Hey everyone this is the essay I wrote for an essay comp. just thought i'd share it, since it has something to do with TIME, and i did post something before about TIME. Kinda long, hope you all can enjoy it =) ta.

            'Just  a  little  more…'  The  thought  went  through  a  young  man,  in  late  twenties,  as  he  fled  through  darkness  with  only  one  objective…  Survival.  Was  there  enough  time?  Will  there  be  a  greener  side  at  that  other  far  end?  'It's  too  late  now,  all  I've  got  to  do  is  run'  'Tomorrow  will  be  a  better  day,  a  whole  new  beginning  awaits'.  'Should  I  turn  back?  Should  I  stop  running  and  end  this  once  and  for  all?  No,  it's  too  late  now  I've  got  to  keep  on  striving'. 

 

            Looking  to  his  back  he  saw  'them'  gaining  on  him.  He  felt  the  sting  on  his feet  and  the cold  sweat  weighing  down  through  his  clothes.  He  was  overwhelmed  by  exhaustion  yet  he  gave  no  sign  of  slowing  down. Then  it  happened,  like  a  flash  of  lightning,  eyes  opened  in  the  same  darkness.  

           

            Marco's  eyes  searched  the  room  frantically.  Full  of  fear,  he  awoke  in  pitch  black  darkness.  'How  long  will  I   live  like  this?  How  long?'.  Just  what  is  it  that  has  made  Marco  dream  like  he does  every  single  night?  Having  the  same  false  hope  every  night  that  there  would  be  a  better  tomorrow,  only  to  find  out  the  next  day  that  it  was  just  like  any  other day.  Still,  life  went  on,  Marco  turned  on  the  lights  and  went  to  the  bathroom,  rinsing  his  face  with  the  cool  water.  He  could hear  his  heart  thumping  like  horses  galloping  through  race  tracks.

            Knocks  on  the  door.  That  never  failed  to  happen.  Mrs.  Thurston  always  sent  in  breakfast,  no  relations  to  Marco  whatsoever.  'Just  a  friendly  neighbour  perhaps?  Or  someone  taking  pity  on  me,  a  wretched  soul?  Doesn't matter,  her  smile  brought  more  comfort  than  the  nightly  sleeping  pills'  Marco  bid  her  goodbye  with  a  fake  smile  and  went  on  with  his  breakfast.  Same  everyday,  yet  satisfying.  Being an  ex-convict  wasn't  something  normal,  not  something  seen  in  the  busy  marketplace  everyday,  especially  one  who  was  sentenced  for  20  years imprisonment  for  a  crime  one  did  not  commit.  Thank  God  for  parole.  Sure  he  had  records  of  criminal  activities,  robbery,  fights,  and  things  like  that,  but  murder?  No,  he  would  have  never  thought  of  that.  Just  because  of  his  bad reputation,  and  the  coincidence  of  being  at  the  wrong  place  at  the  wrong  time,  he was  punished.  Living  life  everyday,  wishing  to  turn  back  time…  Turn  it  back  just a  little  to  undo  the  wrong  things  that  he  had  done,  to  gain  honour  and  reputation, to  find  favour  in  the  eyes  of  God.  Good  thing  there  was  a  friend,  a  close  one,  who  listened  to  him  whenever  he  needed  to  speak  his  mind,  who  gave  him  his  shoulders  whenever  he  needed  to  cry.  Always  the  same  old thing,  turning  back time,  undoing  all  that  were  done,  just  for  one  reason,  to  have  his  family  accept him with  open  arms  again.

 

            The  phone  rang,  Marco  picked  it  up,  a  friend  called,  something  was peculiar  about  it  this  time,  calling  him  out  for  a  drink?  At  this  time  of  day?  Odd…  but  still  out  of  obligation,  he  gave  in  to  the  invitation  and  dressed  up. Marco  walked  into  the  bar  and  searched  for  his  companion,  Andy,  and  sat  down   with  him.  

            "So  how  have  you  been?"  Andy  popped  the  question.  

            "Still  the  same, living  life  everyday  like  a  loafer,  still  can't  get  over  the  past,  and  it's  eating  me from  the  inside,  literally," answered Marco.

            "What  do  you  intend  to  do  about  it?",  Andy  asked  again.  

            "You  here  to  drink,  or  to  interrogate  me  huh?"  came  the  harsh  reply  of Marco.  

 

            Andy  did  not  blame  him,  it  was  hard  for  Marco  to  face  all  that  he  was  going  through  then,  but  Andy  thought  it  was  time  for  Marco  to  move  on,  Marco was  a  bright  man,  a  really  bright  man.  Andy  grew  tired  of  paying  for  Marco's  expenses,  knowing  that  if  Marco  did  not  move  on,  it  was  going  to  continue  for  the  rest  of  Marco's  life,  and  it  could  kill  him.  

            "I  am  worried  about  you,  you  know,  it's  time  to  move  on,  why  mourn  and  weep  for  something  that  cannot  be  undone?"  urged  Andy.  

            "What  can  be  done?  This  is  all  that's  left  of  me  now." Replied  Marco.   "Let  go  of  the  past,  look  to  what's  ahead,  you  never  know  what's  in  store  for  you  in  the  future  unless  you  let  go  of  the  past"  Andy  sounded  as  though  he  was  mad  at  Marco,  of course,   he  wasn't,  he  just  wanted  the  best  for  his  friend.         "I'm  out  of  here,  see you  tonight."  Without  hesitation  Marco  left  the s cene,  leaving  Andy  in  his  concern.

 

            Marco  sped  all  the  way  home,  running  into  his  house  and  locked  the  doors.  He  crouched  at  a  corner  with  tears  rolling  down  his  cheeks.  Uncontrollable!  He was  broken,  and  felt  as  though  the  world  owed  him,  as  though  he  was  forsaken by  the  One  who  created  everything  in  this  universe...  An  hour  of  weeping  and Marco  had  finally  come  to  his  senses,  'Andy  was  right…  I  cannot  live  on  like this,  I've  got  to  set  things  right!  Time  waits  for  no  man.'  

 

            He  realized   that  he  could  not  undo  the  wrong  things  he  had  done,  but  what  he  could  do,  was  to  make  up  for  all  that  had  happened.  Marco  decided  to  write  a  book  entitled  "Living  Your  Life  Right".  He  wanted  young  people  read  it,  and  realize  that  regret  has  no  place.  

           

            Marco  had  become  a  changed  man,  ever  since  he  started  writing  the  book.  Looking  out  from  his  window  he saw,  Mrs.  Thurston  standing  by  the  window,  smiling  and  waving  at  him,  as  though  she  knew  what  was  on  his mind,  as  though  she  knew  his  pains,  ‘time waits  for  no  man  nor  will  it  for  anyone  who  wants  to  turn  back  the  clock.’ 

 

            How  true, Marco  thought.  Looking  out  his  window  he  waved  at  Mrs.  Thurston,  and smiled. This  time,  it  was  real.