[the law of the throne]

Death bed. It was a very delicate topic to be swaying around carelessly. People were vulnerable to death itself, for that is human nature – but juggling with the term was the cause of his nightmares for the past three months. The time to face it was drew near. It had been a custom from his ancestors long before arriving to this foreign land, later written down as tradition and now considered as a law, a definite requirement within the family. The time is now, Jonathan muttered between perfectly aligned teeth.

It was remarkably cloudy and cold for mid-afternoon. Yet the house seemed unaffected by the battering elements. There it stood, the stone house surrounded by colossal evergreen trees and pine trees. Gray stone, marked by the time defying mold growing between the cracks and crevices. A cool sense of peace and tranquility surrounded the house; yet the smell of the unexpected emanated from inside the house – windows and doors closed. The road was unpaved, dirt, rocks and sand to fulfill what need to be done. For the Edwards family, the final steps of every journey are the most difficult – it is when sacrifice, great or simple, might give true meaning to a life filled with empty spaces. It is when giving up is not an option and neither is survival. It’s the moment when the battle is already technically lost; one must make oneself vulnerable in order to strike the final and shattering blow. The Stone Throne, the ancestors had called the place, was where every family head declared a victory over pain, suffering and passing of age. It was the journey to the Stone Throne, the last embrace of life and the taste of the last breath. Once the body was put to rest under the Stone Throne, one was part of it, one with it forever.

Jonathan shifted his backpack to one side in a quick effort to retrieve the back door combination written on a piece of scrap paper. It had been a long and freezing trek. Cars could not be brought close to the Stone Throne, so stated the law; Jonathan had his white muscle car parked several miles away. With paper in hand, he hesitated before opening the door. This is nothing but a death house. But here I am, to learn the truth once and for all. Jonathan spoke softly to himself, for there was no one making the journey with him. According to ancestor law, the man or woman traveling to the Stone Throne will call on a family member, to enter and know the truth. Once he entered the combination, the metal gears visibly moved the thick metal rod that sealed the back door tight. He felt the warmth of light inside. What is it? The light became almost inviting, making the cold weather and tiredness seem insignificant. Jonathan closed his eyes, and holding his breath he felt the door close behind him. There was no turning back. The time is now.