Grim Reaping is not what it used to be!

"Grim Reaping is not what it used to be". Grumbled Fate. His fingers felt like they were getting Carpal tunnel syndrome from the constant and non-stop journaling. There was a definite pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, leading to pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in his hand and fingers.

It could be said that Fate has the best or worst job of all of the angels - but it really depends on the point of view of the observer.

The job of Predestination and Predetermination was not an enviable one. Unless you are the Devil maybe...for he or she would be more than happy to multiply every human into the fold of Hell.

The rule of Destiny was once very simple...

The end comes for humans seasonally, when their story runs out of new chapters...when there is nothing left to write...and Fate returns the quill to its final resting place.

The Creator

At least that is what he had been told when he was assigned the job of Fate...He, Destiny, had been watching the Loom Of Time being spun for as long as time itself has existed.

But there has been a drastic change down below. The quill is finding itself in dire need of a final resting place. Humans are behaving out-of-order. He didn't understand the shift in the paradigm of it all. This had not been a part of his original job description.

Fate is known by many names...Providence. Nemesis. Kismet. Chance. Luck. Serendipity. Fortuity. Fortune. Hazard. Karma. And Lady Luck to some - Fate had seen it all.

But...

Once, he used to be able to keep a track of his Reapers, who only collected souls within a given time, place and particular season of the year... For normally, mortality rates exhibit distinct seasonal patterns, with higher mortality in winter compared to summer.

In the United States alone, winter months (December to February) see a significant increase in collections, with January being the busiest month. Factors such as temperature and weather conditions significantly influence these seasonal patterns, affecting the risks that are more prevalent in colder months.

Overall, seasonal mortality is well-documented in his Loom Journals... characteristic of health outcomes, with many other causes of 'passing' showing clear seasonal patterns.

But everything is now changing. The Human condition is exhibiting a complete disrespect for seasons and protocols of dying. They are just very much dying all willy-nilly and as they please.

Fate felt like he needed to request a lot more help from "The All-Father" if he wanted to keep his records straight. He dreaded asking, Father was already fully occupied with the many idiosyncrasies, eccentricities and peculiarities of his human children.

"What do you mean souls are arriving out of season". Father asked, while trying to listen in on Donnie, Putin and a lot more of his wild and disobedient leaders down on earth. Things were getting out of hand with his unruly earth children.

"I mean it's getting so bad that I barely have time for a bathroom break, I have to grab my meals on the go". Fate tried to explain.

"But what of the Grim Reapers, surely they can help out, maybe Reaper Jayriel, he is diligent and willing".

"I'm afraid they are all running on fumes, chasing souls all over the place, collecting the unscheduled ones who find death fascinating enough to dive in head first". Fate thought this very strange and a bit sad.

"Ok. I can maybe loan you Israfel (the burning one) and Abaddon (destruction) for a short while. I don't think they will be pleased - but I have been meaning to discipline them for quite a while now".

"Thank you Father, but I don't think you will get them back too soon, they will be very busy".

"Fine, fine, do what you have to. I need to go...Donnie just made another boo-boo. What in all creation am I going to do with him"?

Israfel (the burning one) and Abaddon (destruction) put up a mighty fuss - but Father's words could not be disobeyed. For the first few days they refused to speak to Fate...they just recorded in the Book of Judgement. But...

Burning and Destruction began to realize that human decisions were falling into the purview of their base natures. They began to enjoy their newly acquired vocation.

Fate was enormously relieved. These two were a handful, but now they dug their hells in with such diligence that he now found a bit of time for himself.

Israfel (the burning one): "As far as the Books say...December to February are our best months. But August saw a lot of famous and not so famous humans arriving off schedule. This is September...and the Reapers have far surpassed last December's figures". She smiled pleasingly.

Abaddon (destruction): "At this rate, we will have filled our quota in no time. Maybe Father will be pleased and let us remain here for humanity's eternity".

Israfel (the burning one): "Father is not pleased that the earthlings have gone way too far with "Free Will", returning home whenever they see fit". He has to be regurgitating all sorts of the newly arrived souls back to earth to keep things normal".

Abaddon (destruction): "You have to admire their chutzpah, their self-confidence and audacity in the face of diving into the unknown".

Israfel (the burning one): "I don't think they see it that way. I think a lot of them are just giving up and are willing to leave, hoping for peace on the other side. If only they knew how good they have it, compared to us up here. They should be happy to embrace their free will with every fibre of their being".

October arrived. Israfel and Abaddon paused to peer down on Earth. They held their breaths at the loveliness of it all.

👼 It was as if they were kids seeing their first snow.

They watched the leaves surrender their green for gold, and imagined that the world was practicing a quiet kind of resurrection. They reached down to feel the chill in the air - a thrill for them - a temperature with emotion, something heaven never taught.

They marvel at how humans walk through this beauty without wings, how they trust the dimming light, how they gather around fires to keep the darkness gentle. To an angel, October would be awe made visible: a month where the earth blushes, ages, and glows all at once.

November’s beauty is quieter...deeper — it unfurls, slow and smoky, as if the world is exhaling after all the bright drama of October.
It’s the kind of beauty you feel in your bones before you see it.

The colors shift from fire to ember:
coppers, browns, grays that look like the earth is wrapping itself in wool.
Trees stand half‑naked and unapologetic, showing the architecture of their branches.
The sky grows vast, pale, and contemplative — a canvas stretched thin over the cold.

There’s a holiness to the stillness.
A softness to the light.
A sense that the world is preparing for something — not death, but rest.

November is the moment between heartbeats,
the pause before winter speaks,
the quiet where gratitude gathers itself like warm breath in cold air.

It’s beautiful because it feels like a lifetime you haven’t lived yet.

🍂🍁🍁🍂

~~~~~~Still, the Reapers were busy collecting the unscheduled, the numbers in the books were alarming. Souls were returning home in abundance...not counting the ones being recorded down in Hell.

December.

Israfel looked down on Earth and her ice cold heart melted. She would, just for the month of December, maybe January too - which is worse for death than December...disobey her Father's rule. Abaddon needed no convincing, he couldn't imagine any worse punishment than where they were now.

So, for the entire months of December and January that year...NO ONE ON EARTH DIED. All Around the world was peace on Earth, joy and goodwill to all persons everywhere.

The busiest season of death became the greatest celebration of Life.

Fate was busy doing the Accounting...by the time he noticed, December had come and January had almost gone. He pretended to be mad...he had wondered why he had had time to rest and relax for almost two entire months. He had somehow chalked it up to their enthusiasm and professionalism in the face of their pure delight at their new job.

Israfel and Abaddon were ordered to spend forever in their new positions. They kept a straight face during their judgement.

They celebrated mightily later that evening.