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Retired, by Marjan Sierhuis

14/6/2019

 
He silences his alarm clock, suppresses a yawn, stumbles out of bed and gets dressed. He checks the time, notices he is running late, seizes hold of his briefcase, and dashes out the door. At the subway station, he deposits his ticket and waits on the platform. The train pulls in, the doors automatically open, and he advances with the crowd. He exits the next station, walks for several minutes, and then he enters a building.

His old boss greets him with a surprised look on his face. “What are you doing back here?”

Suddenly, Andrew remembers. He retired yesterday.

Krystyna
14/6/2019 07:53:27 am

I know persons who went through the exercise you vividly described, Marjan. Sad in a way, isn’t it?
Personally, I detest the word “retire” and all its derivatives. The notion of being redundant and not fitting in the heartbeat throb of mainstream society is a mentally charged setback.

Marjan Sierhuis link
14/6/2019 08:44:46 pm

Thank you Krystyna for reading and commenting on my story. The word retirement makes one confront their own mortality. A frightening thought for many.

Jim link
14/6/2019 03:58:15 pm

I'm sure for too many this is more fact than fiction (as evidenced by the previous well-written comment!). After years and years of our little routines, sometimes they are hard to break, and other times we secretly don't want to break them.
Nice little story - well done!
Jim

marjan sierhuis
14/6/2019 08:50:19 pm

Thank you Jim for taking the time to read my story and for your kind words.


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