Would you like a chance to change something? (370 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.87 on 8 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by drogoroch (View user info) at 2006-09-05 11:07:01 EDT
Ever wanted to know what would have been? Ever sat or laid there with the thought 'If only....' or 'What if......' Spinning around in your mind? Come on now don't be shy, I know you have. Everyone has. They may not like to admit it but at some point everyone has wanted to change something they have done. Some of them are only small things that don't really make much difference but others......
Yes those other ones that's what I'm talking about, ever wandered what would happen if you could change one of them? Change one of the big ones. I know you have. I know that there have been nights when you have laid in bed all night chewing on the inside of your mouth whilst you thought about it. All night tossing and turning trying to think about other things, but it always comes back into your little mind. A whisper in your ear "What if I had...?" "If only I hadn't.........."
I can help you with that if you want. I can show you what would have been.
What? You don't believe me. I can understand why that might be, I mean who would believe a person who promised to show you what might have been? Most of your race wouldn't believe me, but you are different and you know it. You are different because you want to believe me. You want to know what life would be like without the shackles of your wife and children.
I can see you still don't truly believe me so here have a quick sample then we will talk again properly. Come here then and look at me. Look deep into my eyes we shall start with a small one. Let us see. Yes, that one will do.
What if you hadn't gone with the lads that night bowling? Watch with me.
I can see you are a bit shocked. The first time is always a bit of a ride. That was just a small one. Your decision not to go bowling didn't really have much affect. You see you have always been a follower, never the lead. The lads would still have vandalised Mr Ward's car. They would still have been caught and spent the time in the cells. The whole issue would have been resolved as it was; only you wouldn't have been a part of it. And because you were not a part of it you would have drifted away from that group. Friends that you have had all your life since that day would now be mere acquaintances. Just one small change and you no longer have those friends to chat and drink with.
Now what do you think? Do you want to look at one of the major ones? Do you want a look at the big one? The one that keeps you awake at nights? Maybe it's a bit soon for that one. Let us have a look at the job interview should we?
Don't look so surprised I know about the job interview. You went for one job but ended up being offered another lesser position. You always wondered if it was because of one of your answers. Well I can tell you that it was; you never should have mentioned your young daughter when asked about the travel. We can change that though. We will change it and give you the job you wanted.
The smile soon comes. You are just like all the others. The whiff of success and it gets you interested. You saw everything you wanted came true in that. The job saw you go on to great things. The countless affairs and the money. The recognition for work that others had done. Even the eventual break down of your marriage and the cost doesn't put you off. Sitting in front of me grinning like a Cheshire cat rolling the figures and women over in your mind.
Let us do one more before we get to the cruncher so to speak. We shall look at the accident. We will make it that you actually set off five minutes earlier that day.
I can see you smiling about that one but it isn't the same as the previous smile. This smile doesn't reach your eyes properly. Why is that? Look at your life without the accident. It is full of contentment. You are slightly better off than you are now, but that is due to the lack of debts from medical expenses and the gambling that you got into following the problems with your leg. The love of and for your wife is genuine. You have the same job, but you don't resent your family. You even get to play football with your friends at the weekends.
I can see that you want to see more. Ok, you have a choice to make my friend, although I think I can guess what your decision will be. I can show you the big if in your life. I can also put you into any of these realities. I will make it so that you are living that life.
There is, of course, a but. Always has to be a catch chap otherwise what would be the point. Don't look so worried it isn't all that bad. The thing is that you have to choose now where you want to go.
What do you mean that isn't fair? Of course it is. I have shown you two different paths so far, we ignore the little one at the beginning. I believe you liked both of them, one more than the other.
The last I will show you is the one you want to see the most. It will be your path if Kathy, your girlfriend at the time, hadn't given birth to your daughter. I have seen it and it is very different from the life you now have, and from any you have seen.
The decision is yours though. You can take either of the lives I have shown you or I can show you the life without your daughter. If you choose one of the lives I have shown already then you will not get to see the one without your daughter. If you choose to see life without your daughter then that is the life you will be left with, the others shall be gone.
Whatever you decide you shall always remember that you had this choice given to you.
What? No you don't get any more information on the last life. It is vastly different is all I will say. It's all up to you. You can of course stay as you are. I didn't mention that because I know how much you hate this one.
You have five minutes my friend; I need to be on my way.
I can feel that you have made your choice. I can't say that you have surprised me because you haven't. You have chosen the same as most people. It must be an inherent failing in you people, you are all so predictable. You can't stand not knowing. You have to peek under that one rock too far. You had the chance of being rich at the expense of others. You even had the chance of a happy contented life.
It never seems good enough.
Are you sure this is what you want? Fine, so be it. Here is your life without your daughter. May you enjoy it.
Remember this is what you chose.
What? You are wondering what the pain is. That my friend is your addiction eating away at you. It will pass when you get your next hit trust me. Why do you need a hit you ask? Well chap here it is. Here are the memories to go with your new life.
You see there Kathy crying after the abortion? You walked away from her then. Kathy never quite forgave you for forcing her to have the termination. She hit you with her car before she went home and killed herself. The note wasn't very complimentary to you was it? She blamed you for everything.
When you came out of hospital your world had changed. Friends and family avoided you, and you couldn't get work in the area. You left to find a place which didn't know you; sadly all you found was a life of petty crime and drugs.
Good bye my friend, I shall leave you with your new life. Everything you need to know about this life is in your memories, search them when you have lucid moments and you will find all the answers you seek.
We will not meet again.
User Reviews
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-09-06 08:03:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-09-05 21:22:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by goferforhire (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:54:01 (#)
Ranking: 1
agreed with the filename
Submitted by goferforhire (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:54:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
agreed with the filename
Submitted by St_Jimmy (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:50:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I liked the concept, but the execution was lacking.
The whole "Choice 1, Choice 2, or would you like to take what's behind door number 3?" was way too "Let's make a deal" for me.
Also, the abortion directly causes the wife's suicide and completely ruins the guy's life? That's a bit much, don't you think? Came off as preachy.
+0 (Worth reading)
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-05 12:47:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I like.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2006-09-05 11:51:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Nice. I'll take the blue pill.
Submitted by a_little_more_time (user info) at 2006-09-05 11:13:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Liked it. The "cautionary tale" feel to it and the daughter aspect was a bit cliched, but it was well-written and the message remains the same regardless of the form it comes in, and that is the worthier part.
Pretty good. Keep writing.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-09-05 11:09:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Good read