“Pearl, what happened? What were you doing out there?”

You give me a small smile—despite the circumstances, despite the near drowning earlier that day and the screams from the house, you are rather delighted.

“I was so close,” you whisper. “So close.”

“So close to what?”

But you shake your head.

“Pearl, I need to know what’s going on.”

For a moment I think you’ve fallen asleep. The lightning blinds me through the windows, but the sound of the rain has slowed, and it’s not being driven against the glass anymore. I have never felt more ready for a sunrise, for the morning, for light to bring a sense of normal along with it. I consider leaving tomorrow, going back to our home and figuring things out there. I know you had your struggles there in the city, I know you vanished many times and concocted the wildest stories, but what’s happening here feels extreme, even for you.

“Pearl, please.”

That same light of adventure is in your eyes. “Grampy, it was amazing.”

When You Arrive at the End, Keep Going

When she showed up outside my window, knocking on the glass, I rolled over, faced away from her, and tried to go back to sleep. I was so tired, and all I wanted to do was sleep. And I was angry at her for pulling me down into the water. But when she kept knocking, I thought, I need to go over there and tell her off! I need to tell her that it isn’t okay what she did, and that she shouldn’t ever come back here again.

So I crawled out of bed and walked slowly to the window. I took my time, because I didn’t want her to think I was going to do whatever she wanted me to do, and I even stood by the window for a minute, glaring out at her. I gave her a scowl and finally opened the window.

All the light she used to carry seemed to be gone. The silver in her hair had dulled to gray. She was even more like a shadow than before, long and stretched, her face hidden. I asked her what she wanted.

She said it was time. She had waited long enough. If I wanted to save you, Grampy, I needed to go down into the basement, through the door, and do what she wanted me to do. I asked her why I would ever do such a thing when she had nearly drowned me only a few hours ago! And even though I couldn’t see her face in the shadows, I could tell she was staring straight at me. She said she was trying to help me. If I helped her, she could help me.

“Who are you?” I nearly shouted.

She paused. “Pearl,” she said in a quiet voice, “I’m Death. I need your help.”

I stood there for what felt like a very long time, Grampy. Her voice was sad, and when I thought of helping you, I knew I would do it. Whatever it was that she needed me to do, I would do it. For you.