The Meeting
In a bustling London bar, two men sit anonymously, observing a man grappling with a life-altering decision. The man, torn between his commitment to family and his own desires, battles inner turmoil while waiting for a clandestine meeting. As the minutes tick by, he struggles with the temptation to break free from his self-imposed constraints and the principles of honesty and integrity that have always guided him. With tension mounting, he finally makes a call that will determine his path forward. This introspective story explores the conflict between duty and self-fulfillment, and the choices that define us.​
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Genre: Introspective
Word Count: 818
“He’s here, I told you he would be”.
“That means nothing. He hasn’t done anything wrong just by coming to a bar after work”.
A busy London bar is the perfect place to be hidden. You become anonymous just by entering. Exactly why this place was chosen. At a table somewhere in the front courtyard sit two men. Nobody else notices them. If anyone did however, they’d just be another couple of colleagues enjoying an after-work drink in the early evening sunshine. They’re here to settle a wager, however. No-one saw them enter and no-one will see them leave.
“He’s early too, this will be the best thing he’s ever done for himself”.
“No, he’s arrived early so he has time to talk himself out of this”.
A few tables away sits a man in turmoil. He tries but fails to look casual. Unsure of where to look or what to do with his hands, he pulls out his phone. In recent years, he feels his phone is the only thing that he has truly to himself. The only thing that doesn’t belong to anyone else. His other personas live there.
“Are you getting worried yet? I’ve been telling you for years that he would end up here eventually. From the very beginning he wasn’t happy, he knew it. He tried to convince himself but he always knew.”
“No, I’m not worried at all. He’s a good person and doesn’t want to hurt his family. Everyone in a long-term, committed relationship will have these similar doubts from time to time.”
The man takes a few glances around but knows it’s not time yet. They agreed to meet at 7. It’s 6.45. He reminds himself to breathe. He closes his Twitter, Instagram and Facebook feeds and opens his camera roll.
“He’s spent all these years always putting others first, martyring himself in the name of ‘honour’ and ‘integrity’. Well, it’s about time, he’s finally realised there are no do-overs, you live life once and once only. If you don’t experience all life has to offer, surely that’s an offence to the privilege of having life itself?”
The man sighs then closes his eyes for two more deep, long breaths. He reopens his Twitter feed. There’s another message. The man glances at it and then looks away quickly.
“Let me ask you this: if honesty and integrity are so important, then why does that only apply externally? Why is being honest to your own feelings and desires less important than those of others? When the end comes, is it really a life well lived if you’ve lived up to everyone else’s expectations but ignored yourself? Why do you have to respect others ahead of respecting yourself?”
He looks at his watch again. 6.50. A short but intense shiver rises in him. He suppresses it with a deep breath.
“He can do this. No-one else knows he’s here and no-one will ever know it’s happened. He can go home tomorrow and carry on like nothing out of the ordinary occurred. He was just on a “work trip”. Lots of people need to take these from time to time. He’ll be back in his mundane little world in the morning. No-one is hurt, everyone is happy”.
He types out a reply then quickly puts the phone face down on the table.
“It’s not about valuing everyone else’s feelings above those of your own. By living the values of honesty and integrity towards others, you’re showing to yourself that you can respect yourself in those terms as well.”
6.55. He quickly finishes his drink and wonders if he has time to get another. Something stronger this time.
“If he does this, even if no-one ever finds out, do you really think no-one gets hurt? He’s been a good man, done everything he can to help and support everyone he cares for. He takes pride in that. If he goes through with this, it will fundamentally change how he looks at himself. He would be the only one left hurt and he won’t be able to turn back the clock.”
6.58. He reopens his camera roll.
“It’s simple really. The reason I’m not worried is because he respects himself too much to do this”
6.59. He sees a woman approach the courtyard from across the road, searching the faces in front of her. He recognises her immediately. He gets up, picks up his phone and starts walking in her direction. He makes a call.
“Hey honey, good news, I’m on my way home.”
“No, they didn’t need me after all”.
“No don’t wait up for me.”
“Ok fine. I can bring home my own food”.
“Ok bye.”
Without looking back, the man walks out of the courtyard. The woman, with increasing frustration, keeps searching for the man she’d arranged to meet. The men at the table at the front of the courtyard, are gone.