1 This is My Life

"Maxwell! We need you to help the customer up front!" Maxwell's boss yelled from behind the counter, as they were plating some food.

"Hi there, how can I help you today?" Maxwell quickly set his rag down, and rushed over from the table that he was cleaning.

"Yes, we'd like a table for two, please!" The customer chirped, clearly in a rush to get to their table.

That night, after the dinner rush died down, and Maxwell's boss, Alan was heading to go home. "Try not to work too hard, and thank you again for covering! You're a lifesaver." Alan said as he was halfway out of the door.

"No problem!" Maxwell shouted back, as he was starting to get his cleaning done. And in passing to his coworker, "I'm glad I finally have a day off tomorrow. I'm gonna drink a nice beer and relax when I get home. You have any plans?"

"Nothing too exciting, just gonna try out the new game that came out. Diamo 4. It's suppose to be pretty good" Marcus said as he was cleaning the oven, both of them wrapping up their tasks so they could go home for the day.

"You'll have to tell me about it next time, I've been dying to play it!" Maxwell replied in passing.

It didn't take them long before they got everything cleaned, and were finally able to leave. Maxwell drove off in his car, taking the interstate to go home. As he was driving, though, he briefly went to change the radio station, when a crow swooped down and slammed into his windshield.

"What the f-" Maxwell started to say, instinctively drying to swerve, and hitting the guard rail. The car flipped, falling into a deep ravine. The world seemed to slow down around him, as he was punctured by various pieces of plastics and metal. As he laid there slowly bleeding out, he searched for his phone in an attempt to try to call for help. Every movement sent a shockwave of intense pain, and within a few tries, he eventually gave up. He slowly began to lose consciousness and all he could think, was that of how badly he wanted to live. He was afraid of what came after, trying everything he could, fruitlessly, to stay awake.

'What if I told you, young one, that you did not have to?' A voice rang out in his mind, just as he was on the cusp of passing out.

'What is that?' Maxwell thought, strangely calm, yet confused. His body was slowly becoming cold, and losing sensation. He tried to sit up, but his body failed to respond.

'You don't have much time, young one. You must give me an answer: Do you wish to live?' The voice echoed once more. It seemed warm, and yet, unconcerned with the response.

"Yes." Was all Maxwell could manage. The more blood he lost, the harder it was to think. His mind had begun to fog.

'Very well, young one. I will give you that chance.'

Suddenly, Maxwell saw himself standing before a living shadow, in a strangely inhumane humanoid form. It stood 2.7 meters tall, looking down at him, yet it seemed to contain no facial features. As he looked around, he noticed he was in a void. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing.

'I will give you another chance at life, with your memories intact, but there is a task I require of you.' The shadow told him. 'But to do this, you will not be reborn on earth, but somewhere new. This world's Cycle is nearing it's end, and it is not ready. You must prepare yourself, if you wish to survive it.'

'What do you mean? What Cycle? What planet? Reborn? Who are you?' Maxwell's thoughts came flooding in the moment the fog in his head had cleared.

'Patience, young one. My name is Yrosa, and I am the goddess of death. There are many planes, and many planets. Your plane's gods died long ago, but that is a story for another time. You will discover the answers to your questions with time.' She told him simply.

'But-' Maxwell began to say, when suddenly the void melted, and he found himself in an unfamiliar setting. Brick walls, and a warm light... A Fireplace?

"What's going on?" Is what Maxwell tried to say, but all that came out was crying. A woman looked down at him, as she wrapped him up in a rather scratchy blanket.

"Look at him, my little angel! Your name is Keat, my dear!" She said in a baby voice, wiggling her finger in front of his face, before passing him to a large man.

"And this is your father!"