Theme 43 - Dying

"Dean?"

I looked down at my three year old brother. We had been watching a TV show about a war. I wasn't really watching so I wasn't sure what war it was. "Huh?"

"Why do people die?" Sam asked crawling into my lap. I shifted so it was more comfortable for both of us.

Why people die? How was I suppose to explain that to a three year old. It wasn't like I could say "Life sucks and then you die." No, that wouldn't work. I placed my hand on Sam's back and moved him so he was facing me on my lap. "Because Sammy….people don't live forever. Everyone has to go at some point."

"Even me?" Sam asked with his eyes going wide.

"Even you." I nodded.

"You?"

"Me." I saw the water gather in Sam's eyes. "Shh, it's alright Sammy. There's no need to cry."

"Daddy?"

"Dad."

"Bobby?"

"Bobby."

"Pastor Jim?"

"Pastor Jim."

"Caleb?"

"Caleb." I nodded.

Sam buried his face in my chest. The TV show we were watching was long forgotten. I heard him sniff and I wrapped my arms around him. "It's alright Sammy. It's suppose to happen." I heard him mumbled something into my chest but I couldn't make out what he was saying. "When you die Sammy, you go to Heaven. Heaven is where all the good people go."

"Like Mommy?" Sam asked from my shirt.

"Like Mommy." I nodded feeling sad remembering that night. I remember carrying Sam out of the house and the fire. That was about it. I don't really remember anything else. "You see Sammy, in Heaven; you get to see the people who have died before you. When you get to Heaven, you can meet Mommy."

Sam leaned back and rubbed his eyes. I whipped a tear that leaked down his face with the pad of my thumb. "I can meet Mommy?"

"You can meet Mommy."

Sam smiled at the thought of being able to finally met his mom. He had heard about her and seen pictures. He didn't remember anything because he was six months old when she died.

"Sammy?"

"Yeah?" Sam looked up at me. He could see tears in my eyes.

"Remember this, not matter if you are dying or if you are alive, I will always, always protect you. I'll make sure you don't die young so you can live a long life." I smiled ruffling Sam's hair. I then felt one tear fall down my face. "Alright?"

Sam threw his arms around my neck and he buried his face into my chest. "I'll do the same Dean."

I rubbed his back and kissed the top of his forehead. "Thank you Sammy; but you won't be dying for a long time."