“Come on.”

  “Ever, I don’t want to.”

  “You’re going to feel better afterwards.”

  “I don’t think I will.”

  Ever leaned back and sighed. As much as he wanted her to eat, he wasn’t about to make her do something she didn’t want to. Her illness aside, he didn’t blame her; the hospital food was pretty bad. He was hungry and even he didn’t want to eat it.

  There was a knock at the door.

  “Come in,” Zoe called. She at least had regained enough strength that her voice was clear, though not very loud.

  A head peeked in through the door, light chestnut hair frizzed and undone.

  “Carol!” Zoe pushed the tray of hospital grade chicken sandwich and bottle of water away then reached out towards her with both hands.

  The receptionist’s bottom lip started wobbling, her composure crumbling away with every forward step.

  “Jin!” Ever said, spotting the assistant vet nurse lingering like a shadow in the doorway. She too looked dishevelled - and she didn’t have a mask on. At Ever’s beckoning, she crept in wordlessly, eyes bright. She hovered to the side, waiting until the blubbering receptionist had finished hugging Zoe, before gently lowering herself into a soft embrace.

  “What took you guys so long to visit?” Zoe asked.

  Jin straightened, shielding her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m not ready to replace you yet.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “Yes you are,” Zoe said, her voice soft but firm. “I wouldn’t have picked you all those years ago if I didn't.”

  “Zoe.” Saying her name seemed to take monumental effort for Carol. “What she means is that she - we - aren’t ready for you to go.”

  “Oh right.” Even under the circumstances, the vet was still able to look sheepish. “How’s Roman?”

  “Holding the fort,” Carol replied. “Being the big man and all.”

  “Make sure he doesn’t burn himself out,” Zoe replied.

  “Don’t worry,” Jin said, laying her pale hand on Zoe’s. “We’re looking after each other.”

  Zoe nodded, smiling. They all sat in silence while unasked questions stomped and trumpeted in the room.

  “I know about her condition,” Ever said, looking at Jin and Carol. “I know that Zoe told you guys not to tell me.”

  They were both unable to look at him.

  “Don’t blame them.”

  “I’m not.”

  Silence again; that was one question addressed.

  “Are you… are your symptoms getting worse?” Carol asked.

  Zoe paled slightly, her eyebrows knitting together in effort.

  “If you’re talking about the supposed hallucinations, I’ve never been hallucinating. I can see animal ghosts and I can talk to animals. Ever,” Zoe said looking at her boyfriend, “is also Death’s apprentice.”

  Seeing the uncomfortable and embarrassed looks from her colleagues, Zoe pursed her lips. “Show them Ever, go into reaper form.”

  Ever became very still. “Zoe…”

  “What?” Zoe said. “There’s no point hiding it anymore. I’m going to die anyway. Show them. Prove to them that I’m not going crazy.” She shut her eyes, turning her head away slightly.

  Jin suddenly stood up. She looked around frantically then, finding what she was after, crossed the room as fast as Ever had seen her move.

  “Zoe here,” she said, handing a waste basket to her.

  Zoe grasped it with both hands and retched into it, emptying the meagre contents of her stomach into it.

  “That's not right,” Carol muttered, reaching for the big, red call button.