Existence 03 - Ceaseless

first ever roses in water before we left and leaving him in the hall was a bad idea. He might get caught. I didn’t have a vase in here… I scanned the room for something to put my roses in.
    “What about this?” Dank said walking over to my desk and picking up my empty pencil holder that Miranda had insisted we buy to match our other cute desk items. It was perfect.
    “Yes! It finally comes in useful,” I took the pencil holder and went to the bathroom to clean it out and fill it with water. When I walked back into the room Dank was standing in front of my bulletin board looking at the pictures I’d pinned up there from high school. Several had Wyatt in them. A few had my mother but most were just Miranda and me . I didn’t have that many pictures of my years in high school. Especially my senior year. There was nothing. Sometimes I couldn’t even remember things like my prom or who was in my class. Everything seemed blurry. My mom said it was the trauma of losing Wyatt that messed with my head. Miranda felt the same way so that made sense. She’d lost her boyfriend but we’d both lost one of our best friends.
    “That’s Wyatt,” I explained as I walked up to stand beside him. “He was Miranda’s boyfriend and a close friend of mine. He died last year.”
    Dank nodded his head. There was a sadness there almost like he understood that kind of pain. Had he lost someone too? “I’m sure that was tough.”
    Yeah it was awful. “I hate death. It’s a tragic thing that comes for us all. Some sooner than others.”
    Dank shoulders tensed and he shifted away from me. What had I said? This was not what I wanted to be talking about tonight. Death was so morbid and sad. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even brought up such a sad topic.”
    I watched as Dank stared out the window instead of looking at me. He was dealing with something. I just wish ed I knew what. After what felt like sever al minutes but was only seconds in reality , he turned his attention toward me. “Death can’t help what fate decides.”
    That was much deeper than anything I’d expected to come out of his mouth. He was right but still . I nodded, “That’s true. I guess we can’t blame death for the tragedy. Fate isn’t something anyone can control.”
    Dank let out a heavy sigh. The guy must have had to deal with death one too many times in his life. Way to go , Pagan. Bring up something upsetting and screw up the mood. “Are you ready?” He asked finally breaking the uncomfortable silence.
    “Yes.”
    Dank motioned for me to lead the way and he opened the door for me . I made sure no one was around before he followed me out. The tension in the air around us was thick . I knew it was my fault although I didn’t know what I’d said. I could either force him to explain what I’d said wrong or let this go for fear of ruining our night. Perhaps he would open up to me willingly another time . I didn’t get the vibe from him that this was something he wanted to talk about.
    When we stepped out into the parking lot, I was about to offer Miranda’s car for us when I noticed a limo waiting on the curb. Dank flashed me a crooked smile, “I couldn’t make you ride on the back of a motorcycle in a dress and heels.”
    How had he known I was wearing a dress and heels?
    “Gee,” he replied without my asking him .
    “Ah, that makes sense , but Miranda had told me we could use her car . I knew your motorcycle and my dress wouldn’t make a good combination.”
    “T his will be more fun,” he winked , opened the door , and assisted me inside. The driver didn’t get out . I thought that was odd but I didn’t question it.

    Dank

    Having Pagan sitting close beside me and wearing that little pink dress I loved and showing off her legs eased the pain in my chest caused by her earlier words about hating death. She hadn’t known what she was saying ; i n her mind death wa s an event not a being. Most humans see it that way. My job brought neither fame n or popularity. I took souls. The things humans cherished the most I took from them. Pagan had lost Wyatt. She hated death because of that loss , despite that it wasn’t Death’s fault.
    “So can you tell me where we are going now?” she asked. I could see the worried look in her eyes. I needed to snap out of this. She was feeling it and I didn’t want tonight to be screwed up because she’d said she hated me. She hadn’t meant it. Just going without hearing her tell me she