Tomorrow

He sits down and eyes the eager expression of his students. There were 6 of them in today’s tutorial and whilst he enjoyed the sound of his own voice lecturing to a full hall, he actually preferred the intimacy of a tutorial. Somehow, people find more comfort in voicing out their opinions if there were less people in the room. It has the illusion of safety, almost conspiratorial.
It was almost towards the end of their session and he allowed himself to divert from the thrills of constitutional law. He began:

“All of you are young. Not so under law but in society eyes you are cubs in the world. I suppose the measure of this is the fact that none of you are employed as of yet. There will come a point in your life when you will question the validity of it all. The purpose of your very existence and ultimately whether it is all worth it. I cannot and I suppose no one else can until you are at your deathbed actually give an honest answer. Until then you will plod along. Some plodding faster than others that you are actually running and some just shuffling along contentedly. Neither is bad nor are they good.

Along the way you will find people to walk or jog along with you. Choose wisely. Some might guide you to paths which are darkly lit for this I bid you to be careful. Yet most of all, believe that whoever you choose to walk with you is privileged, as you are to walk with them. Treat all you meet with respect and love but always remember that the journey is yours alone. It is wonderful if you can find a constant to lead you to the finish line wherever that may be but it is not a ‘we’ journey but a ‘you’ journey. Realise that and embrace it.”

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Doctor Reese walked into the Albany Sanitarium and went straight to Level 3. This was where they housed the ‘regulars’ whose chances of receiving a discharge is slim at best. She saw Timothy the quiet but affable orderly.

Dr Reese: How is he Tim?
Tim: Same ol, same ol. He was really animated awhile ago but now he just sits there with a smile. See for yourself Doc.

Dr Reese can only smile sadly and peer into the small glass window of room 313. She saw a man who though only 35 looked 50 reclined lazily on the chair. His eyes were focused and measured on the six empty seats around him. Then he would grin as though someone said something amusing. Her heart ache but only just a little. It’s been too long and he has forgotten her so she should too but she doesn’t have the benefit of madness, she thought bitterly. Yet it was hard to believe that it was only a few years ago when he was a man full of life and most importantly with all his marbles intact. That man is gone now and she can only think of him now and then but the pain is lessening somewhat. Maybe one day she’d be ready to let go, maybe then her life would resume. She knocked and went in the room.