"You look... different."
"Why, thank you for noticing," Su smiled. "I am feeling rather energised today."
"Good for you," and he quickened his pace.
"You're not going to ask me why?"
"I don't care."
"Death is in the air."
Taylor stopped short and stared at her.
"What's your problem?"
"Oh, well, think about it, Luke dies, Belinda and her father, bridesmaid and their driver dies. Not to mention the other people in the petrol station. Oh but, more importantly, there was a suicide within five miles of here," she sighed. "Refreshing."
"You're sick."
Su sighed happily to herself, then sidled closer to Taylor.
"Maybe you can explain something to me. Why do you get sad when someone dies?"
Taylor blinked at the odd question.
"Well, umm, because we're going to miss having them around."
"But, why?"
"Well, they're our friends or family or whatever the case may be."
Su seemed to think about this for a second.
"I don't get it."
"Well, take Isaac and Belinda for example. They loved each other so much, they were going to get married. But now, she's dead and Isaac is miserable. See, he's never going to be with Belinda ever again. He's never going to talk to her again, or kiss her, or hold her hand, or give her a hug, or smell her hair or anything. They're never going to get married or have kids or grow old together. They're never going to do anything together again. And that's why he's sad. Because he wants to do those things."
"Why?"
"Because he loves her."
"What's love? I've heard that word before..."
"What's love?" Taylor repeated. "Love is the most wonderful feeling in the world, that's what it is. It's... caring about someone, and liking them a huge lot, and umm... wanting to do thing for and with them and enjoying their company and stuff like that."
"Oh," Su answered, still confused.
"There are... different kinds of love," Taylor went on. "The Greeks have four different words for it! Like, I love my parents, but not the same way I love my friends or my siblings, or my fans. And it isn't just limited to people. I love music. If I couldn't have my music, why I'd... I'd don't know what I'd do! And you can fall in love with someone. That's something... it's what some people call true love. When you feel that, well... oh gee, I don't think I've ever really been in love with someone. But I think it's like all the other types of love intensified a million times or something. If you love someone, it can be your sole reason for living."
"Ah ha! That's why Grimmy is always complaining!"
"Grimmy?"
"Yeah, my brother. He's always complaining about making all these trips to people who are just about to die, and then at the last minute they make a sudden recovery and end up living longer. He keeps blaming it on love, but I never understood what he was talking about until know."
Taylor stared at her.
"Grimmy... your brother... people dying... Hey, this is going to sound crazy, but is... no don't worry, it was a stupid idea."
"What's a stupid idea?"
"Oh," and Taylor laughed, "for a second there I thought your brother was the Grim Reaper."
"He is."
Taylor gaped at her, and abruptly sat down with a hard thump.
"If your brother is the Grim Reaper... then... well, that explains your fascination with death."
Su sighed again.
"Yeah. Isn't it wonderful?"
"No."
"You're all going to die eventually. Even you."
"Yeah, but I'm going to Heaven."
"Not if I have anything to do with it."
Taylor shot to his feet and stared at her, wide-eyed.
"Then you... you don't... you're not..." and his eyes widened further. "Oh man... Su... suicide?"
"Suicida, actually. And I must say, I have a fine collection of souls. I'm looking forward to adding you."
"Never!" Taylor shouted.
He turned and fled.