Marcus told himself to do, say, and think each thing as if it could be his last, not out of dread, but to strip away the pettiness and live fully. Memento mori, remember you will die, sounds grim until you sit with it. Then it does the opposite of frightening. It clears the clutter. The grudge looks small. The unsaid kind word suddenly feels urgent. Knowing your time is limited is what makes any of it precious. You don't need to think about death all day. Just often enough to stop sleepwalking, to call the person back, to not save your best living for a someday that isn't promised.

Inspired by the old idea of memento mori. Written by Ugo Charles.