Meeting Upon a Path

I take a deep long breath

Allowing the cold air to fill my lungs

I feel alert as I walk onto the darkened path

In search of clearing my mind

Miles of trees stretched out in front of me

Like arms reaching out for a warm embrace

Partway down the path I begin to feel lighter 

Like a weight is being slowly lifted from my chest

Perhaps this will be the answer, this will fix everything

Tomorrow things will be better, I will be better

Just as the thought occurs 

I hear an unfamiliar voice greet me by name 

I startle and look up.... frozen with fear

I do not recognize who is in front of me

But in an odd way I feel a sense of familiarity

Like encountering an old friend you haven't seen in years

I just can’t put my finger on how I know this individual

But I instantly begin to relax

"Good evening" I say cheerfully "Do I know you?"

"I apologize but I can’t recall your name"

That’s when I take a moment to look 

Really look at the owner of the voice

The figure wears a dark billowy purple robe

I see a hallow face with dark sunken eyes

Pale skin that glows like the moon

And hands that are thin and frail

Then I hear the voice as if it’s coming from inside my head

It sounds light and almost musical 

"You do not know me" it says, "But I know you"

"Your name has been on my list for quite some time now"

"List" I say in confussion, "What list?"

"I don’t recall putting my name on a list"

It is then I begin to shiver

And a deep cold seeps into my bones 

The voice just politely smiles at me

As if waiting for me to put the pieces together

I search in my memory for a clue 

How do I know this voice or when have I encountered them

The longer we stand there in silence

The more desperate I begin to feel

"I need to keep moving" I finally say in a whisper

"I am sorry but I really don’t know you, I think I’ll just be on my way now" 

I attempt to continue my walk but I find I cannot move

Whether from fear or some unknown force keeping me in place

The voice says "Ah but I think you do"

"I think you know exactly who I am"

It is then that I remember

Like a light switching on in the dark 

It is too bright to the point of painful

I shield my eyes and I begin to stutter 

"But... but... I changed my mind" 

"I can do better.... I can fix it"

The voice just stands in silence

So I continue, getting more desperate by the second

"I know I’ve said it before but this time...."

"This time will be different"

"I will do better.... I must do better!"

My panic continues to build and beads of sweat roll down my face 

The voice begins speaking in a calm nurturing tone

"I’m sorry my friend"

"But there is no more time"

"There are no more tomorrows"

"Even if you start now, it is too late"

"What’s been set in motion cannot be unset"

A single tear runs down my face

....I look up at the stars

....One last shaky breath 

....And it all goes dark

You may think for you it will be different

But in the end death comes for us all