Here we are again.

I shook my head and again surveyed the blank space before me, an infinite white plane obscured by a thick wall of fog. I sat on the wide black line, alone, and again inspected the choices.

To my left, perhaps ten feet away, I saw a field of grass, a flowery meadow surrounding a tree. Under that tree sat a crying child.

To my right, the same distance away, I saw a field of bones, a yard of skulls surrounding a fire pit. In that fire pit screamed the one who chose before me.

The symmetry. I couldn't escape it. Life and death were balanced here, and it was hard to keep from mirroring this court.

Yes. The court. I looked up again, and I saw the Judge.

"You stall." He growled. "I have waited a century already, and I'll not wait a decade more. I have seen that you are good, yet I have seen that you are evil, and so your fate is your own choice."

I glared at him, at that arrogant young man in his robe, at his desk, with his gavel. "I am sorry, your Honor, but I have yet to see a choice in this matter. To be reborn and lose all memory would destroy the man I am now just as surely as would choosing death."

He scoffed. "It is not so."

"Ah, but it is." I bowed. "Fear not. My decision is made."

I started walking, not for either side, but for the Judge.

He sneered at me. "Then go to your side and be done with it."

I shook my head. "My decision is that I won't humor you. Damn you and damn your false choices."

He lifted his gavel as I reached the desk. "Then I sentence you to-"

I grabbed the gavel from him and snapped it in two. Lifting the old man by his robe, I shoved him towards the skulls and the flame.

"My fate is my own, and to Hell with your judgement." I watched solemnly as he disappeared into the flame.

I sat down and looked in the desk.

A robe, in my size, and a gavel.