Life Is Short (Freewrite Story)

mr-neil (60)in #freewrite • 6 years ago (edited)

Prompt: bulb provided by @mariannewest

This is the story about a man called S. I’m calling him S because he will not reveal his name.

For a long time, S was convinced that he would not make it past his 40th birthday. He had no idea how he would meet his end. There was just something within him that knew when his time was up. Because of that, he tended to live more for the present day than for the future.

It helped that he was the sort of person that naturally sniffed an opportunity. Because of that, he made good investments that made him money. He had everything that he needed.

The day of his 39th birthday arrives. What does he do now? He doesn’t know whether he needs to just carry on and enjoy himself or whether to avoid anything that could kill him.

For a few days, he was naturally a bit cautious of everything he was doing. However, he realised that he can’t really live like that. He has to go out, get food, meet friends, etc.

“I’m just going to have to live life naturally,” he thought to himself.

Nearly a year later, a few days before his 40th birthday, S is starting to wonder if this “prophecy” exists. Who actually created it? Could he make his 40th birthday after all?

11.55pm. The day before his birthday.

In five more minutes, it is his birthday. He decides, just in case, that he should spend this moment by the sea. A place of peace. It is not too cold but he makes sure he keeps himself warm. He looks at his clock. He looks at the sea.

Then, eventually, it is midnight.

He looks up to the sky.

“Yes, I made it,” said S to himself.

Then, he sees, sitting next to him, an older man.

“You forgot something,” said the man. “You did not consider different time zones.”

“You are wrong,” said S. “I was born in England and we are in England. It is Greenwich Mean Time. Therefore, you are wrong.”

“No,” said the man. “It is British Summer Time. You have an hour to go.”

“Are you trying to tell me that I will die in the next hour?” said S.

“Yes,” said the man. “......but I can offer you an alternative.”

Pause

“You are full of shit,” said S.

“Really,” replied the man. “What makes you think that?”

“Because you are not good. If you were, you would be far more subtle. I don’t trust you.”

“I have lost then,” said the man. “You are much stronger than I thought.”

The man vanishes leaving S is all alone, his whole life in front of him.

40 years later, S is sitting by the sea again like he does every year. It is 5 minutes before his birthday.

Like before, there is a man is sitting next to him, but it is one with a kind soul.

“Hello again,” said the man “Are you ready?”

“Not yet,” replied S. “I could do this forever.”

“Fair enough,” said the man, “I’ll see you again next year. Happy birthday.”

“Thank you,” replied S.

Post story waffle

I seem to have forgotten to use the prompt again in my story. But it is the prompt idea that leads to this story, which eventually writes itself. This is a story of light over dark.

I hope you enjoyed it.