Friday Flash - 7 Seconds

I haven't run a #fridayflash story for some time, but I found this in my old writing files and thought it'd fit the bill. It was originally written for a competition; the challenge being to write a short story that would fit on the back of a postcard. That doesn't give you a whole lot of time... so that's exactly what the story ended up being about. Not having a whole lot of time...

They say that after decapitation, the head remains conscious for up to 7 seconds. Never thought I’d get the chance to find out. Stuck behind a lorry full of gobstoppers, in a rush to get back to Jo’s, had to risk overtaking on that blind bend. Audi coming the other way. Of course it was an Audi…

They also say that before you die, your whole life flashes before your eyes. Waiting for that now, but all I can think is damn, I’ll never get to watch series 6 of House. The DVD arrived in the post this morning. I don't even feel sad, more frustrated – like when you can’t find the end of the sellotape. Expected a bit more drama somehow...

Plenty of drama, that last row with Jo. The things we fight about! The 5 second rule… I picked that toast up in three, it was perfectly good to eat. A few cat hairs weren’t going to kill me. But I hate that the last word I said to her was “off”.

Is 4 roses cheap? All I could afford. Where are they? Over there, past the bike… past the body. Legs still twitching – so it’s not just the head. Glad I can’t see the neck, think I’d puke if I did… wonder how that’d work?

Mum says accidents happen in 3s. Banged my knee on the coffee table this morning - I can still feel the bruise - then sliced my finger, cutting rind off the bacon. I’m all about proving people right today…

That kid in a hoody, stooping to pick up Jo’s flowers! Little git, gonna give ‘em to his girlfriend… least he won’t have to pay 2 quid a rose! Me, I’m waiting on another hoody now – the world’s first. Carrying a scythe, not stealing roses…

Wonder if she’ll remember to put my ashes in a firework like we discussed? ‘Purple Rain’ at the funeral? Give my comic collection to Barnardo’s? Come on… where’s my life-flash? This can’t be all there is. Thirty-three years, there’s got to be… wait, wait – it’s coming. I can see it now… I remember! Yes! My 1st ever--

Paralysed By My Day Off

I had a day off on Tuesday, and for a moment I was paralysed. There was so much I wanted to do! Not concrete plans like a day trip to the seaside or even a film I wanted to catch at the cinema (I can't remember a time when I've been less inspired by the choice of movies on release). Some of it was just basic household chores - washing a blanket, cleaning the mildew from the porch. I knew I wanted to go for a walk as it was such a beautiful day - but where? Then there was my proofreading course, I really needed to sit down and do some more on that. Obviously there's about a million things I want to write too, not to mention all the books I have stacked up to read, a few weeks' worth of TV shows on the recorder, a bunch of CDs I haven't had time to listen to yet... the list goes on and on.

I've reached the point in my life where time seems to be speeding up and getting away from me. This hit me for another reason recently. I was looking at all the books on my bookcases, so many of which I'm keeping to read again "at a later date". Yet how often do I actually get the chance to reread old books - even firm favourites? Maybe once or twice a year. The rest of the time, I've always got something new to devour. The same goes for music. One of the reasons I force myself to compile those top ten music lists is that it makes me go back and rediscover random gems from my record collection I might otherwise forget all about.

This is all to do with growing old. When you're younger, even in your twenties, time stretches ahead of you like an endless motorway. There'll always be time to do all the things you want to do - in the future. How often do we put things off when we're young because there's always tomorrow? An infinity of tomorrows. I wrote earlier about how much time I wasted in my youth watching shit TV. I mean really shit TV. Even shitter than Knight Rider and Manimal. Not even enjoyably shit TV. Nowadays, TV shows have to have real value for me to bother with them - or else I have to be doing something else at the same time (making the tea, ironing etc.) so I don't feel like I'm squandering my time. Because it's just too valuable to waste when there's so much you want to do... and the clock's always ticking.

The ironic thing is, you only realise this as you get older. But I'm only 38, and maybe I've realised it younger than many. Time is limited, and there's so much to do. I'm going to try not to waste so much of it in future. Now if only I didn't have to waste so much of it at work...