Death, or something like it

Elizabeth Oliver Sydney, Australia

Artwork: Aida Novoa & Carlos Egan

It’s either a very short consultation, or a very long one. Because it's often the first real question they’ve asked in their life, and the opener goes something like this.

"It's a bit of a weird one. I'm afraid, like terrified, of death."

"Yes."

There is no upward inflection in my yes, no encouraging question at the end of it. It's like they've told me that the Middle East is a tragedy, or we