Elective Decisions

A man begins dying at birth, and one wrong decision can hurl him into eternity.  Most people, living in denial of Death’s courtship, avoid risky decisions—until late in life—they become aware of his presence.

In utter contempt, they scorn themselves for neither having the courage, nor ability to live the fullest of lives, leaving only an empty shell at Death’s embrace. 

Eventually, Nicholas Dempsey would be able to recognize the moment of his death—the decision that sent him racing to eternity.  His decision came on April 15, 2009. 

Until then, he had rarely thought of death.  He had lived his life, executing his service to his country faithfully, without regard for Death’s icy grip. 

He was a born optimist—a patriot in the simplest of terms—and pursued that life upon his graduation from high school.  His decision was simple.  Serving his country meant more than any eventual outcome of that service.  In his line of thinking, the ends justified the means. 

He was obsessed with America, and all that it had to offer.  He never questioned its loyalty, nor did he ponder the possible sacrifice to his mortality.  He remained a steadfast, loyal servant to a young country. 

The call came on his cell phone the day he dropped his tax return in the post office.  His accountant had toiled all day on his return, trying to maximize his deductions. 

There was a stench in the post office—a pungent odor—the smell of too many people, pushing and shoving their way to the front of the line.  It smelled as though Death was in the air.  It was the wrong place to be at the wrong time, and Nick understood it.