Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt

by Ben Reeves

Travis is Death, living next door to a midwife, Dalia, and her young daughter, Layla. In this lyrical novel, the personified Death works as a gentle guide, comforting people in their final hours. When he becomes close to Dalia and Layla, his usual detachment is challenged, forcing him to confront what it means to be alive, to love, and to lose. Through vignettes of hospital rooms, accidents, and quiet domestic moments, the story explores mortality, grief, and the fragile beauty of everyday life.