Watching a sunset

Watching a sunset can be a tedious affair if you’re not careful. The sun remains fixed in a seemingly permanent position, imperceptibly moving downwards. Everyone oohs and aahs over the pretty sky. And then, just when you’ve stood there for almost forever – whoosh – the sun sinks and crawls downwards below the earth, getting sucked under, gathering speed towards the unknown until it’s gone. And just at that moment, a thought crosses your mind that you may never see the glorious sun again. You’re left with the lingering aftertaste of having experienced something beautiful and miraculous, but now it’s over. You feel a slight breeze, a sudden chill. As if you are all alone in this world. As if all the light just went out forever. You turn your back to it and go to where your mother waits. Or where your friends wait. Or where your wife or lover waits. Back towards your kids and life – and breathe a small sign of relief that it wasn’t real. Life is wonderful again and you resolutely turn your back to the oncoming night.