Death's Burden

"Is there something worse than death?"I thought, after hearing the sad news about a death of a couple, who happens to be close friends of Aris.

A small voice inside my head answered indignantly: "There is: It's the idea of carrying the burden of death". That's when I thought of the couple's two children ages 8 and 10.

Though an over-exploited soap opera topic, losing parents at a young age isn't a 30 minute melodramatic matter with a commercial break in between. it's a life-long tragedy a child needs to grow with - it's an empty space which other people cannot fill.

Worse, even the details of the memory will be forgotten. Aris told me that the youngest was running around the funeral playing with a light saber toy; Too young to even understand the concept of death, too young to accept the fate of his lose. The older sibling sat in confusion as tears roll down her cheeks.

I was trying to think of the scenario in my life, but was unable to. My parents have always been a part of my life ever since I first saw them; It was hard to think of my first walk, first bicycle ride, puberty and even my first date without them.

I blinked the thoughts away, since it stole small precious seconds away from my son's attention while he was immersed in the pool holding my hands. It was his first swimming experience; and taking me away from the pool would easily drown him, like the children suffering from the burden of death.