Death Came To Me Wearing An Aloha Shirt

The last thing I remember before passing out was the patient beneath me. I think I did my best to regain the heartbeat of the person beneath me.

When I decided to become an emergency medicine doctor, my mentor had told me, with gentleness in his words, that I would lose many patients until my retirement, and it would never get easy.

After 20 years, I would like to scream at that dead woman; you were right, Madame! It was still not easy. Every life that was lost on the stretcher died unfairly. They didn't get the chance to fight; they didn't get the chance to say goodbye; they simply were robbed of infinite possibilities.

I knew I had collapsed on the blood-soaked floor and hit my head immediately after the patient regained their heartbeat. Hence, I was perplexed at the odd realization that my green uniform was clean and crisp. Even my hands were clean, my flip-flops were in perfect condition, and there was no trace of blood anywhere on me.

After the initial shock passed, I became aware of a greater shock— I was on a deserted beach!

ON AN EMPTY, CLEAN, QUIET BEACH!

It was just before dawn, and I could see clearly; there was not a single piece of plastic, a tossed beer bottle, crushed cans, forgotten toys, or even a piece of glass. The sound of waves was soothing, just like the 5-hour Ocean ASMR Video I played every day to get some undisrupted sleep. Did my soul become part of a picturesque Monet painting*?

This was unreal, too far removed from reality.

There was only one logical conclusion— I was dying was my first thought, but then— the second thought seemed more plausible— "I am dead."

"AMAZING!"

"You are simply the best, Doctor; you always were." A jolly voice giggled behind me, and it was followed by claps. My mind couldn't stop rewinding one word from the sentence spoken to me— were . I was dead. I bet Bepo is weeping and Sachi and Penguin are arranging for my funeral. Furthermore, I hope my savings pay for it all, not from their pocket. Again, what could I do? I was dead. I think I let out a big sigh because the only other being here burst into laughter. "Shishishishishi!" I felt them coming closer to me.

"You never stopped to amaze me, darling." Then the owner of the voice sat beside me. "Every time someone comes here, they are either freaking out or crying or begging or regretting or just resigned, but you! You are unbothered." If I was dead, I was dead; what was the point of cribbing about it? Death is the end of a story— inevitable and normal. Though I had bones to pick about untimely death, then again, the living does everything to survive, and Death comes for all.

A warm hand softly patted my back, "You were brilliant," I got patted more on my arm as if I was an amusing cat. Then I looked up; it was an extremely friendly face and adorable on top of it. His hair was unruly, his eyes were unusual, there was a scar underneath the left eye, and the smile he offered felt like a hug. Thanks to years of training, I observed him further out of habit; he was wearing a yellow Aloha shirt with pink hearts on it. I owned a similar piece which matched my best friend's shirt. We had gone to a concert of his, now very dead but favourite idol, Uta. Now that I was dead, memories of my youth flooded in. Then I looked at him more; he was in blue shorts, jute slippers, and a straw hat— he was too dazzling for a job this grim.

So I asked, "An Aloha Shirt?"

"You don't like it?"

"I think I have a similar piece. And that's not the point!"

"It is a sunny day, the beach is empty and clean, the seagulls are singing, and I have a gorgeous doctor sitting here! I deserve to wear pretty clothes! Shame you don't have your shirt, we could have walked around like a couple too."

"And you are a grim-reaper? Ain't you supposed to be dressed in black?"

"Tch…" He flicked my forehead; I felt no pain. "Don't be daft! What is this, the Dark Ages? You humans and your obsession with grim-reapers in black! Do you know in some cultures, people wear purple, red, golden, and even white for the dead? Now that's true goth!" Then he rubbed the spot between my brows. "You humans and your dumb imaginations!" He shook his head, just like an adult did to a child's silly antics.

"But grim-reap—" He placed his warm finger on my lips.

"—SSH"

He pulled his finger away and pointed at the sky; the sun was rising, and the waves were breaking. Then he coiled his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer. I didn't like people touching me, but somehow, his touch felt familiar. Before I realized it, my head was resting on his shoulders as his warm fingers combed my hair. In silence, we watched the sun peep out of the horizon, and then fill everything around with light. I couldn't remember the last time I saw a sunrise, let alone be on a beach to just relax.

In every book that I had ever read, death was supposed to be scary. A skeleton in black robes with a scythe, or an otherworldly entity beyond human imagination. And if there was a concept of rebirth— the journey to the afterlife was all about forgetting or facing punishment for your sins. So what was this? Was I in limbo because my account book was blank that would be impossible, so what was this? Did I fall into a coma? But I was dead. Why was the Grim-Reaper giving me head pats?

"Because you deserve it." He broke the silence.

"Sorry?"

"You deserve head pats."

"Oh…"

"And—" he lifted my chin up with his unoccupied hand and looked straight into my eyes. His eyes were changing, one moment they were pink, and the next moment they were pools of a black hole and then swirling embers. "I am not a grim-reaper."

"Who are you?"

His smile vanished, his eyes turned pure gaseous pink like the planet Jupiter, and his lips upturned; he didn't let go of my chin or head, "Death. And I don't mean it metaphorically or rhetorically or poetically or theoretically or any other fancy way. I'M DEATH. STRAIGHT UP! And I have come for you, Dr Trafalgar D Water Law." Then he touched his forehead against mine and whispered, "I am death, but you can call me Luffy. Children love this name."

"Luffy?"

"Yeah. Luffy, cute right? Kids love this name, but then again, they don't see me in this version." The death averted his eyes. "But you are allowed to call me Luffy. And only you are allowed to me see in this version."

"Luffy?"

"Yes, Dr Law?"

"Did you just steal a quote from Puss In The Boots film*?" All of a sudden I wanted to pinch his little sharp nose.

He nodded, "I am surprised you remember! Shishishi!"

"I think I had a very young patient who was watching it every day, until the hour before her surgery."

"Ah, I remember her, you saved her from my sharp Scythe, Doctor."

Was he for real?

I know he was joking, saving little Mocha had been the biggest high of my career. "Seriously?" But it was one of the most stressful parts of my career, too.

"I am very real."

"Shut up…" I punched his chest. "This is ridiculous. You are turning the most important event of my life into—" His eyes again changed; now they were warm orange, and he smiled gently. "You can't take people's hard thought lines for yourself, isn't taking our lives not enough, you greedy bastard."

"This is the best way to describe myself?" He grinned and let my chin go. "And who is to say? I didn't visit the writer's dream and whispered these words to him. Eh?" Again, he was smiling like I was a kitten he picked up on a rainy day. "I have been the muse to many, Dante, Emily Dickinson, Camus, Mary Shelley, Poe, Dazai Osamu, Manto*; I am one of the biggest sources of creative motivation!"

Oh, he was a smug little shit. Yet I couldn't stop but agree; he mentioned the authors and poets I loved.

In other words…

By extension, he was a muse to me too, rather— a rival to my profession. "So I am dead? And you are trying to make me feel better?" I asked as politely as I could. "You don't have to waste your limited time on me; you can guide me to the next stage, or I might get addicted to your head pats and comfortable shoulders."

"This is why I love you."

"What?"

"I love you."

"What?"

"I love you."

"Excuse me, what again?"

"I love you."

"Why?"

"Because you are lovable."

"Why?"

"Because you are not afraid of me. And an alive doctor means a reduced workload for me. But I love you very much."

"I am— No, I was mortified of you. You have some misconceptions about me. I am very, very, very scared of you." Death, aka Luffy, raised his eyebrow cockily. "What?"

"You have hated me; you have cursed me; you have been disgusted by my existence, but afraid you have never been dear."

"Are you talking about my depression days, when I just was thinking of death as a means of leaving early to avoid the rush*?"

"Now, who stole a popular quote from a reputable author, Dr Law?"

"I paraphrased Luffy! And you know it!

"I do."

He didn't say anything any more and looked at the horizon. It is true, I was not afraid of dying. I was afraid of the loneliness of living, caused by those who left. Since he was the Death, he knew everything about me; how I lost my family to fire, how I lost my foster father to street crime. Living was hard; death seemed easier and more comfortable. The idea of death being peaceful had kept me hopeful.

My mentor was correct; the process of dying is painful, but death is calming.

And right now it was peaceful.

And in the last twenty years as a proper doctor, I accepted that the love ordinary people craved was not something I craved. Many had retorted that I wasted my so-called good looks, but none had ever touched my soul. I wanted peace, and today, I got that peace. This empty, quiet, clean beach was made for me. I took his palm in my hand. I had held many hands— of patients afraid of death. Who would've guessed I was being wooed by Death?

"This beach, it only exists for me?"

"This version of the beach exists for you."

"What do others get?"

"Depends on— hmm— if I feel kind. Maybe a replay of all their favourite moments."

"Life flashing by?"

"It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true; it's called Life.*" Luffy again stole a quote. "I just prove it to them."

"What happens when you don't feel kind?"

"Hmm"

"Is it something in reverse?"

"Ain't you curious, darling?" I nodded; if this was the end of my story, I wouldn't be telling anyone his secrets anyway. "It is way more worse than your worst imagination. Because no matter what you did in your life, every step will lead everyone who is alive to me."

Oh, he was the judge, jury, and executioner.

"If it comforts you. There is only me."

"How's that possible?"

"Everything is possible."

"But if you exist, there should be a Life out there."

"It's not like that." Again, his other unoccupied hand was on my head. "Life is the action; I am the consequence."

"Ain't you lonely?"

He didn't answer. Did he even have a chance to be lonely; every day new life sprung, and an old life ended? How could he bear it all? I squeezed his hand hard. Luffy pushed my head to his chest; there was no heartbeat. "Surprised?" I nodded. "I have no heartbeat, and yet I love you." I hit his chest; I had never been on a single date in my life, let alone be in proximity to anyone. After dying, I get a glimpse of romance. How strange. "You are incredible; over the years, I have taken all your loved ones one by one." Why did I forget, that my family met him too?

"Were they?"

"They alright?"

"Yeah?"

"No one is this calm like you after death, other than monks and saints and nuns. And some resilient grandmothers. So no. Your family was worried sick about you." "And him?"

"Your other father?"

"Yes."

"He regrets that he couldn't protect you."

Hearing all these should've made me cry, but there was joy in my heart. Even after they left me, they cared for me. "Thank you. Thank you."

"And your little sister was worried, there was no one left to love you."

"My three friends love me."

"Yes, they do."

I wonder how they are reacting after finding me dead. Did I hit my head and die, or was it exhaustion that killed me? Maybe if I ask, Luffy will tell me. Yet, I didn't have the desire to know how I met my end.

"When your sister arrived, she told me to find someone to love you."

"She did what? That brat."

"Over the years, I sent you so many people; why didn't you give anyone the chance?"

"I never had such desires."

"Liar."

"What?"

"You were afraid of leaving behind someone alone, weren't you?" This fucker, how much did he know. "Tell me, beloved, when you fight so hard for every patient and battle me every day, why didn't you fight for yourself?"

I scoffed, "You think, in three seconds, I could've saved myself from hitting the head!" I pressed my cheeks on his chest head harder. "Don't pretend like you don't know, you have seen my tattoos. I never saw myself battling with you. I saw myself as a helper to the one battling you. A medical squire, if you will."

"Hence, I fell in love with you. Since no living was up to the task, I had to take up the job." He was bluffing. "But I had no intention to meet you this early. Yet here you are. Stubborn and resistant to my help! Now that you have arrived, I will tell you again— I love you."

"How can—" I know, was trying to avoid the confession of love from Death. If this was a YA novel that my patients read, I would have behaved differently. I died at the crux of almost 47, so I knew then, better, that I couldn't behave like a teenage protagonist.

"Because I chose to love you."

"And what do I do? I am already dead?" He didn't answer. "Come on, you didn't plan this elaborate beach date to just confess to me before I head to nothingness?" Still, there was no answer. "And how does this even work? Do I eat a pomegranate and become your mate or—" He kissed my crown?

"You have to let me love you for a long time."

"How? I am already dead."

"Yes."

"But, this is up to you, will you let me love you for a long time or will you force me to grieve your death for a long time."

"I don't understand." He was driving me mad. "What happens if I choose second?"

"I will be very upset."

"Are you trying to say to me, you can make me alive again?"

"Not me, your decision will decide."

"You are making this complicated Luffy? Shouldn't death be impartial?"

"I am thinking of my workload here. Do you have any idea at what alarming rates you humans breed, create faulty skyscrapers to house these humans and then die in them because of fire? And don't even get me started on the number of amusement parks. You lot love to test my patience." Luffy was lying to distract me. "And I want to see you get wrinkles."

"Tell me, what made you fall in love with me?"

"Your humanness."

"Eh, what?"

"I will not explain any more!"

"NOT FAIR."

"When was death ever fair, my dear?" Luffy stood up and pulled me up. I didn't want to, but he pulled me up easily. Now that we stood face to face, I learned death was shorter than me. Then he hugged me. "Should I be selfish and make it easy for you?" I knew what he would choose. I hugged him harder. Now I was scared.

"Am I allowed to be here? Can't I stay here forever? You said you love me."

"I do."

"Then?"

"But I want to watch you grow old."

"I am 47. I am old."

"I am aeons older. Do you want to compete with some other yardstick?"

"FINE."

"I want you to fall in love, I want you to grow old, I want you to eat on time, and I want you to cut down your work hours."

"That's a long list."

"It is a long life ahead."

Luffy pulled away from the hug, I could feel the sand beneath my feet shift, and then, the waves began to rise, and the sky began to darken. "What is happening?"

"Change of scenery, darling." In minutes, I was standing in the middle of a children's playground. "You see that gate, ahead, don't turn around, and don't return here until you are 110." Luffy turned me around and pushed me and kissed me under my ear. "Remember, you have to love me with your whole heart and turn this entire salt and pepper hair into grey cobwebs."

"For someone who just confessed his love, you are pushing me out!"

"I know, I know." Luffy's hands left my back. "Live an ordinary, happy life."

"I can walk from here, and can you try not to take away children from me?"

"Too late doctor!"

"What?"

I saw a little girl enter the park. She ran past me as I stepped out. I hissed softly under my breath, "LUFFY!" and the little girl screamed his name with happiness. Then instead of words, the next reply from Luffy brought tears to my eyes.

"WOOF! WOOF!"

"You are so fluffy."

"WOOF! WOOF!"

I didn't turn around. I was tempted too. But it was that little girl's moment to be comforted by him. He was right, I was afraid of being lonely, and I didn't let anyone come close to me. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"I am ready, Luffy."

When I woke up, the spot beneath my right ear was aching. After examining the spot, I realized my chin and ears were bandaged. As the nausea left, I could feel the needles hurting my veins; some newbie nurse had used standard needles for my narrow veins.

"LAW, YOU WOKE UP!" It was not Bepo, but my other friend Sachi who screamed and immediately began checking for my vitals.

"How long was I out?"

"OUT?" Sachi screamed. "OUT?"

"Your heart stopped for a minute there!" My other friend Penguin entered. "I was already preparing for your funeral and checking with your lawyer."

Hearing the information that my heart stopped for a minute should have scared me or worried me. I was just fine. Strangely, I was relaxed. The pain and aches from my back and limbs were gone as if I was born anew.

"You were unconscious for 58 hours."

"Oh, Kaya and Marco had to pick up my shifts, eh?"

My words made Sachi and Penguin hiss at me. "Why are you so calm? You could've died! DIED!" Still, I didn't feel anything. I guess I had attained Zen.

"I don't remember anything … what happened?"

"The firefighters and the injured arrived while you were on your way out from a 72-hour shift. Then you saved three children, and a firefighter whose bleeding had sent him into cardiac arrest." Oh, that did sound hectic. "Then you wrapped his wound with your shirt and performed CPR. When you were assured he was stabilized, your blood pressure dropped, and you collapsed, hit your head and went into cardiac arrest for a minute."

"Sorry!"

"What are you sorry for?"

"We decided we will be cutting down your shifts, and you are being put on paid leave for a month after discharge."

"I—"

Sachi didn't let me talk. "Bepo suggested you go to some beach and relax. He has already found the ideal location. Penguin and I agree that you should take leave. You have worked yourself to the brink of death."

"But—"

"Look, a dead doctor is a dead doctor." Penguin yelled, "An alive and healthy doctor means a few more cured and alive people. Do the maths; you are more useful than dead."

"Why does it feel like I heard something similar somewhere?"

Before Sachi could reply, there was a knock, "Is Dr. Law awake?" A person peeped inside.

Again, before Sachi could reply, I cut in, "I am here."

"May I come in?"

"You may."

A man shorter than me with broad shoulders in a patient's gown entered, "Do I know you? Your face feels familiar." One of his eyes was hidden under bandages, and almost his entire body was wrapped in bandages like a mummy. Who let him out of this bed?

"You saved my life."

"Sorry?"

"The firefighter you saved," Penguin whispered. I nodded. So the emergency that made me collapse was another fire. "He rescued over 50 people." A courageous man indeed. Now I felt bad that I made him walk to meet me,

"Thank you for saving me." He stood opposite my bed. "I will always be grateful to you."

"I was doing my duty like you did yours. And thank you for surviving."

"I want to thank you properly once you recover, whatever you want I will do it."

"Oh please just take this man home and force him to sleep for 8 hours!" Penguin answered.

"I agree." Sachi nodded.

"Please don't listen to these idiots."

"Oh, and I came to return this." He stretched out his hand towards my friends unsure what to do in this situation; it was my faded Aloha Shirt from a Uta concert Bepo and I attended years back. "I didn't know people still listened to Uta. I also have a similar shirt. Mine has sunflowers instead of hearts."

"Captain, my friend was the vice-president of her fan club." Thank you, Penguin, thank you for embarrassing me. "Why are you standing here? Are you even fit to walk around? Come have a seat." Both my friends helped the firefighter sit opposite me on a rolling stool.

"Why don't you both talk; let us find Bepo." Sachi patted the firefighter.

"Oh, Dr. Bepo went for dinner; he is the one who told me where Dr. Law is."

"Thanks, Captain!"

"Your shirt was with my uniform; my colleagues have cleaned it, and there are no traces of blood on it." He pushed my yellow shirt towards me. "I heard from Dr. Bepo that you had used it to stop my bleeding. Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, it feels like I was born anew!"

"Me too. My aches and pains are all gone!"

"My pains are here; my station is putting me on paid leave so that I recuperate. And your friend Dr. Bepo suggested I go to some beach and relax." The man had a charming smile despite all the injuries and bandages. "Dr. Bepo even has a place he thinks will suit me."

"My friend is caring."

"He is a great doctor."

Suddenly, words seemed to dry up; I wanted to talk more with him, so I decided to be proactive. "By the way, I'm Dr. Trafalgar D Water Law." I raised my hand to shake his.

He didn't hesitate and took my hand and grinned, "I am Captain Monkey D. Luffy."

"Luffy?"

"Yeah, a puppy's name?" He giggled.

"No— no. It's as if I heard your name before. It feels strangely comfortable on my tongue."

"Ummmm." Luffy pouted. "Ummmmm."

"Yes?"

"Once you get discharged, would you like to go to the beach and recuperate with me? Since you find my name comfortable?"

I had never dared to dream or hope for anything; hence I never even took a courageous step. So I decided, I was going to be proactive in my life. I don't know what overcame me, but my heart suddenly was beating like a drum.

"Luffy…" I uttered. "Luffy…" The syllables rolled on my tongue. "Luffy..."

"Yes?"

"I think I would like that! Recuperating with you; hearing the sounds of crashing waves and soaking under the gentle sun does feel comfortable."

THE END

Notes:

Picturesque Monet painting*: I imagined something like Path Through The Corn At Pourville

Puss In The Boots: The Last Wish*: I am obsessed with that re-introduction of Death. So I thought Luffy in Aloha Shirt saying this to a not-terrified Law would be hilarious. I hope it was!

Dante, Emily Dickinson, Camus, Mary Shelley, Poe, Dazai Osamu, Manto*: My favourites. And I don't think Poe saw Death as a muse, but Apple TV's rendition of Emily Dickinson was obsessed with death.

Law paraphrased this from Good Omens: "DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death. JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH."

It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true; it's called Life.: Luffy is quoting Terry Pratchett