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Henry sat at the station waiting for his friend to come. He had dreaded this day coming but the retired Rottweiler sheriff's sickness had finally caught up with him. As he saw David emerge from the mist Henry let out a huge sigh. He didn’t offeten help board souls on the train but he thought David would appreciate it.
“Where am I,” asked David confused.
“Death’s train station. I’m sorry but you're dead. They’re was nothing the doctor’s could do,” answered Henry, tears starting to flow from his eyes.
“That’s okay. I lived a good long life. I think that it’s my time to go,” David said calmly patting Henry on his back “Where do you believe I’m going?”
Henry pointed up. He wanted to give his friend some piece of mind as they waited for the old black train to come to the station. For a while the entire train station was silent, both of them too melancholy for words.
“So you really are a reaper,” David said, trying to lighten the mood a bit “And here I just thought it was some act to intimidate criminals.”
“Yeah, I usually don’t hang around stations this long but I thought you would enjoy the company,” said Henry straightening up.
“I do enjoy the company but I’m curious, is the train ride nice,” David asked, hoping to calm his nerves.
“I’ve never personally been on it but I’ve heard the train has the most lavish cabins and dining rooms you have seen. The route is also beautiful too. I’ve heard it goes through the whole world before reaching your destination. It will also stop by your funeral so you can look at your living friends and family one last time but if you get off there you’ll be stuck wandering the world as a ghost forever unfortunately,” Henry said softly.
“Wow, where did you hear all this,” David asked in awe.
“I heard it straight from the angel of death herself. She is the coachman on this train,” Henry answered sincerely.
“Who's the engineer then,” David asked curiously.
“I really don’t know who he truly is though everyone has some idea of who he could be. In any case he’s the best at it and the line has never had an accident,” Henry answered seemingly lost in thought.
The sound of a train whistle and the clack of a train on the track came shortly after Henry finished that sentence. David then turned slightly and sadly looked at Henry.
“Goodbye Henry. You are the best sheriff this town has ever seen. I was a coward that Agua Fria didn't need but you are the brave soul it does need. Thank you for being my friend,” siad David entering the train.
“Goodbye David,” said Henry as the station faded back into the sheriff's office.
Then finally completely breaking down he wept. David’s son Richard then walked in to give Henry the news of David’s death.
“It looks like someone already told you the news,” Richard said scratchily “Me and my mother want you to be a speaker at his funeral. You were his best friend and it seems only right.”
“Okay,” Henry answered extremely quietly as even more tears flowed out of his eyes.