He was aware of the vertigo and the torrent of wind rushing past him but the physical sensations paled before his panic. This is to be a righteous death, a necessary death, he told himself. He had lived his life not only anticipating it but yearning for it. Just seconds ago he had stood at the edge of the dark chasm, sanguinely anticipating his descent. Yet now, as he plummeted through the air, his heart brimmed with regret and sorrow.
What had his life been worth to be snuffed out so abruptly? He had devoted his youth in reverence and piety yet his reward was a cruel and inelegant cessation. What a bitter fate. Curse the inevitability of his birth, the rotten destiny that had led him on this path. Had he been born to a farmer, he could have toiled away his life in relative peace. But then, there was no real peace to be had in life. At least his death would provide a reprieve for his people.
Death for life.
The night air was frigid in motion but that wouldn’t matter soon. What would it be like in that final moment? It was the one aspect they never spoke about. The texts spoke at length about the ritual and the prosperity the act would bring to their people, but what of dying? Would he have time to feel the pain as his body was obliterated against the rocky canyon below? Darkness engulfed his mind, devouring his rational thoughts and leaving only a void. How could any conscious being truly cope with the absurdity of death, especially in the final breaths of life? These thoughts were foolish. His sojourn on this earth was swiftly dwindling to a close and he was wasting his last seconds on remorse and fear.
He could barely make out the torch light at the top of the cliff. Strange how much he missed their warmth and their light as he descended into the night. The stars did little to illuminate the ground but he could feel it fast approaching. The sound of the whipping wind began to overtake his senses. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
There is honor in this ending. Death for life.
Into the Chasm was written by Daniel Weinell and illustrated by Maribel Navarro.
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