Death waited to hear my request.

What would bring me the greatest joy? The last time I saw my wife? The last hug from my grandson? The last birthday I had?

“I want to see the last time someone remembers me,” I told Death. “Time and space isn’t an issue for you, right? I want you to show me the last time someone remembers me. The last time my name is mentioned. The last time I exist in someone’s thoughts.”

Death didn’t move. Death didn’t respond.

“Did you hear me? I want to know the last time I’m remembered. You said it could be anything, that’s what I want”

After a few moments, another being entered this…whatever this was. I didn’t even understand where I was. It was just…existence but also there was no feeling of existing. We just were in this room or space or whatever you categorize it as. It was a bright white light, if it had dimensions I would call it a ball, but it too just existed just like this room.

“Hello Mr. Armstrong, I’m Death’s companion Memory, I shall assist you in this task. Please follow me,” the soothing voice said.

“I…okay,” I said and followed this being.

“The last time someone remembered you might be difficult to watch, as often it involves the last moments of a close loved one, do you understand?”

“I hadn’t thought about it,” I said. “My greatest fear, while alive, was being forgotten. I wanted to contribute to the world. I wanted to make my presence felt. I wanted to make an impact.”

“Many people do, but unfortunately, not many people make a worldwide impact. But that doesn’t mean their lives didn’t change or help people,” Memory said.

The light stopped moving.

“Mr. Armstrong, the last time someone remembers you is 2143, about a hundred years after your passing,” Memory states.

The light shines onto me as visions enter my head.

I see an elderly man sitting on a couch with someone sitting next to him.

“That is your grandson, Michael,” Memory said. “And his granddaughter, Emily.”

Michael is flipping through a photo album. He stops at one.

“This is my grandpa Vincent,” Michael says. “He took me fishing this day. We didn’t catch anything, so he took me to a restaurant and we got some fish and chips. That was the last time I spent any time with him. He got sick afterwards, spent most of his time in and out of hospitals. I saw him once and he just had all these tubes in him. Cancer got him quickly. He was a tough son of a bitch, didn’t go down without a fight. At least that’s what my mom told me. He was a good dad to my mom. She said he let her grow in the way she wanted, he guided her and let her make her own decisions, good or bad. You learn from mistakes, she used to tell me. You need to learn how to deal with them. But a parent is also there to catch you if you fall too far or too fast. And that was the best gift any parent can give their child. Be a net for your child, not a leash. And that’s what I hoped I did with your mother Emily. And I hope that’s what she’s doing with you,” he said.

Emily smiled. “Yeah, that’s what she used to tell me also…”

The visions ended.

“That’s it?” I asked.

“Your legacy isn’t through your name, it is through the impact you left your children that they passed on down the line. That photo album was destroyed two weeks later in a fire that also claimed Michael’s life. That was the last group of photos that had names and places associated with them. Photos of you still existed, but no one knew who you were. For generations, your words impacted your children and their children and you helped create good people who did good things. Your name wasn’t attached to them, but your actions and behavior was,” Memory responded.

“I guess that’s what I always wanted,” I said. “Even if people didn’t remember me, I at least had a positive impact on the world.”

“Your bloodline contributed a lot of positive influence into the world. And it was all thanks to the lessons you and your wife passed onto your children. Would you like to join your family Vincent? I think it is time for you to pass from this place to the next.”

“I’m ready,” I said. “And thank you”