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Halloween Story Contest: Five Minutes

Barry Waggoner

But I did nothing to die for.  I keep repeating that in my mind.  The seconds are going by, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.  I have a mere five minutes in which to live.  But I did nothing to die for, I repeat in my mind.  I know why I have to die, but it makes it no easier to process.  Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.  I slowly get up from my chair.  I have no choice but to walk to the airlock knowing I have but few minutes to live.  Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.

Do I blame the person who is going to kill me?  Do I hate him?  No.  I know that if I do not die now, then he and I will die in a fiery crash and six others will die if they don’t get the serum this little ship is carrying.  I could never be so selfish as to try to live just for an hour longer.  Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.  I am too young to die, or so I thought.  I had my whole life in front of me, my brother would have been there in a year and we would have been happy.  I am only eighteen, a mere child.  Unfortunately, to nature I am a cold equation. I am something that has to be put right or more than I shall die.

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.  I am in the airlock now.  He says nothing as I walk by the man that is going to kill me.  What can he say?  What can I say?  I know this is difficult for him though he gets to live and I did nothing to die for.  I want to see his face, but cannot through the tears in my eyes.  The airlock is so cold, yet only a small taste of what is to come in mere moments.  Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.

He shuts the door and I am in total darkness.  Any stoic thoughts or ideas I may have had, flees from me now.  I am so very glad I was able to talk to my brother, I know this will be hard for him and for my parents but they will survive.  I try not to think about my imminent death.  Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.  I hear the inner door lock.  I take a deep breath, knowing it will do me no good, a force of habit.  The outer door begins to open and I feel the pull of vacuum upon me.

I hit my back on the opening door and lose the breath I held, knowing I shall never be able to take another breath.  I am in terrible pain.  The worst pain I have ever had in my young life.  The vacuum of space is not easy on the human body.  I feel like I am going to explode!  I quickly fade away as death mercifully starts dragging me with it.  I have one last agonizing though:  But I did nothing to die for.

 

Tick, tock, tick, tock, ti-

 

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