Life

... and death

6:30 a.m. Another boring Monday morning. Another boring day at school. The clock radio started playing, leading her out of the realm of dreams with a beautiful classical piano piece.

Yes, she liked classical music, even if most of her classmates did not understand it.

Slowly she opened her eyes and the first faint rays of the sun brushed her face, which immediately smiled. She stretched again, then stood up and watched the sun rise. Meanwhile she heard her mother making breakfast in the kitchen, who was humming a song.

In a good mood she ran down the stairs, in her arrogance she always took 2 stairs at a time and almost overlooked the cat. At the last moment she jumped over her with a jump that even the cat could not have mastered more elegantly. The cat didn't even think it necessary to take a look at the almost 18 year old girl, as this happened almost every day.“Good morning, mom”, Tanja greeted her mother, “what's for breakfast? "

"The same as always", she smiled, "Toast, eggs and coffee."

Back then, almost 18 years ago, she had almost come to terms with never being able to have children. At the time she was alone again. But then, one day, her doctor told her at a check-up appointment that she was pregnant. She didn't worry about it for long, and was just happy.

And now her "little" girl had grown so big and was just graduating. Because thanks to Tanja's great intelligence, she had been able to skip a few classes.

Both enjoyed breakfast together, but they never had long to talk extensively. Tanja had to go to school and her mother to work.

Tanja didn't like going to school, she was always bored. The teachers couldn't tell her anything that she didn't already know, but with the best of intentions she couldn't explain where this knowledge came from.She enjoyed the way there, let the sun shine on her face, picked a flower - which seemed to be even more beautiful in her hand - and smiled at the people who came towards her. A smile inevitably appeared on their faces. And the aura of which then turned a soft pink-white.

Yes, Tanja could see the feelings of the people, which were reflected in their auras. And she could influence them too, just a small smile or a gentle handshake would suffice and make people happier. So it wasn't surprising that everyone enjoyed being with her.

But something bothered her today. She had noticed him before. The dark shadow that had haunted her for a few days - and which eerily had no aura. But somehow she wasn't afraid. Because every time she saw him out of the corner of her eye, he looked strangely familiar. And she felt that something was about to change; that soon everything would change."Hopefully for the better," she thought to herself, because the world had become bad and broken. Wars raged almost everywhere, and anger and misery marked the world.

There were only a few good-natured people left.

And one of them was waiting in front of the school door for Tanja, and the bell rang in a new sleepy school day.

Phew, finally the bell rang at the end of a seemingly endless school day. Tanja had slept most of the time, dreamed. Yet again.

The teachers had long since given up admonishing them, it was useless after all, and their grades were more than above average.

In her dreams she saw children starving in distant lands; Grenades exploded; Forests have been destroyed and animals exterminated.

She still had tears in her eyes when she and her friend Angela left the school grounds.

And there he was again! The lifeless shadow that haunted them. Then a gentle breeze brushed her brown, straight hair and the shadow was gone.Angela noticed their looks: “Tanja what's going on? Is there something "" No, no, "she reassured her friend quickly," there was only a shadow. "

'Just a shadow. If it just could be that easy. ’She sighed softly. She knew the inevitable was coming. Strangely enough, she wasn't afraid.

Chatting happily, the two friends went to the café and talked about teachers, boys and love. Well, what girls talk about.

But it was getting late and they had to go home, because the tasks had to be done after all.

For Tanja a little thing that didn't take up much time, and so she was finished with everything after a quarter of an hour. “And now I'll treat myself to a hot shower,” she said to the lazy tomcat who was lying on her desk, “well, are you coming with me? “She smiled mischievously at the cat who only gave a small puff.“Well, then I'll go alone! "

When she came out of the shower and stood in front of the mirror, she saw a black figure behind her in the steamed-up mirror. It was a young man, about her age. His black, lank hair came down to his shoulders and his red eyes protruded eerily from his pale face. His clothes were completely black and over his pants he wore something like a long loincloth.

He stood quietly behind her and leaned on a large, black sword, which would also have been suitable for a knight.

"Who are you? “Tanja breathed and turned around. But there was no one behind her. 'Did I just imagine it all ?? ’She turned back to the mirror to do her hair and what she saw made her breath hold. Something was written on the mirror: SANUS, ANGE D’ENFER

"Angel of Hell", Tanja read quietly, but without fear, which she could not explain to herself.And as if in a trance she went to sleep and experienced a dreamless night for the first time in a long time.

The next morning began as always: the clock radio started playing, the morning sun caressed her face and she heard her mother making breakfast. And yet everything was different.

There was no happy smile on her face today, but determination and strength lay in her gaze. And slowly she walked down the stairs, which made the cat look up in surprise. She had breakfast quietly with her mother - who was quite disturbed by her sudden change - and then went to the door.

But before she finally left, she turned around again, smiled apologetically at her mother and said in a strange tone: “Goodbye! "

Then she knew that she would not come home and her heart felt heavy, because she knew just as well that she could not change anything.

When Tanja set off, a slight smile played on her lips again.The day was too good to be serious. She enjoyed the scent of the flowers, the singing of the birds and the wind that caressed her face. But she was also aware that HE was following her.

This time the school day didn't drag on as much as it usually did. Tanja enjoyed being with her friends. Even more than usual, because HIS eyes rested on her the whole time, but for the sake of her friends I didn't let her show anything. The time passed and it was noon. Tanja went to the school yard to enjoy the warming sun. Suddenly the dark shadow broke away from its hiding place and SANUS stepped up to her.

Shortly before her he stopped, she could look deep into his red eyes and it seemed as if the fire of hell was burning in them. Everyone around them had stopped and stared at the creepy.

Sanus knelt, leaning on his sword, and bowed his head in awe. “Your Highness Gaia, the time has come. "" I am here to fulfill your destiny.“He looked up and there was indeed something like sadness in his eyes. “Please forgive me for what I have to do! “With these words he got up and stabbed Tanja, who was still standing there as if rooted to the spot, with his sword right in the heart.

Her eyes were wide as she fell backwards. She could still hear the screams of the people around her, then it went black around her. Strangely enough, she was in no pain and there was nothing to be seen where there should be a large wound. Still, her heart beat slower and slower, her breathing became shallower and shallower until it stopped completely.

When the ambulance finally came, the paramedics could only determine that she was dead. All attempts at resuscitation failed. And the young man was gone. HE had become a shadow again.

At that moment when she died, the earth began to shake, no country was spared. The plants began to wither and the animals disappeared without a trace. The world had become bleak.