No More Death

As he readied himself to start his work
Death had a change of heart.
"I will not take any lives today." he said.
And so it was.
No human died,
not a single beast knew death
on that day.
He watched as life carried on
without any idea of what
he had just done.
At the end of that day
Death decided to let life
continued uninterrupted for
a second day in a row.
Once more, Death watched
from his perch in the heavens.
As the second day ended,
still, no one had noticed.
He wondered to himself
"How can no one have not realized
that death has come to no one?"
Death decided on the start of the third day
to do nothing until the mortal world
took notice of his absence.
Death began to watch more closely.
The sick and dying felt their agony
stretched past beyond that which is bearable,
coroners, morticians, and  undertakers
had no work. They began speaking
to one another and came to the same
conclusion: there had been no deaths
for days. They had no answers for why.
After a week had passed
stories began to trickle
onto various worldwide news outlets
about the seeming absence of death.
This triggered a rash of people
to test the boundaries
of this newfound knowledge.
Jumps from buildings, incomplete
immolations, non-fatal gunshots,
none could die.
Death finally relented and
returned to the mortal realm
to resume his work.
He approached an old man
dying at home, surrounded by those
he loved. The old man had heard
of the recent news
and was both surprised and pleased
to see Death arrive.
Death looked upon the man
and felt terrible for having neglected
him so. He said to the man,
"I am sorry for the long wait.
Will you come with me?"
The old man parted his lips
and said "Yes".
His eyes closed and his chest
ceased to rise and fall.
Those in the room began to mourn
but were relieved the suffering
was over. Were relieved
that Death had once more
returned to the world.