Fact number one: To imagine death is a natural thing. It is a milestone of brainpower. A proof of concept, that we may think so far as to think of our ends. It is not a bad thing to wonder.
Fact number two: Everything is made of atoms.
Fact number three: If energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only changed, then all of my being– of your being– was present the moment the universe expanded into infinity. And we will be present until we change back to nothing once more.
Fact number 4: I am not afraid of death.
My being will decompose, someday, hidden away in a wooden box, buried beneath my people.
I do not fear that.
Because, someday, after many years have passed, my atoms will have changed.
They are no longer bound to that box.
When my flesh has all but rotted away,
Becoming home to the earthworms,
When you are buried beside me,
When our bones have been picked clean by time,
I do believe we will meet again, somewhere.
One of my atoms will run into you,
Be it within the cells of an unfurling leaf,
Swirling into a black hole,
Witnessing the birth of a new star,
A new galaxy,
Or be it as another human being,
Bumping against your shoulder,
Smiling.
I will peel an orange for you,
With you.
We will cross paths beyond the ending of our thoughts.
Why should I be so afraid?
My atoms have changed, yes, and so have yours.
I’d simply be happy to meet you again.
