The Final battle

He had beat it twice before

But even he knew this time

The battle was over

The visit to the hospital just confirmed it

Six months

Just in time for his forty third birthday

He never measured life in years

But he had packed a lot in

The scars on his body reminded him most days

He had also inflicted scars on others

He walked up to the beach head

His favourite spot growing up

It always felt like home

Hearing his mother telling him

Never go close to the edge

It’s a hundred foot drop to the beach

He laughed to himself

He lived on the edge

The tide was coming in

Soon the sea would crash against the rocks

That great insurmountable force of nature

Never changing, never asking why

Forty two was a good age

The sea was crashing against the rocks

It was a good age.

Reviews

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

This hauntingly brings a sense of peace to a couple concepts I admittedly fear... getting older (though I don't consider 42 old), I mean the stages of age where I can no longer be independent. Also, the courage it takes to just let go... it seems like a desperate act to most, but I see a measure of courage that I know I don't have.

[Paul Bell]

I don't think you're alone in that.

[KarinaNovakMonsonego]

Although it seems like the last line is obvious I feel the fight and turmoil within that person. I know someone i am hoping won't take that road becouse the older I get , the more I see, for someone any age is just too yoing...

[Paul Bell]

Yeah. I suppose life can never really be measured in age.

[barleygirl]

While the age of 43 is what makes your story much more haunting & sad, I lived near an 80-something guy for several years in my 30's . . . we hiked together often . . . he hated how his body was so wasted. One day he just walked right into the Pacific Ocean, intentionally off a cliff & that was that. I totally understood & someday I'll get to that story too! *wink! wink!* You add so many surprising details that make these vignettes very thought-provoking! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Paul Bell]

I can see that.
When you can't do the things you used to do, the pride goes.

[gram linski]

Today is a good day to die, carp deim dude, live and let fly and keep writing by sea and sand, good writing

[Paul Bell]

Today is always a good day to go.

[Stella Armour]

Do you just give in and take the pain, and let those who love you remember you as a wasted body in pain hooked up to drips or do you jump?
if i was brave enough i would jump... but who knows unless they have that choice ?

[Paul Bell]

I think because he'd only known war the choice was easy for him.

[Stella Armour]

A very brave man in more ways than one ...

[john l smith]

I feel, if he jumped, he again displayed excessive courage
I suppose, in a sense, age is relative and the end result, at whatever age, brings about the same unfortunate result

[Paul Bell]

Yeah, favourite spot and the right time.

[Onlyme]

A battler and a fighter all his life. To suddenly give in at the end. How tragic and sad is that. And time and time again it does happen like that. It's like the final thing or something, can just push you over the edge so to speak. And oddly does to those, whom you never expect it would, have that effect them at all. But did. Shocker of reality that kicks you in the butt. Big time.

[Paul Bell]

Probably the worse news a human can take.

[Onlyme]

Yes, I agree. We all have our limits to what we can cope with. Even the strongest and the most determined of humans have that break point.

[Mrudula Rani]

He had been a fighter all his life, and had lived on the edge
and wore his battle scars with pride, ....
but now giving up like that seemed very unlike his nature.

[Paul Bell]

Some just don't want to wait till the end.

[Neville]

A tragic tale told terribly well... N

[Paul Bell]

Is a sad one.

[Neville]

tis indeed.. based on actual recent events, historical events or hearsay or a poetic imagination... hold back on the answer.. let us all imagine.... N

[Cherrie Palmer]

Cold hard facts, that many will face. Each of us must measure the call and choose.
I thought you expressed this tragic situation in a warm light.

[Paul Bell]

Thanks, Cherrie. Yeah we'll all get the call at some point.