Ah Friday. We have finally made it. I don’t know why this week felt like such a slog. But somehow it felt longer than usual. Maybe because the last of the January holidays has passed and it was actually one of the first five day weeks of the year. Actually as I had to take off for most of the 8th, it was my first week this year with five full working days. maybe that explains it. I’m sure the five day week will seem normal again the further into the year we push. But for now, I am relieved to reach Friday. So timers at the ready and let’s jump into the timed writing prompt.
I like this one. I may play around with it a bit more at lunch.
Friday, January 26th: Their options were limited.
Their options were limited. They could follow the trail where it lead, hoping to find a way out of the forest or they could stay here and starve. They had limited supplies n them, but it wouldn’t be long before they ran out. They all knew that there was no help on the way. They would only be saved if they saved themselves.
Even though there were grumbles, they took the trail. Sean wasn’t entirely certain if the grumbles were real or if they were just out of habit. This was not a group that was accustomed to not having options. He shook his head and followed along at the tail end of their party. There were several times in his life that his options were limited to two.
That which would keep him love and that which wouldn’t. He had always chosen to stay alive. It was not a part of himself that he was always proud of, but he accepted it. He tried to leave it behind and these days he usually had more than a limited set of options.
‘I could have chosen not to come,’ he thought, unable to resist his own grouching, if only inside his head. He soon set it aside though. He weighed his options and thought it was the best at the time. Without knowing how things would turn out, he knew he would have made the same choice if he were to do it again. Telling the future was not one of his talents.
As he followed after the others he thought of The Mystic Gregor. As they walked he remembered the patter Greg gave when he was in his mystic mode revealing the future to all whether he was gazing into his crystal ball, dealing the tarot cards, reading tea leaves or, for a short while reading signs in the smoke.
The smoke readings didn’t last long as Greg was asthmatic, but they had been impressive while they lasted. ‘But Greg is gone now,’ Sean thought as he followed after the others. They were all gone now. ‘And none of them could see the future any more than I can.’
Remembering this, he set aside the wish that he chose differently. Accepting the path he was on was another thing he learned to accept when his options were limited. ‘Along with making the best of that path.’
At the moment, they wanted to grouse, to complain and to start recriminations. They hadn’t started pointing fingers, but Sean knew it was coming. At the moment, he couldn’t be blamed for anything. If he could make it through the end of this trip without taking any blame then he would be fine. There would be no damage done. If he came out with any gratitude it would be a benefit.
At the moment he would minimize damage and look for the benefits when they came.
Ten til Midnight 