tongue, the man asked, " I don't suppose you know what happened either?"
"You know better than me. I'm never told. I can only guess. We are here in this hopital, so you must have been ill, and that's the way the fates decided this life must end."
"What now? Will you take me back to my friends up there? I am sure that I couldnt have done to much that would send my soul to Hell. "Actually I have a choice here, dont get that often." Death enjoyed messing with souls once in awhile. His only entertainment in an awful job.
" You do have a few sins that never were erased. Not bad ones, but no, you were not a pure soul."
"A few rotten stolen candies, or cookies
surely wouldnt keep me from my friends."
"No no, I wouldnt do that. I just wish sometimes I could have more choices in this job. Always ferring of souls, both up and down, never getting to really have a friend, like you do or not, what it is to be alive,lo love, to live...... no I dont have that choice. You will be with your friends soon."
Death reached out with his hand and looking the soul directly in the center, they were on their way.
