Passing

Do you ever dream of the other side over the river of life?

I have. And it seems my number has finally been called. I am alone, but I cannot leave without a viewer to pass on my story. To whoever reads this, you can find me at the apartment above the cornershop.

Find me at midnight.

I approached the home's door with the note in hand. I didn't really know what I was expecting, frankly I had no clue why I even cared. I took a deep breath and knocked.

A short man in a black cloak pulled the door open. Before I could open my mouth to ask any questions, he hurried me into the home and shut the door behind him. With a flick of a lightswitch, the conditions this man lived in became clear to me. The home was covered head to toe in junk, the wooden floorboards felt ever so slightly damp.

"Please, go to the candle circle." He muttered as he ran past me into what I assumed was his bedroom. I swallowed my concern and moved to the living room, where a circle of fake electric candles stood. I hesistated before sitting within the circle, clutching the note and trying to quell my fear.

The man entered soon after, his cloak now gone to reveal a fral figure, only covered by an oversized white T-shirt. The man's face was covered in hair and triangle tatoos. It was the kind of face that is only made through a lifetime of enduring endless conflict.

"What's your name?" I asked, trying to make conversation as the man placed a thick tome in my lap.

"Annwn. You?"

"Steve. I, um, found your note."

"I know. You look like a good man."

"What?" In that moment, it was like every insecurity I had ever felt flashed in front of my eyes.

"You are a blind mouse, like the majority. And so your are mostly innocent." The man tapped the tome once before walking to the entrance of the room and shutting the door. By the time he sat across from me outside the circle, the room was only lit by the electronic candles that surrounded me. "I see you have questions. I can spare you three. Go ahead, we will have to begin soon."

"Um... well... why'd you leave the note?"

"I cannot pass on without someone to enact the ritual. Typically it would be a druid but... they are no longer."

"...what are you?"

"A person of the forestborn cloak. And I am dying."

"You want me to kill you?"

"In a layman's sense, I suppose that is the correct. But it is not murder as much as it is release. I do not wish to languish on this plane. I need to ascend to the next, to do this is a great honour. Greater than any material wealth you could imagine." The man sighed as I took a deep breath.

"What do I do?"

"That's the easy part. Open the great tome to page 20." I did as commanded. The man nodded and continued. "Now all you must do is read out the prayer, close the tome and not leave the circle until my spirit fully fades."

"Alright."

"Thank you," the man muttered, a warm smile forming on his face as I prepared. With a deep breath, I pushed my worry aside and began.

"Of Planes past and planes future, all of Annwn knows thy name. For all of Annwn is ready for thy soul to reclaim. Release the breath of all love as the time has come. The seat in your adytum is ready." Without a word, I slammed the tome shut. As if on command, the man erupted into purple smoke and filled the dark room. Thunder crackled and tried to weave its way towards me but could not pass the boundary of the candles.

Then came the chorus of wails and cheers, tearing at the smoke and ripping out its ribs. Then came the waves, vast armies of whales and orcas crashed through, taking its face. Then came the inferno, the end of all life as the undoing of vibrancy, taking what remained. All while I stayed still, like a statue, in that circle. And almost as soon as it began...

It ended. And I was alone in a dead house.

I've been thinking about that encounter all week, I took the tome with me. There's... alot I still need to know, so much knowledge I have yet to chase. I think I am ready to take the plunge.

I hope this note reaches someone like that note did me.