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Young man...in a hurry

The young man was in a hurry, he had things to do and despite his bosses' sloth like approach to their work he knew he wouldn't be there long any how as he had stuff he was going to move on to. He left the office focused on the end of the week and how the accounts could be squared for that quarters monthly figure meeting so he could position him self for an impressive conference presentation at the beginning of the coming year and hopefully impress the partners who would feel they had no choice but to offer him a partnership..when they sat to decide this next..year?

He left the office his steps ringing out on the pavement. As always he headed down market street, pushing past the irritatingly slow locals who seemed to just meander always meander as he tried to get home, ahead he saw the back of a grey haired fellow. he was focused, oblivious to the unusually large sun hanging in the darkening setting sky, the birds were singing already, and the evening air was crisp and fresh..but he wasn't thinking of these minor things, the young man was focused..he needed to get home, he needed to get ready for tomorrow. Ahead an old man with greying hair some 100 meters away was making his way slowly..usually the young man would scoot between the fools in front of him with mild irritation without focussing on them at all but this evening ….for some reason the man ….came to his attention..the old man turns and gives him a glance...

...'silly old fuck' he thought, he's right in the middle of the pavement..why doesn't he get aside, surly he knows he's holding everyone up.

the young man quickened his step but the old codger stayed irritatingly in front of him. he appeared to be moving faster than at first he thought and despite his best efforts and despite his broken frame twisted back and stick the young man couldn't make ground on him. the road swung left and the old man appeared to stumble as he disappeared around the corner... young man prepared himself to walk straight into him as he fumble to get up

..'irritating fool'.. but as he rounded the corner ...he was gone..strange he thought as he walked on home..it quickly disappeared from his mind.

the next evening THE SAME THING. beautiful flakes of snow falling in the evening air..the young man OBLIVIOUS, the next day the same, SAME OLD MAN, same irritating distance between them.

THE YEARS THEY PASS LIKE RABBITS

.. OLD MAN looks behind him to see a young man following hurrying purposefully with a frown on his face. 'I'm sure he was there yesterday..and the day before for that matter'...nodoubt a city type unaware that life is for the beauty not the end.

...same again the next day.

Then one day the man feels pain in his chest staggers to the ground, falls to the side street. looks up to see HIMSELF..only as he once was, a young man, scurry past, oblivious to himself now an old man lying dying by the road..

'if only i'd slowed down' he thought

and then he's gone.

the young man hurries on..but then ..he's got tomorrow to think about.

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