Mandy.
Plans foiled, hopes shattered.
No friends but a dork and an idiot.
What else is there?
I shouldn't have let him go.
But I did, and he left.
Never to come back.
Unless….
It's occupational.
That's why I must do this,
If only to see him again.
I know he'll come,
He'll come for me.
Besides, who would miss me?
They wouldn't even notice,
They're too stupid.
Or if they did,
They'd be glad.
I must admit,
I've probably been a burden
On anyone else.
Including him.
Which is probably why
He left in the first place.
So this is what I'll do.
I take the bottle from the cabinet
Oh yes, the bottle.
Who knew such a small thing
Could hold such power?
Thirty-six it says,
But there are only thirty two left.
I down them all.
Eventually,
He comes.
"Grim."
I can't help it.
I smirk, he looks so nonchalant.
The look of Death.
How funny,
When we were small,
We would tease Death,
Taunt Death,
Play with Death.
And now,
I welcome Death.
"Mandy?"
"Yes."
"It seems too early. I-"
"You, of all people should know, Grim."
He sags.
"I know."
"So you've been at this job for how long now?
Eternity?"
"About that long, yes."
"I bet you get a lot of resentment,
Don't you?
Most people don't want to die."
"It's true. But we went over this already."
"A long time ago, Grim.
You must admit, we were young."
He sighs.
"You were.
To this day, I still wonder
How you ever enslaved me."
"It doesn't matter anymore, Grim.
It's all over.
For both of us."
"Why? Why now, Mandy?
Why so early?"
"Well, Grim,"
I pause and assume another smirk.
"I'm afraid you've stolen my heart."
"Yes, well I'd say the same,
but I can't…"
I frown at him.
He grins.
"On account of I don't have one!"
He cracks up at his own joke.
I roll my eyes.
I'm used to it by now.
Straightening himself out,
He asks,
"So was there something
you wanted to tell me?"
"Just that."
"Oh."
"And that I'd like to stay with you."
"Really?"
"Really."
"But what about your plans?
How do you expect to take over the world
If you're dead?"
"I couldn't do it, Grim.
Not on my own.
There's no point anymore.
I want to come with you."
"And what about Billy?"
I pause.
"Billy who?"
"Fine. Come here."
At last!
I run towards him.
And in a display most unlike myself,
I wrap my arms around his bony frame.
We leave.