Through the Looking Glass

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There he sat on a bench in the park, staring intently at nothing in particular. A bottle of chapman and a hotdog lay on the bench beside him but he wasn't too interested in eating. This was a time of reflection and thinking rather than recreation. He always loved to come here whenever he was tired and frustrated. This had been his favourite park as a child, growing up in this little town and even now that he was grown, he still loved the park. He especially loved the fact that not much had changed about the park. He knew the park inside out and could map it out with no qualms, pretty sure he knew every inch of the place.

This bench he was seated on was his favourite bench as well. Not only because it gave him a wonderful view but also because it was here he had met his wife for the first time. Ah yes, Shannon, his wife. She was actually one of the reasons he came here often. Of course, she was a loving woman but at times she was too demanding. At times like that, perhaps after an argument, he would come here as this was his place of solace to escape from her nuisance. He would sit and reminisce about how they had first met. The memory was evergreen. He'd been sitting on the bench that day years ago trying to complete an assignment given to him by a lecturer in his university. One way or the other, she had helped him out. Being his senior in school, she soon started tutoring him in some subjects and gradually, love had sprung between them. The memory always made him go home, loving her even more.

Through his glasses, he watched a child rolling on the ground, laughing and it reminded him of himself.

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He could vividly see himself jumping around and rolling on the ground right at the same spot. His mum would caution him to make sure he didn't get his clothes dirty but oblivious to what she went through to do his dirty laundry, he would keep playing till he got dirty.He also used to play ball with other kids here but whenver he was alone, he would wander into the bushes around, chasing one animal or the other and climbing trees. It had been fun and at times he wished he could still do such. But at the age of 46 now, he doubted he had to strength for all that.

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Now he couldn't play away his day. He had responsibilities to take care of and a lot of people counting on him; his wife, kids, friends and family. He could remember how he had been wishing to grow old and be independent while he was young. But now he was old, he would give anything to go back to being young, wild and free, without a worry or care in the world. But he could never go back. Life, after all, is all about stages, phases and growth. Growth is the spice of life and what gives life meaning. He understood that. Through with his reflection for the day, he stood up, his hands in his pocket, ready to face life again.

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_{Where there is darkness, I'll shine the light.}