The Doors of Life & Death
by Peter Petkovsek
Where am I?
Who’s this? How did you get Mike’s number
Mia? What do you mean - It’s me, Mike!
Mike is in a coma. Whoever you are this isn’t funny. Just stop
I’m in a coma?
STOP THIS. I’m sitting next to Mike in the hospital
But I can hear your voice
You are REALLY trying my nerves here
Mia it’s me! I’ll prove it to you:
I know about your sister being a lesbian …
Omg only Mike knows that
Exactly
Is it … is it really you?
Well of course
But you’re right here … IN A COMA
It’s weird … Sort of dark
This is incredible. So I text you … and you hear me?
Seems like it
This is crazy
What happened? Why am I in a coma?
We were in a car accident … You don’t remember?
No …
Doctors said you might stay like this forever
I don’t know about that
What do you mean?
It’s hard to explain … There is this clock
You can see a clock?
I just kind of know it’s there
What does it say?
It’s counting down
Right now it says 20 hours
Till what?
I think it’s …
Till I die
WHAT?
How do you know that?
I’m … not sure. It just sort of feels like that
Oh no. How can that be? You’ve been stable for a while
Wait
What?
I see something … or, sort of feel it
What is it?
It’s a door …
A door?
Actually, two doors …
Oh god – if there is a strong white light, DON’T GO THERE
Wait there’s something written on the doors
Written? Whatt?
One says, ‘LIE AND LIVE’
And the other?
‘DIE AND LET LIVE’
What does that mean?
I have no idea …
Do you have to tell a lie to live?
I can do that
I like Justin Bieber
There, that was a lie
Did anything happen? Door open?
No, nothing
Try to go through? I’m right here with you in the hospital if you wake up
I’ll try
Oh NO …
What what?
It seems to be locked … But the clock started to go much FASTER
Counting down?
Yes, it’s at 15 hours already, going fast
Oh god no please
Should I try the other door?
But that one says die … I don’t think you should do it
What then???
I don’t know oh god this is terrible
How did it all even happen
We were driving and someone crashed into us
I was ok but your side was badly beaten
Mia, the door just opened
Which one?
LIE AND LIVE
Omg
What’s behind it?
Can’t see anything
Try to go through it!
Should I?
It says ‘live’, that sounds good
Ok, trying
AAH
What?
There is a precipice behind it, I almost fell in
AND THE CLOCK IS GOING EVEN FASTER
Oh no no no no sorry sorry
Oh god your heartbeat just went crazy
I can see it on the machine
It’s at 10 hours now, and speeding up
WHAT SHOULD WE DO??
I can’t lose you
I’m doing my best
Not like this
We can do it!
I feel terrible. Last thing I said to you was a curse word
Why?
Wait, the other door JUST OPENED
Just now?
Right after you said curse word …
It’s only open a crack … I can’t go in. But I can see a corridor
Clock is at 8 hours
Mia?
Oh god
What?
I just figured it out …
The signs on the doors …
What? Clock says 6, hurry up!
They are meant for ME, not you
What
Oh baby, I haven’t told you the exact truth
What do you mean? Clock says 5!!!
We were in an accident
But just before that, we had a terrible fight
I was really mean to you … and I refused to drive
So we switched
It should have been me …
What?
I should have been the one to get crushed
What are you talking about? It’s at 4 …
‘Lie and live’: don’t tell the truth and I live, but you die
I can fix this! I love you darling
Wait what? The other one is ‘die and let live’
Omg
Does that mean you die and I live??
WHAT ARE YOU DOING MIA?
DON’T DO IT
THERE MUST BE SOME OTHER WAY
CLOCK SAYS 3
2
1
Mia!!!!!
My darling, how could you do it?
You jumped into the river, and I woke up
I’m sitting next to you
They pulled you out, but your brain suffered a lack of oxygen
You’re in a coma
Can you hear me?
Can you see a door?
I’m gonna keep texting until you do
I love you
App