I realized that it was me that was touched by that moment, that memory.

I felt as if the tables had turned and I was experiencing an unexpected role reversal. He was the one who had in fact given me a moment of happiness, and not vice versa. All the years since I had last seen him were spent incorrectly reminiscing on a moment which although it took place on the date written on the back of the photograph, had quite a different meaning now. I understood now that my blind assumption caused me to see the reality of that moment through a distorted lens. As unexpected as it was, I now understood that he had provided me with a moment which had stuck with me in my memory, coming back into my thoughts sporadically.

I took a few more sips of my coffee, still a little baffled about what I had just come to realize. A moment later I sipped the last of my coffee, and thanked him for his time. I took the picture back, and placed it into the pocket from which I had taken it. I slowly got up from my seat at the table and made my way to the door. I turned and looked at him again, somewhat hesitant to leave, knowing it was most likely the last time I’d see him.

Sensing my hesitation he grabbed my hand and said to me, “With every step forward you take you are turning the future into the present. But with every backwards step you take, you are not led into the past but you simply stand, unmoving and you lose a moment which could have brought you one step further. You must always move forward, for that’s where life lies.”

I looked at him for the last time and with that I turned and walked down the pebble driveway to my car. I was aware of the sun as it shone on me, and I raised my head and looked up towards it. I understood now that not everything could be placed in a box, and that sometimes the path to realization and awakening is a dreaded downhill slope, but one which prepares you for the long walk to get back up.