The Elderly Man
Alone But Happy
Tick-tock, tick-tock, The antique clock on the mantelpiece.
The old man decides to switch off the television and sit for a while with only the sound of the tick-tock from the mantelpiece.
No sound of traffic passing by. His cottage is isolated and old like him. Yet that was his choice. When his dear wife died, he could have moved closer to town. Have neighbours, nearby, maybe with children and dogs and lorries and cars going by. Loud music may have been coming from anothers´home. All the normal noises of modern day life.
No. The noises of modern day life would not suit him now..., Not for him, . He preferred the peace and warmth of his little old home. Too many years of happiness were in the walls surrounding him. He could not leave. He would manage.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, What a wonderful rhythmic, peaceful sound, thought the old man.
His mind drifted back to the years with his wife, when they were young, Then, gradually as they grew older, right up to when they became elderly.. Their love had been strong.
Maybe if they´d had children? No, ´´maybe´´ is pointless. It is what it is. He loved his wife and she had loved him. They´d been happy. Tick-tock tick-tock................
The old man leaned back in his favourite chair, resting his head against one special cushion. His wife had made it and embroidered every stitch with love,. The words ´´Together Forever.´´.
He closed his eyes and could see her sweet face, realising he could so easily drift into sleep, but this is a man whose life had been filled with self discipline and order. No, he would not fall asleep, it´s after midnight, he ´d get to his bed for the night. Tick-tock tick-tock............
He leans on his walking stick to help him rise up from his favourite chair. Tick-tock, tick-tock.
One small, wrong-footing is all that it takes, he slips to the floor, knocking his head against the marble hearth, beneath the beautiful mantelpiece, where the antique clock had lived for so long and kept going on....Tick-tock, tick-tock..
He lays there and drifts to a world full of dreams. He see his wife coming towards him.
Her arms are outstretched, open so wide to greet him.
Meanwhile a small trickle of blood slides down the corner of his mouth. Tick-tock, tick-tock.
How long before anyone finds him? Tick tock, tick tock...........................
