Death Dancer: noun. Angel created by Death to save souls on the edge that death isn't ready to accept yet. They 'dance' across vast spaces in seconds, jumping and spinning to get where they are needed.

I never contemplated how it might be in which I would end up in the situation I find myself in now. At twenty-four years of age and as healthy as anyone could be, death was something I had not been expecting.

Being dead is a peculiar feeling.

Never more so because I had always imagined that death was it- the end. Finite and goodbye! But evidently, it was not. Of course, I had fleetingly hoped that heaven would be there, but it was dismissed as fantasy, nothing more, when I looked around at the cold dark world around me.

There was nothing exciting about my ultimate demise. No failing parachute or mysterious midnight murder on board an express train. Instead it was a sudden bang and I was out like a light. Well, a light that had just been smashed into at 70 miles an hour.

That piece of information had not been known to me when the lights went out. No, that had come from the man- if I could call him... it... that- standing in front of me.

He wasn't what I was expecting. Though to be fair I wasn't sure what I should have been expecting... I guess that one time I stole a penny sweet when I was seven from the sweet shop down the road had counted against me.

I hadn't repented my sin or asked for forgiveness. At least, that's the only reason I could think why the figure of a man with a scythe and long black hooded cloak was standing in front of me right now, rather than the pearly white gates I had at least hoped for in this situation.

It didn't escape my notice that I was also stood on a grassy mound, dewy blades tickling my toes. A small ornate headstone sat to my left, the unmistakable scribe leaving no doubt in my mind.

Ellie Natalia Cartwright, 1992- 2017, beloved daughter, best of friends, will always be missed.

"I'm dead." It was not a question, as such. I asked anyway, looking to the figure who has seemingly resurrected me.

"In a way. Yes, you died." It spoke back to me.

Its voice was not what I was expecting, though what do you expect death to sound like? Morgan Freeman seemed the obvious choice. But this was not Morgan Freeman.

It was a man though, the deep husky baritone made that clear.

"Am I a ghost?" It was the only thing that made sense.

Death chuckled, the fact he found my obvious lack of knowledge on the subject amusing somewhat riling me.

"No, you are still human. Ghosts do not exist in this realm."

I could only nod, as though what he was saying made absolute perfect sense. It didn't though.

"So, I am dead, but you brought me back?"

"That is correct." Death replied, sighing sadly.

I studied what I could of the man in front of me, which was very little. His hands were cladded in black leather gloves, his cloak drawn up around his head, only the tip of his nose visible through the shadow the cloak cast.

"If you are sad that you brought me back, why did you?" I asked. It was a reasonable question really, surely fundamental. Why is the sky blue? Why is ice cold? Why is grass green? Why did you bring me back from the dead?

Death stared at me for what seemed like an age, though I could not see his eyes, I could feel his gaze on me.

"You can help me." His reply was annoying. Too cryptic.

"Help you how?" I asked, prodding him for more information.

Death slowly turned to walk, his hand gesturing for me to follow him. I silently obeyed, following him two steps behind, careful not to step on his cloak.

"This world has a balance, one that must be kept for everything else to flow. In this balance is life and death. Those who die must be those who are set to die. But that is not always the case. There are some people, in this world, who must live, but feel as though they must die. Are you following me?" His pace did not slow, rather quickened as we walked further into the cemetery.

"Yes, I follow you. You mean the people who commit suicide?" I asked, my heart strings pulling for those who felt that death would be there escape.

"Exactly." He stopped, turning to look at me. "I am only one, and my time must be spent with the souls of the departed, making sure that they go to where they are heading. But the balance is the most important thing, lives now gone that were meant to be lived." His head shook beneath the hood. "It changes things. The more who do it the less power I have, the less power the harder it is for me to send souls on their path. My power is collected from the future, the promise of life and love, of children and changes. If someone dies before their time then a whole branch of power is taken from the future."

"But I didn't commit suicide?" I asked, now more puzzled than ever as to why I was stood here.

"No. You did not. But you hold the three most important things to join a group of important people that I created many hundred years ago, to help stop those who have."

"Three important things?" I asked, puzzled as to what I could possibly have to offer.

"Your time was over, that much is true. But you died an innocent. Your heart and soul is as pure as they get. You are patient, loving and kind." He said, three gloved fingers counting the traits he thought she held.

I stared at his raised fingers.

"If I help you, do I get to live again? Can I see my family?" I asked, the question had been nagging at the back of my mind since I woke up.

Death sighed sadly, his hand falling to his side.

"No. It is imperative for the balance, and for your family, that you remain dead in their eyes. I can give you a life, just not your old one."

I nodded slowly, it made sense, I guess. I mean, it really sucked, but dying after what he just told me felt so... finished. "What do I have to do then?"

"The group, they are called Death Dancers. Your job will be to talk to those who are on the brink of suicide, talk them into staying alive. You will be provided a new home, in a new city, everything will be taken care of for you."

A strange warmth tingled through my chest. "I can really help?"

I could save lives? I could help keep the world in balance. I could help. It was certainly better than being dead, that was for sure. I could feel my heart pumping in my chest, as though it wanted to make sure it was really working again. It tugged as my thoughts drifted to my family. could I just ignore them? Never see them again?

I stared off into the distance, the dark night sky blotching with orange and pink hues as the morning sun began to rise in the horizon.

My family were grieving. They already knew they would not be able to see me again. As much as I hated to admit it, it would make no difference to them, not really.

"If I say no, what would happen." I asked out of curiosity, saying no was not something I was going to do.

"You would return to death, your body would be resigned to the ground, your spirit sent on to your desired afterlife. You would remember nothing of this life, your family, our encounter. That is how life works, like anything in this world, life is a cycle." He explained it all patiently, though I could tell he knew my answer already.

I nodded slowly. "What happens now then?"

"You will be assigned to a new city, the team you will be joining is run by a spirit, he will show you around, inform you of your duties. If you need anything you can contact him."

"Will I ever see you again?" I asked.

"For the sake of those you must save, let's hope not."

Suicide is an awful reality for many people who have Depression, whether they act upon their thoughts or not. It is comforting to think that there are Guardian Angles- or whatever you want to call them- looking over you. I like to think my Guardian Angel is my Grandma, or as I called her growing up, Grandma Fairy. She was kind, loving, generous, but also smart and driven, all characteristics I try to embody through my life. 

Who is your Guardian Angel?