Gorgeous use of layout, the physical structure of your piece is beautiful, I like it. I’ve tried to point this type of formatting to others, I’ll use this as an example.

This is really great format. I love the ending and how you rephrase that being buried alive is your actual fear instead. The slow motion was the cherry on top!
Super great, but “realize” is spelled wrong at the very end, haha other than that it is good!!

32 squared spoke true of the formatting. It’s verticality patiently guides the viewers eyes down the page, and the interspersion of bold and italic typeface adds a further layer to the experience.

My only real issue is with the intended interpretation. Is it a primarily serious work, or is the gravity of the main body only there to contrast the humor at the end?
On that thought, was the end supposed to humorous, or rather truly sincere?

There are some philosophical inconsistencies that appear, but I don’t know that it’s necessary to address them unless you are purposely seeking to create a character with consistent philosophical views.

@memento:
I’m glad you – as well as 32 Squared – enjoyed this story’s structural layout. As for what you said about the interpretation of it, this is the way I thought of it when I was writing it:
The protagonist (the old man) has that passing thought about death, and begins a slightly rambling, inconsistent diatribe on his thoughts on death, which leads to him beginning to confront his deepest fears. His last thought on the subject is the last paragraph of the story, where he realises that the concept of being buried alive encapsulates everything he fears about the concept of dying and death. So, that last bit is meant to be a sincerely terrified sudden thought he has, which he begins to ponder as the story tails off and – for the most part – ends.
(Or, you could go for the interpretation that that last thought gives him a heart attack and kills him, which is why the story ends so suddenly. But that interpretation isn’t what I intended to go for…)
=P

@Keane— Thanks for the clarification.

Ya’ll are too much, the story iS funny and I thought it was the second interpretation