Chris Conidis

In the grand bazaar of existence, amidst the relentless haggling of life’s endless marketplace, Death had always been something of an enigma. But as the years went by, it became increasingly apparent that Death—that dark, shadowy figure we all love to fear and pretend to understand—was, in fact, just another one of life’s great paradoxes. A cosmic joke, if you will. It turns out that Death, much like a particularly needy reality TV star, demanded constant attention and yet, in its true essence, was just as obsessed with life as life was with it.

Yes, folks, welcome to Death: The Ultimate Two-for-One Deal.

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It began, as most misunderstandings do, with the simple fact that for all our religious teachings, philosophy books, and horror movies, no one really knew what the hell Death was. Some called it “final,” others referred to it as “the great equalizer.” But let’s be honest—nobody ever really understood it. It was like trying to explain the concept of Wi-Fi to a hamster.

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But let’s backtrack to the beginning, when people started noticing something odd: Life and Death, despite being polar opposites, were frequently spotted hanging out at the same party. For a while, Life was the star of the show, of course. It had all the pizzazz—the glittering lights, the beautiful people, the excitement, the promise of new experiences. Death, on the other hand, was the grumpy guest no one wanted to sit next to, lurking in the corner, wearing all black, throwing unsolicited existential thoughts into the mix.

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But here’s where the plot thickens: over the course of eons, Life began to notice something incredibly distressing—without Death, Life was… well, a bit of a mess. It was like a buffet with no end date. All-you-can-eat without the “closing time” reminder that you might want to stop eating before the food starts to look a little… unappetizing. Life, it turned out, needed Death. It was as if Life had bought an all-inclusive vacation package, but the “Death clause” was hidden in the fine print.

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But why did Life need Death? Well, as any casual observer can tell you, Life, in its undying quest for more—more experiences, more stuff, more moments—tends to get, well, a bit carried away. Life can be quite a drama queen in that sense, pushing the limits of time and space like a toddler throwing a tantrum in the toy store. And in the absence of Death, Life would’ve kept throwing tantrums forever. Can you imagine an infinite number of new movies, TV shows, video games, and online influencers? The horror.

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Thus, Death—ever the misunderstood underdog—stepped in as the much-needed intervention. Death was the cosmic “off” switch. The firm but loving parent who knows when it’s time to put away the iPad. With Death around, Life got to be life without becoming an incessant, unmanageable noise machine.

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Now, you may ask, “How could Death also be Life? Isn’t that a contradiction?” Well, dear reader, here’s where things get even more confusing—Life and Death were in a constant, symbiotic relationship. They were like peanut butter and jelly, except instead of bread, you had a massive universe filled with stars, planets, and the occasional space-time anomaly.

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Consider this: Death’s sole job, according to the universal contract, was to make sure Life didn’t go on forever—because let’s face it, an eternal life would be like the longest, most tedious email chain. And you know no one would ever reply to those.

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But while Death was clearing the cosmic inbox, Life would stir and dance, its very essence created in response to the inevitable tick-tock of Death’s clock. Without Death, Life would be nothing but an empty room, echoing with the sound of unfulfilled potential and unfinished TikToks. Think of it as a reality show where the finale is postponed forever—no one wants to keep watching that.

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And just when you think Death is being too harsh, it reminds you that the beauty of Life is often framed by its fleeting nature. How do we appreciate a sunset without the knowledge that it will eventually disappear beneath the horizon? How can we relish in the thrill of a first kiss without the shadow of its potential end hanging over us?

This, of course, led to an existential conundrum of the highest order: If Death was essential to Life, could Life exist without Death? In Progress City, where every machine ran on efficiency and every concept had a TED talk, the answer was clear—Life needed to be aware of Death to function properly. Without that awareness, Life would have no direction. It would simply go on, endlessly, like a broken record—repeating itself in the most mundane, soul-crushing way imaginable. And that, friends, is not the kind of Life you want to sign up for.

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But here’s the kicker—Life, in its inherent stubbornness, didn’t want to admit it needed Death. Much like a teenager pretending they didn’t need their parents’ advice, Life kept trying to outsmart Death, believing that if it just kept growing, expanding, and multiplying enough, it could escape the inevitable. It would create infinite stories, endless experiences, a world of unlimited growth. But no matter how many new stories Life spun, there was always that cosmic voice in the back of its head, saying: “Don’t get too comfortable. Death is just around the corner, ready to sweep you off your feet.”

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And so, they danced together—Life and Death, in a waltz as old as time itself—always intertwined, always needing the other to play its role. They were both the problem and the solution, the challenge and the remedy. Life was chaotic, messy, and ever-expanding; Death was inevitable, quiet, and quietly elegant in its simplicity. And together, they made sure that the universe kept spinning—like a cosmic carousel of joy and sorrow, love and loss, beginnings and endings.

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So, in the grand scheme of things, we find ourselves once again face-to-face with the truth. Life and Death aren’t opposites. They are partners in crime, each pushing the other to make the most of what we have. Death gives life meaning by drawing a boundary around it, just as life, in turn, fills Death with purpose.

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After all, if it weren’t for Death, Life would just be a never-ending cycle of attempts to find the perfect avocado. And let’s face it—that’s not a life anyone wants to live.