Promptly Promting

3005

A time I can't seem to remember, so long before my own. I hear a faint beat of drums in the background, followed by a soft voice. The melody almost reminds me of a lullaby.

I close my eyes and enter a dreamscape, watching as old memories pass by.

Tears run down my face, mourning the past. What could have happened differently? If I had changed my sentence, even by just a word, would you still be here? Would any of us be here?

A picture of my first year in college flys past, including old friends. Laughs and cheers can be heard around me as I reminisce in those voices I remember so vividly.

I see my wife walking down the isle in her beautiful silk gown. I remember my vows word for word, and repeat them with myself as they play. It's almost like a broken record.

Next a few shots of firsts, his first time walking, talking, going to school, graduating, getting married.

I sat my retirement form on my bosses desk, and left my last day of work. Slowly I begin to hear the soft drums.

Birthdays continue, grandchildren appear on occasion, family reunions ensue.

All the while the drums and that voice get louder.

Soon enough, I say goodnight to my wife, just as I would any other night. I turn on the television, watching a soap opera that happened to be on.

The voice, the drums, everything comes rushing back to me.

I watch as my family gathers, organs play, prayers are spoken.

And I slowly put my hand on my wife's shoulder, letting out the soft hum of a soap opera I once heard.