What is death? A reminder of non-existence? A view on the dust into which we’ll transform? The realisation that, in our struggle against earth and sky, against the stars, we defeat dead matter only to return to it? Yes. And also the knowledge of the fact that the respiration of proteins in our bodies that gives rise to music and pleasure will turn into something rotten? Yes!
But at the same time, death turns priceless every second, every breath; it is an order for us to collect all our strength so that we can achieve as much as possible in order to give it to the next generations; it reminds us of the responsibility for each action, since something done cannot be changed or forgotten in the short period of one person’s life. Death teaches us to love life, to love other people, mortals like us, full of fear and bravery like us, in angst trying to prolong their physical existence and building from love a future they’ll never see.
For the sake of immortality, humanity would have to say goodbye to its most precious possession: memory. What brain can grasp the great expanse of memories born from infinity? It would have to have the detached wisdom and cold calmness of the gods in which the ancients believed. But what madman would want to be a god when he can be a human instead? Who’d want to live forever if his death can give life to others, as the death of the astronavigator Songgram?
I don’t want to live forever. Each beat of my heart proclaims life and that’s why I tell you: I won’t let you take away my death!