The elderly man in his wheelchair, sat in silence
As he did every day for years
The apartment was small and cramped
But the nurse was patient
His life, confined, or so it seemed
But his mind raced constantly
Memories drenched his soul
And radiated just enough to keep
His heart pumping along
The sound of traffic below the window he sat by
Offered a glimpse of the raptness life brings
He remembered
Coffee, work, dinner, love
Angst
It always arose like an ugly plague
As the late afternoon sun sprayed it's rays
Across the room and onto the floor
That painful nostalgic sting came stabbing
At his heart
The pattern on the carpet
Illuminated by the rays
His wife chose it
He remembered the day
The pain grew worse as always
The window sill needed painting
He could still see the brush strokes
He made them himself
When she was still alive
Memories enshrined in those tiny grooves
He glanced to and fro
Around the room
The pressure building
She was everywhere but here now
A crescendo of a life well lived
"God Damn It!" he shouted, enraged.
The nurse came running
"What is it? What's wrong?" she asked urgently
The silence drew down upon the room, crushing
He answered, expansively
"Time"
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Works & Wonders
Short StoryWho are you, cowardly fool!? the man managed, about two pints shy of courage. The figure lay silent, shrouded amidst the naked winter trees, slowly moving its arms about with a sickening, crackling sound that entreated nausea to erupt. "Just a con...
