Density in Dead-City

Density in Dead-City / An Afterlife Short Tale ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It has been called by many names across many cultures. Perhaps it appears differently to each inhabitant; perhaps it takes shape within individual or collective consciousness, or perhaps it simply exists for its own sake. It is a peculiar place, where an infinite black stretches across the sky like a bottomless well without stars, an abyss filled with peace. The green meadows of tall grass move with the steady touch of a force reminiscent of wind, brushing gently over fields of flowers that mark the path leading to and from the earthly realm of the living. The surroundings are lit with a strong, direct radiance. There is no heat, no cold; the temperature is the same within all matter that exists. Maybe that is why everything feels united, part of a single whole. In the land of the living, the world has been reshaped by the slow violence of climate change. Storms, droughts, and shifting seasons have taken their toll, and many souls now arrive sooner than they once did, swelling the population of this place. The multitude of the non-living is vast, so vast that condominiums have had to be built. White towers of immense density rise so high that their end cannot be seen. It might be overwhelming were it not for the guide dogs that help newcomers navigate the space and keep them from losing their way in the deep, nearly absolute black shadows that sometimes veil the ground. Here, there is no concept of weather. No storms, no seasons, no shifting air. The place exists in a state untouched by time or temperature, an ethereal realm where matter simply is. Other beings dwell here as well, beings able to cross effortlessly between worlds and dimensions, who know, who speak, and who carry others to this place. They are commonly known in Mexico as La Muerte. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This tale is inspired by my own interpretation of an afterlife, shaped by elements of Mexican culture and traditions, both pre-Hispanic and Spanish. The two characters with human form symbolize the same entity, and the xoloitzcuintli dog stands as the legendary guide celebrated in "El dia de Muertos" traditions.