The golden hour washes over the sidewalk as you make your way back home. You pass an empty corner. The bicycle rises into view as you turn to climb the slight incline to the back-road shortcut further ahead. But you hesitate, and look again. It’s shiny and new, but not a person in sight. No bags, no stickers, no trail behind it.
Upright
There’s so much to do when you get there, this could be a blessing in disguise. Then again, someone may be coming back for it – you therefore have a choice. It’s not as if it’s vandalism, or you’re going very far – with that, you hop on, and make the shortcut even shorter. You’ll simply use it again on the way back, and put it back where you found it. That is, if the owner doesn’t put two and two together, and know where to find it in the meantime.
Reversed
Then again, with newfound speed, you could probably zip back down to the corner store before you’re late. Or maybe your new temporary wheels could take the usual route. Or maybe, and maybe, and maybe — without making a choice, you’re going to be late, anyway. Possibilities start overloading your head and, as you do your best to sort them out, your ultimate priority begins to fade in the haze. Maybe it was really best to have ignored the bicycle in the first place, and taken the original shortcut. But, it’s so new, and shiny, and…
All illustrations and text copyrighted from The Liminal Deck.
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