A Children's Story: Pixies In The Garden (Death Is A Rebirth)

The first part of Pixies In The Garden can be found here: Nora Makes A New Friend

And the second here: Xenon's Lesson About Truth

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Nora was out in the garden once again. She went to meet Xenon in their familiar spot. He was sitting on a naked branch, relaxing after a day of hard work. Nora looked frustrated, she wasn't approaching him they way she used to, her steps were long and heavy, but what was the matter? 

- Hey, Xenon.

- Hello, my sweet Nora. Is anything troubling you? Your eyes seem dark.

- I know, Xenon. I'm just sad today. One of my mum's uncles passed away last night. I really loved him. He was such a nice person. He would always give me candies and chocolates when we visited him and in every family gathering he was the only one to ever pay attention to the children. All the other grown-ups let us out to play, but uncle Ned was always sitting on the porch looking at us and sometimes, if his back didn't hurt too much, he would even come down to play some baseball or hide and seek.

- He sounds like a very good man.

- He was, Xenon. He was. Too bad he never got any children of his own. His wife died soon after their honey moon. She got very sick and there was nothing the doctors could do to help her. Uncle Ned never married again after that.

- Well, you know, Nora? I think you shouldn't be sad anout your uncle.

- What? How can you say that? He is gone and never coming back, Xenon!

- I know, my child, but have you ever thought that this is the cycle of life? People are born, they grow up and die. There is nothing we can do to change it, it has been that way ever since this world was made.

- But I never wanted him to die! He was a good person and I loved him and it is not fair, Nora burst into tears.

- Nora? Xenon's voice was soft and understanding. I never said that it is easy for the ones left behind, but I do believe it is fair up to a point. Whatever is born is meant to die. Our life is a line, we cannot know from the start how long everyone's line is, but all we can do is walk along it till the end. And then this line curves to form a circle - how much I love this shape, it proclaims a divine balance and stability. And in this circle all our experiences, the good things, the bad things, the wrong and the right, everything is there. And these circles and lines fit perfectly into a greater collage.

- The collage of life?

- Exactly. After all death is very very useful.

- I must say I am a bit confused with all that, how can death be useful?

- Ok, let me put it more simply. Look at this tree. It makes fruit, right?

- Right.

- What is the purpose of its fruit?

- To be eaten?

- Yes, and what will happen to them if they are eaten?

- They will die?

- Exactly. Some will die to feed people or animals, their death will serve someone else's life. Some of their seeds will return to the ground and if they are lucky enough, they will grow to be new treees that will make a lot more fruit. Oh, I almost forgot the ones that will fall on the ground and rot.

- Now how is their death useful?

- This, my sweet child, may be even more useful, as their rotting bodies will be decomposing, they will give food to a bunch of other tiny creatures in the ground and even the same tree that gave birth to them.

- Like paying back for the gift of life they received?

- Pretty much. After all, death is kind of a rebirth.

- A rebirth? You mean all this dead fruit is coming back to life?

- No, Nora. But their death will prepare the ground for the new ones to grow the next season. Death is a rebirth for the living ones. And the same applies to people. Their death means a rebirth for the loved ones that stay behind. Through anger, pain and finally acceptance they come out different, transformed, stronger some, weaker and empty others. When you lose a person you love, you lose a part of your old self, it could be very small or very big, but a part of you always dies to come back a little different. But what remains the same is that you will always carry that person in your heart and memories.

- And how do you think I will be different after uncle Ned's death?

- Right now you feel sad and angry because he is gone. After a while you will realise that nothing can change the new reality and will accept it. You will be stronger in the end, because you will have learnt that this is life, it includes death and none of us will be around for ever. That's the reason we should cherish the moments with our loved ones, don't be afraid to tell them how much we love them and keep in mind that we will probably meet again on the other side.

- But I miss him, Xenon!

- I know, Nora, I know. But once you realise that your uncle came to the end of a fascinating journey and moved on to another dimention, a world we will never understand unless we finally enter it, you will feel a lot better, more calm and even a bit happy for him.

- Happy? Are you insane? Happy for his death?

- Not happy for the death as a fact, but for all the things he accomplished, the loving nieces and nephews he got to call a family, the sweet memories he got for you to carry the rest of your lives... Your uncle will remain a figure of love to all of you.

- You are so right! Thank you, Xenon! I always feel better after talking to you. Nora was now a little better.

- Now go back inside, it is getting dark. And don't forget to mention your uncle in your prayers tonight, Nora. He might not be around, but he can certainly hear you.

- I will, Xenon. See you tomorrow!

- See you tomorrow, Nora!

To be continued...

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*All photos, non-edited, from my very first experimentations with my Nikon D3400
Original story by @ruth-girl - Steemit, 2018 

Thank you so much for your time!

Until my next post,
Steem on and keep smiling, people!