“Today’s topic is Death,” Mrs. Shoemaker announced to the debate team at the front of the class. “In position one, we have Reagan Keller; with an opposing view, we have Olivia Dyett
Reagan walked gracefully to the small podium at the front of the class, and adjusted the microphone to accommodate her height. At eighteen, she was already tall, slender, and intelligent. The only problem with Reagan was that she knew it.
“Mrs. Shoemaker, how could any of us be alone, ever?” The class barely settled down, and Reagan had to turn up the volume on the mic control. “We all know that God is around us, within us, every moment of our lives. Walking beside us to protect and guide us. This is a moot argument, Mrs. Shoemaker”.
Olivia sat against the wall behind the podium, rolling her eyes. “Well Reagan, it looks like at least one person in class doesn’t agree with you. Olivia, would you care to speak?”
Olivia stood, and walked pasted Reagan to approach the podium, her bangled arms jingling quietly as she moved. She didn’t adjust the microphone, though her small stature would have called for it. Instead, brushing a swath or purple and black hair out of her face, Olivia stood took her place next to the podium, and began speaking, her voice solidly taking hold of the room.
“How could you be anything but alone? Let’s say you were struck by a car – the very essence of your life is spilled out on the ground around you, and a loved one defies their fear and panic to rush toward your soon-to-be lifeless body; they grab your hand, covering themselves in your blood. They speak to you. You can hear their cries, feel their tears, as…”
The classroom had fallen totally silent, completely enthralled by the young woman’s words. Not even Reagan spoke to challenge her, so she continued.
“As what?” Olivia challenged. She stepped away from the podium, her ‘classic’ flared jeans hiding her sneakers. “Here’s what we know, what we’ve proved, happens as you die. First, your vision fades; darkness begins to swap itself for the bright sky you had just seen above you, and your heart finally stops, having run out of anything to pump. Very quickly – within thirty seconds or so, you can no longer hear or see, and the only scent you can hold is of wet iron. It sits, tingling your nose, but that too is shortly gone.
“So – where are you? Your mind still has activity at some level for several minutes, as long as your head was undamaged, but the essence of you – of who you are – is locked away in your lifeless mind for that time. You can neither feel nor see the person who was moments ago just holding your hand. Maybe they’re still there – maybe they aren’t. You’ll never know”. Olivia stepped slowly back to the podium, looking down briefly, then lifted her head to look Reagan in the eyes. “As your brain slowly turns out all the lights, you are indeed in an empty room, the last occupant to close up shop.”
Olivia looked back to Mrs. Shoemaker, who stood open-mouthed at the back of the classroom. No one said a word as Olivia turned to go back to her seat.
After an uncomfortable moment, Mrs. Shoemaker spoke up. “Olivia, that is a very dark way of seeing the world.”
“Yes, ma’am; I suppose that it is. But you don’t know the things I’ve seen”. Olivia sat down, adding, “And you don’t want to”.
