Light broke through the small window into the tiny room. Bits of dust floated through the light, falling like snow. The little boy shifted up higher in his bed to peek over the window sill just a little bit more. The sweat rolling down his temples seemed to glisten. “So I’ll be like the birds?” he wheezed out.

“Mhmm…” said a tall pale man. He wore a long black trench coat, unbuttoned to expose his black suit. He passed from the door of the room to the foot of the bed. Standing just inches from the rays of light that swept over the little boy in his bed. “Do you hear them out there?”, he asked. “Each one of them calling to their friends, they fly so high sometimes, not even I can see them.”

The little boy twisted his mouth. “I don’t know if I want to fly that high, and I have friends here. Will I be able to play with them?”

The man lowered his head and ran a finger along the foot board. He looked up with a soft smile and said, “No… no i’m afraid you won’t. It’s not quite their time yet. You’ll see them again though… one day.” The look of sadness was set deep in the man’s eyes.

“But what about brother and sister? What about kitty?” asked the little boy.

“Mmm… i’m afraid you’ll have to wait on them too. I know… I know it seems scary, but you’ll see them before you know it.” The man came around to the side of the bed; between the little boy and the window. He pulled the chair from the corner and set down, careful to not bunch up his coat. He clasped his hands together and looked at the ground between his legs before looking up again.

“You know… everyone dies. It happens for every person and animal. It’s what makes life special. Your brother and sister, kitty, and your parents will all die too one day. They’ll fly away too, and that’s when you’ll see them again.”

The little boy started to softly cry. “I don’t want them to die! Please don’t let them die!” Tears began to roll down his cheeks.

“Oh no…” the man reached out and gently grabbed the little boys arm. He gave the little boy a soft smile and continued. “It’s okay, that’s what makes it special.”

“It makes what special?” asked the little boy through sobs.

“Life, it makes life special. We all only have so many days. If people never died then no one would know what’s important.” said the man. “ They are so special because you love them, and because they love you. It is why someone hurts so much when someone they love dies. It’s hard to say goodbye. You will not feel anything. In fact you’ll feel much better.” The man looked out the window and then back at the boy.

“When will I see them again?” asked the little boy. The last of his tears hanging to his chin. The man reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from the boys chin with a smile.

“Some you’ll see sooner than others. You won’t even know how long it will be though. You’ll be having so much fun.” the man neatly folded the handkerchief on his thigh and put it back in his breast pocket. “When you see them again it will feel like only a days time I promise. You’ll fly so high and be with so many others.”

“Do they play games like me and sister?” squeaked the little boy. His eyes wide with curiosity.

“Mmm, I can’t say I know if they do play games. I’ve never been there myself…” the man’s smile slipped to a frown and the look of longing eked across his face, but only for a moment. He regained his composure and continued. “What I do know, is that way up there they can see the whole world. They can see all the mountains and valleys. They can fly across all the oceans and see all the wonderful places and people in this world. Doesn’t that sound like a fun adventure? Then one day, everyone you love will be up there with you. Then you can all see the world together.”

The little boy turned his eyes back to the window. His eyes red and puffy. “Okay…”, his lip quivering. “I’m gonna miss them.” he said, tears starting to form in his eyes again. The man leaned over and put a hand on his shoulder.

“And they’ll miss you too.” said the man. “Are you ready?” he asked.

The little boy looked out the window again. and shifted in the bed from one side to the other. He looked back at the man and nodded his head.

“Okay… just close your eyes.” The man sat forward and put one hand behind the boys head and another over his heart.

With his eyes still shut the little boy spoke. “Will you ever die?” asked the little boy.

The man looked at the little boy for only a moment. His face full of heartbreak. “No, no I don’t get to die.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad.” said the little boy. Still squeezing his eyes shut.

“Mmmm…” the man continued to look at the little boy. “Now just relax… like you’re going to sleep.”

The little boy began to relax. His face began to relax, then his shoulders. Then the color began to fade from his fevered face. His body became limp and the man softly laid him down in the bed.

The man stood up, looking down at the boy. He grabbed the handkerchief out of his breast pocket and wiped a tear from his eye. He pulled the blanket up to the little boys chest and fixed his head on the pillow. He turned and looked out the window. Far in the distance, against the blue sky, he could see a small white bird flying high and then swooping low. The bird spread its wings and began to fly farther and farther away. The man smiled and put his hands in the pockets of his coat and turned towards the door.