At first I didn't think heard him correctly. But the look on his face told me otherwise. I saw his mouth move but I couldn't hear the rest of what he was saying. I looked out the window behind him and felt an overwhelming urge to feel the sun's warmth. I thanked him as I reached for my purse and left the room. Out in the hallway I felt his hands grab for me but I brushed them aside and walked out the front door. I feel the warm sun on body and stood there with my face turned up toward it and starred straight into the blinding orb. Blindness is the least of my problems. As of 5 minutes ago I no longer have any problems. I found myself home but don't remember how I got there. I'm relieved that Jean is spending the night at a friends tonight. As I'm sitting here with my back against the fireplace looking out the window, bathe in sunlight I can't tell you what I'm feeling because I can't feel anything. I sat there until I could no longer see out the window. The darkness was everywhere but more palpable inside than outside. I suppose I should light the fire or at least some candles but I figured I might as well get used to the dark and cold. All at once I'm sitting inside, floating outside; I'm dancing at Stonehenge in moonlight, I'm approaching the summit at Machu Picchu. I'm galloping across in the Highlands; I'm numb, cold and 9 feet underground. I should call somebody. Hi, how are you? Me? Oh I found out today that I'm dying. But other than that everything is fine. Yea, I should call someone and reached for my phone. Hi honey. How's your night? Fine mom. We were just about to go pick up a few movie rentals. Good, well I won't keep you. I just called to say I love you. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night honey. I managed to find my way to my bedroom in the dark, crawled into bed and started a mental list of things to do. 1. Quit job 2. Draw up will 3. Liquidate retirement account 4. Take Jean on a trip around the world 5. Spend time with friends and family 6. Watch every sunrise and sunset

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No, I'm NOT dying. This was inspired by this month's writer's challenge. This is my attempt at a prophecy of sorts. In writing this and in imagining that I was really dying I realized what things were most important to me and which things werent. The reaction portrayed here may seem odd but what is the use in crying, raging and feeling sorry for oneself. No use in wasting time on something you have no control over. We're all dying. We just don't know when. So let's not focus on that but focus instead on living. I will live everyday as if it were my last. Whenever that day comes for me I don't want to be remembered with tears but with laughter. Don't mourn my passing; celebrate the life I lived. I promise you; live it - I will. Take nothing for granted. Live everyday with joy.