Listen, we have some options here...
Black Leaf is dead, and she is in denial about it.
Black Leaf is undead, and haunting us.
Black Leaf is alive, but appears dead.
Black Leaf is really the ENWORLD gnome.
Black Leaf is currently captured in the tooth of a demi-lich, not quite dead, but not alive either.
Black Leaf is possessed by the soul of a demon-lord. My votes on Orcus. Curse you Orcus, CURSE YOU!
Black Leaf is really alive, healthy, and living whereever she lives.
PS: Its "The Worms crawl in, the worms crawl out", not the ants. Clearly the shock of (near)death made you forget that.