Facets of Impermanence

The Change


“ What has this change done to me? What have I done?” he thought to himself. Happy days seemed near. Yet, now it has never been further away.

Karl had everything in his life. Absolutely everything. He had a wonderful family and lived a simple life. Deep in his heart, however, he had wistful desires. He wanted something more. He wanted fame and fortune. He did not want to live a simple life any longer. He wanted his family to live the high life. He wanted every single one of his loved ones to have an easy life, or so he thought…

“And the winner is…Karl!” resonated throughout the hall. Karl was the new American Idol! He had acquired the fame and fortune he had always wanted. Now his family could live a life they could only previously dream of- the high life.

Women began flinging themselves on him. He had become a man every single woman would die for. Unable to overcome the strength of Temptation, he soon found Promiscuity in his bed everyday. He embarked not only the high life but also a promiscuous one. A life he once despised! What seemed to be love for his family at first now brought him to a life solely centred on the material world.

He spent every night out with a different woman. He no longer returned home, ironically neglecting his family. He never knew what happened at home. He never knew his wife would be waiting for him to return home every night. She sat like Patience on a monument, smiling at Grief.

Even her illness, he did not learn of.

Paradoxically, only after she had left the world did he notice her presence again. Even so, he did not even shed a tear at her funeral. He did not feel anything until her last words reached him on paper.

He opened it and read on:

“ I do not ask for money or anything else from you. I need nothing from you, except your love. I just want you to be happy. For your happiness is mine. All I want is for you to live your life the way you want to. I will not become your burden nor will I tarnish your name. For I know what you have now means more than what I ever will be. I just wish I could see you smile again, feel the warmth of your hug once more and have your lips touch mine. But I know I will never get it. I just want you to know, I love you, more than what money means to me…Your wife, forever.”

Closing the letter, he wept bitterly. He realised his folly, yet now he was powerless to do anything. All the fame and fortune in the world could not and would not be able to revive his beloved wife. He thought his wife would always be there. He took his wife’s existence for granted. Now that she was gone, he would never be able to say the words he had always wanted to,

“Phoebe, I love you. Please forgive me.”

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This is a story i've written a year and a half back. The last sentence is probably the most important sentence I've written. I hoped you enjoyed the story.