Foe

by Iain Reid

That’s what time does. It ushers a return to equilibrium. Unease becomes ease. A shock, no matter how potent, always wears off with time.

I cleared my head of other thoughts. I wanted to begin again.

day? Is any of this inevitable? You hear it all the time—meant to be. Was this the one and only chance? Make it or break it? Fate, or just coincidence? Was this the one opportunity?

“There’s no way we could function if we didn’t forget the vast majority of new information we acquire throughout the day. In other words, Junior, we sleep so we can forget.”

“Most people don’t get this chance. They don’t appreciate what you are now appreciating, and that means not taking your days for granted. Enjoy the feeling.

I have lots to do around here. My time is running out. My days left are fewer. I can feel it in my bones. An urgency. There aren’t enough hours in the day anymore. There never were, but there are even fewer now. It’s sad, but also unexpectedly thrilling.

I nod. I don’t quite know what to say. But if she can understand the difficulties I went through, then she’ll feel better about things, about her sacrifice.