Two people lived on a small man-made island just off the shore of the mainland. These two residents were not the only people on this island, but they lived alone. The residents were both on a schedule, both lived through their days as a series of habits, and were both looking for love (trust me. I’m an omniscient narrator). They both worked hard and found comfort in a solid routine as the foundation for a ‘good life,’ and thus were both bound by their schedules — “imprisoned” might be a better word.
A unique feature of this island is that it was a perfect circle with a sidewalk that hugged the perimeter. There were twelve equally spaced streets radiating from a where a big clock tower stood in the heart of the town. You could keep track of the time from almost anywhere on the island, as our two residents would frequently do.
You see, even time is man-made. Not the concept of time, but how we choose to restrict ourselves with it. Seconds. Hours. Years — don’t tell me nothing lasts forever. I don’t want to hear it.
Every morning these two residents would wake up at the same time, step onto the same sidewalk, turn right, and walk clockwise until they came back to where they started. Their schedules wove together like two gears — however, they lived on opposite sides of the island and always walked clockwise at the same time. What these two residents didn’t realize, and would never come to realize, is that this ordinary, scheduled walk was so precise, so routine, and so expected, that the absence of anticipation surrounding it drew about as much attention to the walk as you will give to your next breath, which is extraordinary. Extraordinarily dull.
It is still unclear to me, the omniscient narrator, whether the two residents scheduled to walk each morning, or whether they walked because the schedule told them to. Of course, the residents think to be in complete control, and that is why they stick to the schedule — the sense of order and control — but from the outside looking in, it seems as if control was simply an illusion created by the predictability of a clock.
When you do something so much, you don’t even know what you’re missing anymore; you just assume it’s not there.
Our two residents would wake up every day, go on their clockwise walk, and eventually fall asleep in the same bed they woke up in, and repeated this controlled, scheduled, living habit for so many days that the memories of the past years of this routine congealed into one solitary memory. One day, one of the residents noticed they looked older, felt older, and consequently tried to recall how that happened, but could only come to the conclusion that “time flies.” It was at this time, I, the omniscient narrator, decided this resident decided to go for a walk that morning. The same walk as always, but upon this day this resident choose to walk counterclockwise as a gesture of change, as a way to motivate this resident to start breaking the very routine that this resident had resided in for so long.
It was free. It was clear. It was new. Surely memories would be made on this day as the two residents approached each other around the bend of the man-made island. They were destined to meet. As their paths crossed, they greeted each other with a congenial smile accompanied by a neighborly “hello,” and kept on walking down the path without breaking stride, or their respective schedules. A whole history of new possibilities came into existence on that unclockwise walk, and then disappeared as simply as the path on which they walked curved out of sight around the island, and disappeared without the memory of even saying ‘goodbye.’
allmostrelevant 
But they met! And with that meeting, all possibilities became endless.
Very well written … kept me to the end. Profound.
thanks! glad you think so :)
I have not read anything quite like this in a long time. You took me to a place where presence is paramount, and where freedom can be elusive for some folks … folks who believe there is … something … noble and crucial about a “flat” life.
wow. thanks so much. I hope I can continue to take you more places, or better yet, if I’m not required at all! haha
I enjoyed your writing. My favorite line was “… you don’t even know what you’re missing anymore; you just assume it’s not there.” And I like your background art, too.
My mother taught me to vary my routine, such as a different route home now and then. You made me aware of all the mechanical ‘Hi’s we say each day. I will try to be more aware.
This is awesome to hear. great comment, and thank you for it!
I don’t like the reflex that people in general have about saying things like “Hi how are you?” and then it feels weird when you actually answer that question seriously that we assume something’s wrong with the asker, because we’re so used to ‘how are you’ being a rhetorical question etc. etc. etc…..
Reblogged this on Reason & Existenz.
Hey! I like you! You did good (very good). I can’t say much more about it. I will see you soon.
~ Victoria
I’m glad you liked it :D
Thank you for taking my suggestion with the word “goodbye” – I loved the post! Didn’t know where this was going at first – which is often the case for many of us throughout our lives, right? We start on one path thinking it is for the best and even when it becomes monotonous, destructive or lifeless, we continue. That is until there is someone who is brave enough to help us see a new way, or we ourselves can’t stand it anymore and we do a 360! A great reminder to say goodbye to whatever is not working, deviate from my norm and check out a new way!!
I’m glad you appreciated it. That’s a lovely read :)
Feel free to share ;)
Wow what an eloquent way of describing clocks, stagnation, hopelessness, and patterns!
:) thanks!
Love it! I’m even more inspired to keep on with the changes I’m daring to pursue in my own personal life and will ensure I give each change its proper due. Thank you.
I hope to write in such a way too one day.
:) Yes! keep doing what you’re doing… if changing is what you’re doing haha
This spoke to me. I guess I should probably do something different and change up my routine. The possibilities that awaits me. Who knows. Good read. Thank you
thanks so much. I’m glad you could glean something from it :)
A very nice read. I enjoyed it.
Thanks for the “Likes” and for following my blog.
Isadora
and thank you for the comment :)
I’m glad you enjoyed reading
You break a heart so completely. That is a very rare power, a gift given only to a few. You must promise yourself to take good care of it always.
I try my best. I don’t always succeed, but I try
I am only just getting to know your work, but I would say you are doing a pretty fine job.
thank you. comments like that make me shmile :]
Thank you so much for liking and following my Blog. I loved this story – I am now following you and look forward to more !
thanks so much! I’m glad you liked it. I’ll try to keep up the pace :)