The last sunset

As I sat there, atop the little hill in the park by my home, I waited for The sun to wake up. I wanted to admire the beauty of it for one last time. I've always loved watching the sunset but today was extra special as it would be the last sunset I would ever see. Perhaps heaven had sunsets ? Perhaps hell did ? regardless of where I would end up I would hope they have sunsets. Today was the last day of my life. I had 24 hours left to live. I guess I can count myself lucky that today is the summer solstice , the longest day of the year so it made me feel as if I would perhaps have more minutes enjoy, more time to do all the things I wanted to do, but here I was sitting on a hill waiting on the sun. A long time ago, I encountered an old ancient man on this very hill. We struck up a conversation and he told me he was a wish granter, a wizard of some sort with mystical magical powers. Of course I laughed it off but did enjoy his company and listening to his absolutely ridiculous stories about potions and spells and the craziest wishes he’s granted. He told Me that even though to Grant people’s wishes, he will come back, at any moment to claim your life, people were so greedy that they still accepted the wish without thinking through the consequences. I thought to myself “ this guy is insane… but entertaining”. Before we parted that day he turned to me and asked “ what do you desire most ? What do you wish for more then anything else ?” I had never really thought of it. I was a simple man who was content with very few luxuries and not accustomed to having much so with a giggle I said “ well… I am a loner and do not need much but if I could ask for anything, I would love to have one more day with my precious cat who passed away years ago. He was my very beat friend and the only thing that brought me absolute joy.” The old man asked “ would you trade your life for your wish to come true, not today and not tomorrow but at any point I need your would, I will come back for it and you will have no choice but to repay your debt” while he was rambling, all I could think was of my cute little grey cat whom I missed so much and how I would love to have one more day to feel him curled up on my lap, purring away. So of course I figured “ yeah sure buddy, whatever,“. He smiled and walked away. “Man that was weird” I thought to myself as I started to return home. I reached my home looking forward to the leftover pasta in had waiting for me in the fridge and to then curl up with a good book. I opened the front door and almost passed out. Right there, sitting on our usual chair, right in the sun spot, was my beloved dead cat… well he wasn’t dead at the moment… he was actually very alive. Purring and stretching And looking up at me with his cute little nose. I could not believe my eyes. How was this possible ? What the heck ? And it dawned on me “ holy crap the old dude… he really granted me a wish”. I was trying to make sense of it all and approached my cat slowly thinking “ hopefully this is not a pet cemetery type situation” but it wasn’t. He wasn’t a demon cat. He was my little fluff ball just as I remembered him. I spent the entire day just petting him and taking selfie’s with him. I fed him all his favorite foods and could not quite fathom what was happening but made the best of every moment. This was the best day of my life. I curled up in bed with my kitten purring beside me later then usual to enjoy this day as long as I could. And I couldn’t wait to wake up to him licking my nose. But morning came… and no one was licking my nose when I opened my eyes. I searched the room with my half asleep eyes and…no fluffball. Maybe he went downstairs to his usual spot…no fluffball. I suddenly had a flash, I wished for one more day with my beloved cat, dammit, my wish was over. did he really take the “one day” literally. I mean it’s an expression. I wanted more then a day. I felt gipped. And then a thought came to me that made my knees buckle. “Wait, did I just sell my soul for this wish ? Is that old crazy man really gonna come for me ? No !!! He doesn’t even know where I live.” I found myself trying to convince myself But was also overcome with a little fear. If the dude was able to bring back your dead cat, I think he can figure out where you live. But I wasn’t ready to face that. I lived in fear for awhile but over the years that fear subsided and I assumed maybe he forgot about me. Maybe my wish was so ridiculous that he wouldn’t cash in on payment. Fast forward 23 years… this morning, I woke up, and went downstairs to brew myself my usual latte which I would sip while sitting on the porch and watching the sunrise. That funny, there is a note by the coffee machine. I notice the calligraphy of the note seems to have been written by a poet in the 15th century. I picked up up, confused as to why it was even there, and read The short sentence written in beautiful handwriting. “ Today will be the last day of your life, time to make your payment. Enjoy it to the fullest”. The creepiest note I’ve ever received written so beautifully I mean if you’re gonna leave a note that eerie it should be written in blood or with some horrible scary handwriting. How you gonna write something like that in such beautiful lettering. My heart sank. It all started to make sense now. After all these years this was really finally gonna happen. I was not prepared for this. I had 23 years to prepare But I never took this whole thing seriouslyAnd….how you gonna collect payment of a soul after 2 decades. Isn’t there an expiry date on soul snatching ? . I had done nothing of the things I wanted to do before I die. Well this sucked. I grabbed my coffee and headed to the hill where I first met the creepy wizard dude. The same spot I had Been so many times afterwards to watch the sunrise. It was chilly for June but I didn’t even care to bring a sweater. I had bigger things to worry about. When I arrived there I just sat. Sat and sipped my coffee reflecting on this whole crazy situation. On all I wish I would have done. Who I wish I would’ve contacted or reached out to one last time. What books I would’ve read. What places I would’ve visited. What foods I would have eaten. Who would I have told I loved one last time. Before I knew it I had been there a few hours of my very last few. I felt a presence. Someone was walking towards me. “No freaking way !!!” I jumped up to greet the old man. I must’ve said a million things to him in a few seconds asking him why ? How its gonna happen ? Can I stop it ? I’m not ready ? He just smiled And listened. Then I got angry “ look you’re about to take my soul and you’re just gonna stand there and smile while I’m having a breakdown ? Please answer me. Do something. “ still he smiled and stared. I then quieted down realizing there was no negotiating. And I accepted my faith. He sat there with me. For the rest of the day, the rest of my last day. i told him about all the things I wished I had done. But funny enough I did not get up to do any Of them at that moment. I should have more regrets. I should be wanting to do a million things right now. Why am i here drinking latte with an old creepy witch man ? Well I mean, I did live a good life. I mean I was always kind and generous to everyone. People liked me. I did the little things I loved although they may not have been lavish, they made me happy. I always told my loved ones how much I cared for them. I called my mother everyday. I always checked in on Mister Huckenberg down the street to make sure he was ok or see if he needed anything. I enjoyed the morning sunsets almost every morning. I read some pretty good books. I had some pretty good meals. I helped where I could and I served my community best I could. Could I have done more ? Should I have done more ?why don’t I know how to spend my last day ? I should have a million things I want to do. But I don’t. The old man didn’t speak much. He did listen a lot though. When he finally spoke he said “ you had all these years to do things you love, to tell the important people in your life how you feel about them, to reach out to people you hadnt spoken to and remind them that you care. to do read the books and eat the food and visit the places And now you have regrets. Some people don’t get 23 years. From one day to the next they get their “note”. Your life should be spent doing what you love, serving your community, telling people how much you care, eating your favorite foods and and reading your favorite books And visiting the places you want to see. people should spend their lives living like this because no one knows when their last day will be. tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone. some people waste their lives or live hastily not focusing on what’s really important and then face death with regrets. How amazing would it be if we lived a life in a way that we would have none of these regrets when we die ? But we don’t. Our lives are focused on what seems to be important for a luxurious life in the moment but none of that matter when you die. If everyone though of what regrets they would have if today was their last day and write those down on a paper, I am positive none of those papers would say. “ I wish I worked more, I wish I bought that sports car. I wish I had saved more money.I wish I had gained more social media followers. I wish I lost those last 10 pounds that I obsessed over for years. No. Everyone would have the same thoughts as you just did. But if we lived our lives with that list of regrets in mind and made sure that everyday we did something on that list then we would die with no regrets. And we would value life while we have it. Not trading it in for a wish for one more day with a cat, or to be rich What does your regret list look like ? Have you not lived the life you wanted ? And if you didn’t well why didn’t you ? What regret do you have that you did not accomplish? I said to him “ I feel like I should have regrets and things I want to run and do but …” I didn’t know what to say. “ Let me ask you old man…: what would your wish be ? I mean if you got one, what would it be ? the old man looked at me sincerely and said “ my only wish is that someday I meet someone who refuses my wish. Whose life is so full of love and without regrets that he would not want for anything. As everything he needs would already be in his life. Love, friends, peace, kindness and gratefulness For what was had, and what is no longer. That is my wish”. i Understood exactly what he meant. And suddenly I felt at peace. We sat there quietly for the rest of the day and evening. Until sunset. The sunset was beautiful. More beautiful then usual. Maybe because I was seeing it with different eyes or a different perspective. But it was beautiful. The old man stayed with me until the sun set. He put his arm on my shoulder in those last minutes. It was comforting. It was peaceful. Everything was beautiful. And in those last moments before my eyes shut for the last time, seeing the last rays of sunshine go down and the darkness come up, I was grateful. More grateful in this moment then I had ever been. For the clarity that my last day had brought me. For the life I had lived and the death that made me appreciate it.