Out of Time

There was a young hard working man once upon a time. Who in spite of the hardship of life, he never for once gave up trying to make a honest living.

Determined to succeed, he worked day and night. He made a life for himself, proud that the calluses on his palm were the result of his struggles for better days.

There was food on the table enough for extra mouths, enough notes and coins to spend but with nobody to share. Nobody to keep him warm after the life he'd made. The bed was cold, the house was empty.

One day he walked down the street feeling lonely and sad when a woman brushed past him. Her lavender scent tickled his nose.

He turned and found love in a cotton dress the colour of peach which danced in the wind. She was the most beautiful thing the young man had ever seen, sent down straight from heaven.

He prayed for courage before he walked up to her. He tipped his hat and introduced himself. Told her that he loves her and he studied her reaction. And by the time the flowers bloomed, his house was full of life.

He vowed to give her everything she ever needed and even more. Promised to fetch her the sun and moon but then winter days arrived. There was not enough water to quench their thirst.

***

Her sad eyes drove him nuts. Again he worked day and night, fingers to the bones. Guilty conscience drives him on. He struggled all his life to be an honest man. He wants to give her what he thinks she wants and give her cheeks some rosiness. But then came his old buddies back from the days.

Said they had big plans, plans of becoming rich real quick and they could count him in if he wants the same. He thought about the beautiful smile that hasn't graced his beloved face in recent times and accepted their offer without scruples.

Dreamt of the comfort that would come at the end. He decided to take the bull by the horns. Took the biggest risk of all to prove his loyalty to his buddies.

He told his wife he'd set his clock right this time around, things would turn around for the better again. He didn't think to wish for luck for his task would take just a few minutes but then he was out of time.

It made no difference if he was early or late when the trigger had been pulled. He can't give her what she needs, he can't see his beloved again because he's now six feet underground with a decaying heart full of regrets.

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