This version of the story is done in comics, taking place in a bathroom.  The Girl speaks with normal black letters in white bubbles, through her speech bubbles have shaky, wavery lines depicting her sickness.  Death speaks in white Gothic letters in black bubbles.

Cover/Pg. 1: Death, in Grim Reaper form, crouches on top of the tank of a toilet, scythe in hand, watching over the girl, who is leaning over the toilet--not vomiting, but she's clearly sick.  Her hair is gunky and hangs over her face; she wears a baggy T-shirt and a medical bracelet on one wrist.  The title is written in thick Gothic letters.

Death Watch
A Topsy-Turvy Comic
By LB Lee

Pg. 2 is blank.

Pg. 3

Death leans casually on the toilet tank, arms crossed on top of it. (This means that the rest of Death's body would be going through the bathroom wall, but Death doesn't have to worry about physics.) The girl props herself over the toilet tank, hair still covering her face.  The gunk in her hair is around one ear.  Asides from some vague lines suggesting a bath tub and a soap dish off to their sides, the toilet is the only clear part of the environment.

Girl: Oh, hey.  It's you again.

Death: It is.

Pg. 4

Girl: Is it over yet?  Can I go now?

Death: No.

The girl convulses over the toilet and vomits.  As gravity pulls her hair down, it shows that the gunk is blood, encrusted around her ear and dripping into her hair.

Pg. 5 is divided into four square panels.  The first shows a close-up on what little of the girl's face you can see through the hair--an exhausted eye, with a dark circle under it.  Just a small bit of her lip is visible--it doesn't look good.

Girl: I don't know why I keep asking.  You're clearly in no hurry.

Death just watches.

Girl: Why are you here?

Death looks away.

Death: To keep you company.

The girl rests her head against the toilet seat.  She's starting to cry a little, though she seems too tired to really express much.

Pg. 6

Close-up on Death, speaking calmly.

Death: All living things are my children.  I watch over you all.

Pg. 7

Close-up on the girl, her face finally mostly visible.  Dark-circled, tearstained eyes, blood in her hair and encrusted on her ear, lips chapped and bleeding from vomiting.

Death: For alone among all things, I am fair, omnipresent, and eternal.

Pg. 8 has four more panels.

Death: I am sorry I can do no more.  I'm DEATH, not Mercy.

The girl's cracked lips part into something resembling a smile.

Girl: Heh.  Heh heh.

She pushes her bloody hair behind one ear and smiles up at Death, face zombie-ish from dehydration and sickness.

Girl: Mercy ditched in pre-K.  At least you're reliable.

Death just watches.

Pg. 9

Death pulls out the scythe and holds it over the girl, like a king offering a knighthood, or perhaps a god offering a benediction.

Death: A blessing for you, then.  When you are as you are now--alone, stained in blood, vomit, and despair... know comfort, for I am here... and i come for all my beloved children eventually.

Pg. 10

The girl looks up, tearful and smiling with hope.

Girl: Even me?

Death: You too.

Death looks down at her benignly.

Girl: You promise?

Death: I do.  And you will know no fear of me.

The girl slumps over the toilet seat, but she seems peaceful, quiet, reassured.  She's smiling.

Girl: Cool.

Death pats her bloody hair.

Death: Rest.  I am always here.

Girl: Thank you.

Pg. 11 is blank.

Pg. 12/Back Cover

A small drawing of Death and the girl, holding hands.

Blurb: Read this in whichever order you like.  It's about Death, but don't worry.  All parties survive.

Web: healthymultiplicity.com/loonybrain
Email: loonybrain@healthymultiplicity.com