Wednesday, February 16, 2011

I Want to Tell You a Story

Once upon a time there was a boy who left his apartment to do his laundry. He headed down a street going East. At the same time, there was a beautiful girl who had to mail a package. She left her apartment and just happened to be going West down that same street.

As luck would have it, they were walking on the same side of the road. After a while they came within view of each other. Each noticed the other one, as people often do. As they drew closer, they both had this strange feeling that there might be something special about the other one.

It turns out that they were right. He was the 100% perfect boy for her. He was compatible in every way possible, as if he was born for her. She was also the 100% perfect girl for him in every way. The chances of having two people meet who are actually 100% perfect for each other are almost zero, but it's these special situations that stories are written about.

Soon they were twenty feet away, then ten, then five, then two, then one. As they passed both felt a surge of emotions in their stomachs, as if they were riding a roller coaster. After passing her, he felt as though he'd done something wrong. He stopped in his tracks and looked back. She had also stopped, and when their eyes met, they laughed.

A conversation was struck. It was awkward at first, but before long they spoke as if they'd been friends all their lives. An incredible connection was created. Before they knew it, hours had passed and it began to get dark. Doubt crossed their minds. "I feel weird just meeting you on the street like this. It's not normal." She nodded in sad agreement. "Here," she began, "let's go our separate ways. If it is meant to be, then fate will put us together again and we'll get married that day!" He reluctantly agreed, and they traced their paths back to their homes.

The next day, each of them was sure that they would meet that day. She spent extra time doing her makeup and hair. He put on his best clothes. Each made appointments and ran errands all day, giving fate every opportunity to cross their paths, but they didn't see each other. The rest of the week followed in a similar manner, but they didn't meet. A month passed. After a year passed, they rarely thought of each other. Before they knew it they had each given up hope and over the years they dated other people who were 25%, 50%, or maybe even as high as 72% perfect for them, but never that perfect match they could have had.

Both of them got married eventually, had children, and completely forgot about the other. Many years passed, and their respective spouses died. One year a particularly hard flu went around, and he caught it. He was in the hospital recovering one day when he decided to go for a walk. He left his room and pushed his IV down the hallway as he walked to the East. Just then he saw a woman approaching from the West.

It was the girl he had met so many years before, but he didn't recognize her. They again came closer and closer, just as they had that one day, and each felt a stirring in their chest, but couldn't understand why. Again they passed, but this time they didn't look back. It was the last time they ever saw one another.

Sad story? I don't think so.

Just comes to show that once fate gives you what you want, you can't just push it away and assume you'll get it again. Fate gives us amazing opportunities and when it does, you have to take advantage of them.

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