Time is the predator that stalks us all!

Harry knew he had to get up because his enemy Arthritis was stabbing at his crumbling hips. The hospital had said at 87 he was too old to have metal hip joints as he would not survive the seven hour operation, so here he was stooped and limping as he went into his cold bathroom.

Harry ran the hot water into the hand basin and steam immediately clouded the mirror. Harry rubbed a cloth over the misty mirror and he hardly recognised the reflection he saw. Lines exploded from around his cloudy blue eyes. His skin looked saggy and wrinkled. The only feature Harry recognised was his trade mark pencil moustache, Harry had sported the moustache since the 1940’s.

Harry shaved purposely and slowly he didn’t need to shave he was not going out in this cold snowy weather, all it took was a slip and his hips would shatter like glass. Harry ran a comb through his grey wiry hair and went to go down stairs to make his usual scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast.

Harry’s right slipper was torn and a piece of rubber sole protruded under his foot. Harry put his left foot on the top of his steep stairs and then went to put his right foot on the lower step. Suddenly Harry could see the light on the ceiling and then the worn stair carpet and the pain was terrible!  The ceiling light flashed into view again and then the tatty carpet and bang!

Harry awoke and screamed out in agony, Harry lay prostrate on the bottom of his stairs.  Harry looked down and saw his left thigh bone sticking through his grey slacks!  Harry tried to lift his head and twist around to get to the telephone but nothing happened. Harry had broken his neck!

Harry closed his eyes and tried to absorb the pain somehow. His memory flicked back to the last time he ever felt pain this bad.

                                                     1944 Christmas day