The day dawned with a heavy inevitability, just as the prophet had foretold. This was Gary’s last day on earth. The prophet had told him his passing would be peaceful, precisely at 5 PM. There was one thing left for him to do: make a single phone call to the person he valued more than anyone else during his time on earth. It was a strange and difficult task. Gary valued so many people, but the prophet had been adamant—it had to be just one, and they had to be alive.
  Gary woke early, his mind already restless. He brewed a pot of coffee and prepared a breakfast of bacon and eggs, savouring the familiar comforts of morning. The food tasted richer, the coffee warmer. After eating, he wandered into his garden, a sanctuary of beauty and life. The flowers seemed to vibrate with colour, as though the world itself was putting on a final show for him. 
  As he strolled among the blossoms, Gary’s thoughts turned to the prophet’s instruction. Who was the one person who mattered most to him? Who had added the greatest value to his life? He decided to make a list. Sitting at his kitchen table with pen in hand, he began writing names: family members, old friends, business partners, ex-wives, his current girlfriend, even his doctor. The list grew longer than he had expected, a testament to the richness of his connections over the years.
  Staring at the page, he felt overwhelmed. Each name held a memory, a story, a moment that had shaped him. How could he choose just one? The question gnawed at him as the hours passed. By 2 PM, the decision loomed larger. He paced the room, reading the names over and over, searching for an answer that wouldn’t come.
  At 4 PM, with only an hour left, Gary returned to his list. His heart pounded as he scanned it again. There had to be a way. And then, as if illuminated by some unseen light, one name stood out.
  With trembling hands, Gary picked up the phone and dialled the number. The line rang once, then twice, before a familiar voice answered.
  “Hello?”
  Gary closed his eyes, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “Hi, it’s me. Gary.”

Gary © 2025 Marcus van Wyk

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