In the nick of time

While wearing bright colours to hide her sadness and using big sunglasses to cover up the dark circles that had formed underneath her eyes from a lack of sleep, Laila headed out the door to visit her last friend from her life before riches. The only one that didn't abandon her no matter how badly she neglected her or how badly she behaved. The only one she could trust to give her an impartial opinion and make her see things for what they were. After being sucker punched by sweet love, she could use a little of the tough love that was Maria's specialty to give her a new perspective on reality.

Laila closed the door to the big mansion behind her after she dismissed the housekeeper's suggestion to have the car drive out front. She could use a walk to clear her mind and she had the perfect weather for it. As she walked out of the front gate, she headed towards the clear and calm waters. She passed by the busy shopping streets and the playing kids before she stopped in front of the red sign. She was waiting for the sign, that stood between her and the bridge that brought her to the old part of town, to turn green, when she saw an elderly man step onto the street. The light had yet to turn and from the corner of her eye she saw a truck racing towards the man. She yelled out "Stop! Mister, watch out!". But the man simply turned to her and smiled as he took another step onto the streets. The truckdriver heard her warning and tried to break as hard as he could but they could both tell that the truck wouldn't be able to stop in time. With no one nearby, she rushed towards the man in order to try to save him herself.

Laila ran as fast as she could and with her heart beating inside her throat, she pushed her legs to cross over to that man's side before it was too late. Her hat fell to the ground and the delicate scarf from around her neck, was stolen by the wind as Laila managed to grab the man's arm in the nick of time. She pulled him away just seconds before the truck came to a halt a few inches past where the man had been standing. They both fell to the ground and as she tried to catch her breath, bystanders came to their aid. Laila looked full disbelief at what had just happened before she closed her eyes as she took deep breaths to fill her burning lungs with the air they so desperately desired. While passersby handed Laila the sunhat and scarf she had dropped during her dash for rescue, another helped the elderly man to his feet before sitting him down on a bench nearby.

After Laila dusted off her expensive dress and her hat that had fallen on the ground, she walked over to where the man was sitting. She told herself that after she had made sure he was okay, she would reprimand him for his dangerous behaviour. Laila tapped the man gently on the shoulder before asking, "Are you feeling okay mister?" The man looked up and with a gentle smile he replied, "Yes, thank you dear. Thanks to you I am still here to tell the tale."

When Laila heard these words, she let out a deep breath before a small frown came on her face as she asked, "Yes, why did you try to cross the street when the light was still red? You even looked at me and just continued on crossing the street with a truck racing towards you! If I didn't pull you away, that could have ended very badly." Again the man looked at her with a gentle smile and said, "I am sorry for scaring you like that. I am afraid I didn't have a choice in the matter as it was my fate. But thank you for caring enough about a stranger to not only save their live while risking your own safety but also caring enough to reprimand them as if they were anything but a stranger. Now I get to live another day and continue my mission out here on earth." Laila looked at the man a bit confused before she asked, "What do you mean?"

"Oh don't mind the ramblings of an old man dear." Seeing that Laila wasn't content with that answer, the man looked down for a moment before lifting his head back up. After making sure there was no one else to hear them, he said, "All I can tell you is that I have the ability to change another man's fate but not my own. So, even though I knew that I was going to die if I stepped out onto the streets, since it was my fate to die here today, there was nothing I could do about it. The only person who could change my fate for me and save my life, is a person with a pure heart and a selfless mind like your own." Laila couldn't believe what she had just heard. Changing someone's fate? Is that even possible?

Just as she was about to dismiss his words as the ramblings he had once claimed them to be, the man did something that made her wonder if he was possibly speaking the truth. How unbelievable it might be. "I know it is hard to believe but it is possible. I could even help you with your current predicament with your husband Jake. That is, if you let me." Laila's head shot towards the old man as her eyes grew wide. She hadn't told him her husband's name nor about having a predicament. So, how did he know about it before she had even told another soul?!