The Last Day

<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\nAs stand naked in the tub and the hair dryer drops in slow motion toward the water, you remember your daughter. You just want to be with her again.\n\nThe cord to the hair dryer causes it to rebound like a bungee jumper up and into the sink of water. You get a jolt of electricity through the pipes, but you're still alive.\n\n[[You say, "damn it, I can't even kill myself without screwing it up."|readyToLeave1]]\n\n[[You jump out of the tub naked and run toward the window overlooking Time Square.|jumpOutWindow]]\n\n[[You think, "For Caroline, I should try harder. I'll see her again soon"|motivated1]]

<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\nYou get up out of bed and shower. As you are heading out the door with your suitcase, you think, "One more meeting, and I get to head home". Not that home is much better. Life has been a living hell since your daughter died.\n\nThinking of Caroline and your miserable existence since her death hits you like a punch to the gut.\n\n[[You take the elevator down to the lobby. No time for breakfast either, who knows what traffic will be like.|drivenSlave]]\n\n[[As you enter the elevator you say, "If this is my last day alive, just please let it end now".|meetLady]]\n\n[[You decide to take the stairs and go somewhere nice for breakfast. Your client can wait. You need to cheer up before the meeting.|takeTime]]

Man that felt great. That guy has been riding your ass for more than a year. You've probably lost your job, but you feel like a change for the better is in order.\n\nAs you leave the building you notice a homeless man who seems to be in some need of assistance. He seems lucid but in pain.\n\nThe lady from the elevator is standing next to him trying to get others to help.\n\n[[You rush to his side and start trying to help him.|giveFirstAidAfterHer]]\n\n[[You think to yourself, "He'll probably be alright. What could I do anyway?" You hail a taxi.|ignoreHomelessAfter]]

<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\nAs you fall thirty stories to the center of Times Square, time slows down. The people below seem to be glowing. Life, every moment of it, seems precious.\n\nThe last thing you think about before you hit the pavement is your daughter. When she died, it took the life out of you. Instead of living, you chose to die with her. Your life since that moment has been meaningless.\n\nBlackness takes you and you experience an all-consuming feeling of regret.\n\n[[You hear a sound. It is sharp, piercing almost harsh compared with the darkness.|startAgain]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $homelessPerson = "no">>\n<<set $oldLady = "no">>\n<<set $saveJob = "no">>\n<<set $gaveSeat = "no">>\n<<set $karma = 0>>\n<<set $dejavu = $dejavu + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>You hear ringing. It's a phone. You don't open your eyes, but you reach over and feel for the phone. You lift it to your ear.\n\nYou say,\n\n[["Hello? Can't you just let me sleep?"|Grumpy]]\n\n[["...Hello?"|Questioning]]\n\n[["I was dead! Why can't you just let me rest in peace?"|Accusation]]

<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\nThe homeless guy misses the coin toss and falls down on his hands and knees trying to keep it from going into the grate.\n\nYou barely notice him fall over in pain as you go into the restaurant to eat.\n\n[[You turn around and go try to help him.|giveFirstAid]]\n\n[[You keep heading into the restaurant. A little excercise will do him good.|ignoreHomelessRest]]\n\n[[You think, "This is what I get for trying to grab some me time." You change your mind about breakfast and head on to your meeting.|drivenSlave]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $homelessPerson = "yes">>\n<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\nThe man is having a heart attack. You end up performing CPR until the paramedics arrive to help. You ended up saving the homeless man's life.\n\nYou head down to the street to hail a taxi. The driver asks, "Where to boss?"\n\n[[You say, "Airport, it is time for me to go home."|headAirport]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\nYou ignore the homeless man, and flee down the street to avoid the accusations you see in his stare.\n\nYou head down the street to hail a taxi. The driver asks, "Where to boss?"\n\n[[You say, "Airport, get me away from this place."|headAirport]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $homelessPerson = "no">>\n<<set $oldLady = "no">>\n<<set $saveJob = "no">>\n<<set $gaveSeat = "no">>\n<<set $karma = 0>>\n<<set $dejavu = 0>>\n<<endsilently>>The phone rings. You don't open your eyes, but you reach over and feel for the phone. You lift it to your ear.\n\nYou say,\n\n[["What? Do you have any idea what time it is?"|Grumpy]]\n\n[["...Hello?"|Questioning]]\n\n[["It's too early to be calling me. Why are you calling me?"|Accusation]]

<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\n<<if $dejavu eq 1>>You get up out of bed. You turn on the TV. Everything seems so familiar, like this has happened before. Things feel the same. It's like you are living the same day over again.\n\nYou feel some sense of purpose. The first real thing you've felt in a long time. You get ready for your meeting and head to the elevator.\n\nYou shake off the urge to rush and decide to eat breakfast.\nOn the elevator you meet a lady. She seems very sad. \n\n[[You invite her along to breakfast in order to cheer her up.|breakfastLady]]\n\n[[You ignore her. You have your own problems.|drivenSlave]]<<endif>>\n<<if $dejavu gte 2>>You jump out of bed. Things feel the same. It's happening again. Why is it happening again? Are you are being tested?\n\nYou feel as though every action and decision counts. You have to get this right.\n\nYou shake off the urge to rush and decide to eat breakfast.\nOn the elevator you meet a lady. She seems very sad. \n\n[[You invite her along to breakfast in order to cheer her up.|breakfastLady]]<<endif>>

<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\nYou get up out of bed and shower. As you are heading out the door with your suitcase, you think, "One more meeting, and I get to head home". Not that home is much better. Life has been a living hell since your daughter died.\n\nThinking of Caroline and your miserable existence since her death hits you like a punch to the gut.\n\n[[You take the elevator down to the lobby. No time for breakfast either, who knows what traffic will be like.|drivenSlave]]\n\n[[As you enter the elevator you say, "If this is my last day alive, just please let it end now".|meetLady]]\n\n[[You decide to take the stairs and go somewhere nice for breakfast. Your client can wait. You need to cheer up before the meeting.|takeTime]]

<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\nYou finish getting ready. As you are heading out the door with your suitcase, you think, "One more meeting, and I get to head home". But what does home mean anymore? Your daughter is dead. Your wife left you.\n\nAs you get on the elevator you say to yourself, "If this really is my last day to live, I'd better make it count."\n\nThe lady on the elevator hears you. She says, "Thank you for saying that, I was feeling down, but you're right. Live today like it's your last!" She smiles at you.\n\n[[You smile back, and invite her to breakfast.|breakfastLady]]\n\n[[In spite of what you just declared, and the fact that you tried to kill yourself earlier, you still tell her no. In the end what would it matter?|drivenSlave]]

<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\nYou get up out of bed and shower. As you are heading out the door with your suitcase, you think, "One more meeting, and I get to head home".\n\nBy the time you get to the elevator you remember home isn't the place that it once was, not since the accident. Everything changed the day Caroline died.\n\n[[You take the elevator down to the lobby. No time for breakfast either, who knows what traffic will be like.|drivenSlave]]\n\n[[You take the elevator but decide to eat breakfast before the meeting. You have just enough time if you are lucky.|maybeHope]]\n\n[[You decide to take the stairs and go somewhere nice for breakfast. Your client can wait. If this is the last day of your life, then you will make it last.|takeTime]]\n

<<silently>>\n<<set $homelessPerson = "yes">>\n<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\nThe two of you share one of the best breakfasts either of you has ever had. He's a veteran and tells you stories about the war. You actually tell him about the downturn your life has taken and he starts trying to cheer you up.\n\nFeeling much better, you give the guy a hug, some money and finally head up to your meeting.\n\nWhen you arrive your client is furious that you are late. You try to explain what happened but he refuses to believe you and fires you on the spot.\n\nFeeling oddly liberated, you head down to the street to hail a taxi. The driver asks, "Where to boss?"\n\n[[You say, "Airport, it is time for me to go home."|headAirport]]

On the walk to the restaurant a homeless man asks you for money.\n\n[[You say, "How about I take you to breakfast with me? I could use the company and you look like you could use a good meal."|feedHomeless]]\n\n[[You give him some money and keep walking.|buyyourCompassion]]\n\n[[You flip a quarter at him trying to ignore the real problem and tame the guilt you feel for not caring.|pitytheWretch1]]

You arrive to your meeting thirty minutes early. While waiting in the lobby you pick up a Smithsonian magazine.\n\nYou read an article about the Big Bang which contemplates the possibility that there might be space debris out there bouncing around like billiard balls.\n\nSuddenly you get the picture of an eight ball bouncing off the corner cushion heading for Earth. The concept makes you smile for some reason.\n\nYour musings are interrupted when Ted, your client, starts yelling at you before you even get into the meeting room.\n \n[[You let Ted have it, this job isn't worth it and you've had enough of his crap.|giveittoTed]]\n\n[[You turn around and walk out of the office building. This job is not worth it and you have a "billiard ball" to catch.|headHome]]\n\n[[You go in and take your beating. Why fight it? Nothing ever changes.|takeitlikeaMan]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\n<<set $gaveSeat = "yes">>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<if $karma gte 4>>One hour after the first flight took off you board the second flight home. You notice the flight is almost empty.\n\nOn the flight you fall asleep and dream about the Big Bang. In your dream the explosion sent a meteor out into space and billions of years later that same piece of debris, or some chunk of debris it knocked off another rock, crashed into your flight and killed all of the passengers.\n\nYou wake up when the fasten seatbelt lights turn on for landing. You smile to yourself thinking, "I guess it wasn't the last day of my life after all."<<else>>One hour and two minutes after the flight took off you board the second flight home. You notice the flight is pretty crowded.\n\nShortly after the fasten seatbelt lights go off, you look out your window. You see a shooting star light up the sky. It is heading straight toward you.\n\nOn impact the plane is immediately torn into pieces. The instant depressurization causes you black out.\n\nDarkness pulls you down into its soothing embrace, the day is finally over.\n\n[[You hear a sound. It is sharp, piercing almost harsh compared with the darkness.|startAgain]]<<endif>>

<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\nYour breakfast isn't as relaxing as you had hoped. You can't stop thinking about the homeless guy.\n\nYou barely eat anything and finally give up and go to your meeting.\n\nOnce you reach your destination, you see the homeless man again. He seems to be in some need of assistance. He seems lucid but in pain.\n\n[[You rush to his side and start trying to help him.|giveFirstAid]]\n\n[[You think to yourself, "What does he want from me? I already gave him some money." You go inside to your meeting.|ignoreHomeless]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\nYou finally make it to your appointment. You are slightly late for the meeting. Your client is angry with you and berates you for your poor performance on his contract over the last year.\n\nWhen you finally leave the building, you see paramedics working over the homeless man. The paramedic doing chest compressions stops, and says, "He's gone. I'm calling it."\n\nFeeling depressed, you hail a taxi. The driver asks, "Where to boss?"\n\n[[You say, "Airport, get me out of this city."|headAirport]]\n\n[[You look at the old man, dead thanks to you. You can't seem to leave him now that he's dead. You decide you need to go home. "Take me to the airport, please."|headAirportLate]]

<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\nThe voice on the other end of the line says, "Good morning! This is your wakeup call for 6:00 am. Your checkout time today is 11:00 am. On behalf of Holiday Inn Express Times Square, we'd like to wish you safe and happy travels"\n\n[[You raise your voice and say, "Damn it to hell I'm still in this rathole. Thanks, but do me a favor and go to hell."|curseHangup]]\n\n[[You scratch your butt and respond, "I only hope you have as many bedbugs at home as you do in this dump."|wishIll]]\n\n[[You mumble something like, "Thampks, smmtoo you"|wishWell]]\n\n<<if $dejavu eq 1>>[[You cannot get over the feeling that this has all happened to you before.|dejavu]]<<endif>>\n<<if $dejavu gte 2>>[[Why does this keep happening? Is this hell?|dejavu]]<<endif>>

<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\nYou lie back in bed and think about the day you are about to have.\n\n"So this is it, the last day of my life?" You recall [[the dream|dreamDescribe]] you had one year ago, the last time you came to New York.\n\n[[You think, "What if this is my last day? Have I lived this year like it was my last?"|ponderLife]]\n\n[[You think, "It was only a stupid dream. I can't wait to get back home."|readyToLeave]]\n\n[[You think, "Too bad I'm stuck on a business trip the last day of my life. I suppose I'd better get up if I'm going to make my meeting."|businessAsUsual]]\n\n<<if $dejavu eq 1>>[[You cannot get over the feeling that this has all happened to you before.|dejavu]]<<endif>>\n<<if $dejavu gte 2>>[[Why does this keep happening? Is this hell?|dejavu]]<<endif>>

<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\nThe man looks at you. His head is shaking. His eyes bloodshot and he seems to be in pain.\n\nYou barely hear him when he whispers, "Please. Please help me, I'm dying."\n\n[[You reach for your cell phone and dial 911 while moving on to your meeting. Its the least you could do.|callforHelp]]\n\n[[You go down on your knees and start trying to help him. You dial 911 and wait for the ambulance to arrive.|giveFirstAid]]\n\n[[You say, "I'm sorry, but I can't deal with this right now."|ignoreHomeless]]

You get up out of bed and shower. As you are heading out the door with your suitcase, you think, "One more meeting, and I get to head home".\n\nBy the time you get to the elevator you remember home isn't the place that it once was, not since the accident. Everything changed the day Caroline died.\n\n[[You take the elevator down to the lobby. No time for breakfast either, who knows what traffic will be like.|drivenSlave]]\n\n[[You take the elevator but decide to eat breakfast before the meeting. You have just enough time if you are lucky.|maybeHope]]

You finally arrive at the airport. You barely have time to get through security before you arrive at the gate and the plane is boarding.\n\nAs you check in the gate attendant asks if you'd be interested in giving up your seat to allow the mother and daughter standing by to fly in your place. They have one seat but need another to board.\n\n[[You give up your seat glad to help someone who needs it more than you.|giveSeat]]\n\n[[You politely say no and board the plane|stayFirst]]

The last day.

You have a refreshing breakfast. You spend the quiet time pondering the "last day" dream. You can't get over the feeling you had it again last night.\n\nFeeling somewhat refreshed and ready to deal with the day you head out to catch a taxi.\n\nOnce you reach your destination, you notice a homeless man who seems to be in some need of assistance. He seems lucid but in pain.\n\n[[You rush to his side and start trying to help him.|giveFirstAid]]\n\n[[You think to yourself, "He'll probably be alright. What could I do anyway?" You go inside to your meeting.|ignoreHomeless]]\n\n[[You flip a quarter at him trying to ignore the real problem and tame the guilt you feel for not caring.|pitytheWretch]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<if $karma gte 4>>The mother and daughter did not make the first flight. You walk by them as you board and the daughter is saying about missing her father.\n\nOn the flight you fall asleep and dream about the Big Bang. In your dream the explosion sent a meteor out into space and billions of years later that same piece of debris, or some chunk of debris it knocked off another rock, crashed into your flight and killed all of the passengers.\n\nYou wake up when the fasten seatbelt lights turn on for landing. You smile to yourself thinking, "I guess it wasn't the last day of my life after all."\n\nOn the way through the terminal you see a news alert on the monitors. It is a report about the flight that left after yours. It crashed shortly after takeoff. Everyone on board is presumed dead.<<else>>The mother and daughter did not make the first flight. You walk by them as you board and the daughter is saying about missing her father.\n\nOn the flight you fall asleep and dream about the Big Bang. In your dream the explosion sent a meteor out into space and billions of years later that same piece of debris, or some chunk of debris it knocked off another rock, crashed into your flight and killed all of the passengers.\n\nYou wake up when the fasten seatbelt lights turn on for landing. You smile to yourself thinking, "I guess it wasn't the last day of my life after all."\n\nOn the way through the terminal you see a news alert on the monitors. It is a report about the flight that left after yours. It crashed shortly after takeoff. Everyone on board is presumed dead.\n\nThe guilt of the experience you've faced in one day is too much to bear. You begin crying on the drive home. You can't see that you've crossed the lane and you...\n\nDarkness takes you wrapped in regret.\n\n[[You hear a sound. It is sharp, piercing almost harsh compared with the darkness.|startAgain]]<<endif>>

When you get to your appointment, you are late for the meeting. Your client is angry with you for being late and berates you for your poor performance on his contract over the last year.\n\nAs you leave the building you see paramedics working over the homeless man. The paramedic doing chest compressions stops, and says, "He's gone. I'm calling it."\n\nFeeling depressed, you hail a taxi. The driver asks, "Where to boss?"\n\n[[You say, "Airport, get me out of this city."|headAirport]]\n\n[[You look at the old man, dead thanks to you. You can't seem to leave him now that he's dead. You decide you need to go home. "Take me to the airport, please."|headAirportLate]]\n\n

You finally arrive at the airport. When you arrive you find out that your plane is full and the flight is delayed.\n\nYou grab a bite to eat since you have some time.\n\nAt the gate they are calling for people to give up their seats for ticket vouchers and a seat on the next flight.\n\nYou notice a mom and her daughter anxiously waiting to see if they can get on the flight.\n\n[[You give up your seat. There's no guarantee it will help the little girl and her mom, but it couldn't hurt.|giveSeat]]\n\n[[You ignore the requests and take a nap. There is no way you are going to give up your seat.|stayFirstbutLose]]\n\n[[You ignore the requests and get up to walk around. You are afraid that if you fall asleep you might miss the boarding call|stayFirst]]\n\n

<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\nYou get up out of bed and shower. As you are heading out the door with your suitcase, you think, "One more meeting, and I get to head home". But what does home mean anymore? Your daughter is dead. Your wife left you.\n\nAs you get on the elevator you say to yourself, "If this really is my last day to live, I'd better make it count."\n\nThe lady on the elevator hears you. She says, "Thank you for saying that, I was feeling down, but you're right. Live today like it's your last!" She smiles at you.\n\n[[You smile back, and invite her to breakfast.|breakfastLady]]\n\n[[In spite of what you just declared, you tell her no. You would rather not bring her down with your depression.|drivenSlave]]

<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\nWell it was rough going for a while, but you finally convinced your client to give your company another chance. You actually leave the meeting on good terms.\n\nAs you leave the building you notice a homeless man who seems to be in some need of assistance. He seems lucid but in pain.\n\n[[You rush to his side and start trying to help him.|giveFirstAidAfter]]\n\n[[You think to yourself, "He'll probably be alright. What could I do anyway?" You hail a taxi.|ignoreHomelessAfter]]

The lady on the elevator replies, "What was that you said?"\n\nYou answer back, "Oh nothing. Sorry I didn't know the elevator was occupied".\n\nShe smiles at you and asks, "You look troubled. Would you like to have breakfast and talk about it?"\n\n[[You say, "Yes! I think I would like that. Thank you!"|breakfastLady]]\n\n[[You say, "I am sorry, but I have a meeting and I will be late if accept your offer."|drivenSlave]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $homelessPerson = "yes">>\n<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\nThe man is having a heart attack. You end up performing CPR until the paramedics arrive to help. You ended up saving the homeless man's life.\n\nFeeling stressed but good, you finally head up to your meeting.\n\nWhen you arrive your client is furious that you are late. You try to explain what happened but he refuses to believe you and fires you on the spot.\n\nFeeling oddly liberated, you head down to the street to hail a taxi. The driver asks, "Where to boss?"\n\n[[You say, "Airport, it is time for me to go home."|headAirport]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\n<<if $karma gte 4>>You wake up. The gate is cleared. You look around groggy at first. You missed your flight, you hear a boarding call for the second flight which has moved two gates down from you.\n\nIt would seem the mother and her daughter got your ticket after all.\n\nOn the flight you fall asleep and dream about the Big Bang. In your dream the explosion sent a meteor out into space and billions of years later that same piece of debris, or some chunk of debris it knocked off another rock, crashed into your flight and killed all of the passengers.\n\nYou wake up when the fasten seatbelt lights turn on for landing. You smile to yourself thinking, "I guess it wasn't the last day of my life after all."\n\nOn the way through the terminal you see a news alert on the monitors. It is a report about a large meteorite crashing in the mountains near New York City.<<else>>You wake up having missed the first flight. The gate attendant is calling the final boarding call for the second flight. You rush up just in time to get on the plane.\n\nIt would seem the mother and her daughter got your ticket after all.\n\nShortly after the fasten seatbelt lights go off, you look out your window. You see a shooting star light up the sky. It is heading straight toward you.\n\nOn impact the plane is immediately torn into pieces. The instant depressurization causes you black out.\n\nDarkness pulls you down into its soothing embrace, the day is finally over.\n\n[[You hear a sound. It is sharp, piercing almost harsh compared with the darkness.|startAgain]]<<endif>>

You finish getting ready. As you are heading out the door with your suitcase, you think, "One more meeting, and I get to head home". Not that home is much better. Life has been a living hell since your daughter died.\n\nThinking of Caroline and your miserable existence since her death hits you like a punch to the gut.\n\n[[You take the elevator down to the lobby. No time for breakfast either, who knows what traffic will be like.|drivenSlave]]\n\n[[As you enter the elevator you say, "If this is my last day alive, just please let it end now".|meetLady]]

<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\nAt breakfast you barely eat anything and finally give up to go to your meeting.\n\nAs you leave the restaurant you see the homeless man lying on the sidewalk. He looks up at you. His head is shaking in a palsy, his eyes bloodshot and he seems to be in pain.\n\nYou barely hear him when he whispers, "Please. Please help me, I'm dying."\n\n[[You reach for your cell phone and dial 911 while moving on to your meeting. You are already far too late for your meeting.|callforHelp]]\n\n[[You go down on your knees and start trying to help him. You dial 911 and wait for the ambulance to arrive.|giveFirstAid]]\n\n[[You say, "I'm sorry, but I can't deal with this right now."|ignoreHomeless]]

<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\nThe voice on the other end of the line says, "Good morning! This is your wakeup call for 6:00 am. Your checkout time today is 11:00 am. On behalf of Holiday Inn Express Times Square, we'd like to wish you safe and happy travels"\n\n[[You raise your voice and say, "Damn it to hell I'm still in this rat hole? Thanks, but do me a favor and go to hell."|curseHangup]]\n\n[[You scratch your butt and respond, "I only hope you have as many bedbugs at home as you do in this dump."|wishIll]]\n\n[[You mumble something like, "Thampks, smmtoo you"|wishWell]]\n\n<<if $dejavu eq 1>>[[You cannot get over the feeling that this has all happened to you before.|dejavu]]<<endif>>\n<<if $dejavu gte 2>>[[Why does this keep happening? Is this hell?|dejavu]]<<endif>>\n

.passage {\n\tcolor:White;\n\tfont-size: 140%;\n}\n.passage a {\n\tcolor:GoldenRod;\n}\n

You had the most vivid dream last year.\n\nIn the dream you only had one year left to live. You don't remember how you knew this, but you do remember thinking, "I'd better make this year count!"\n\nNow looking back at the year you realize you lived this year like every other year. You played it safe. Thinking about the year you just had makes you feel even more depressed.\n\n[[You go into the bathroom, take a bath and drop the hair dryer in the tub.|commitSuicide]]\n\n[[You decide to go out with a bang. You run toward the window and jump through it.|jumpOutWindow]]\n\n[[You remember your daughter and think, "For Caroline I'll do better."|motivated]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $homelessPerson = "yes">>\n<<set $oldLady = "yes">>\n<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\n<<endsilently>>\nThe man is having a heart attack. You end up performing CPR until the paramedics arrive to help. You ended up saving the homeless man's life.\n\nThe lady from the elevator hugs you and says, "You did a wonderful thing just now. I wish I could repay you in some way.\n\nYou look at the luggage she's carrying and smile.\n\n[[You say, "We could share a cab to the airport if you like? My treat."|headAirportLady]]\n\n[[You say, "I just did what anyone would do. It was nothing really." You give her one more hug and head off to catch a cab.|headAirportLate]]

<<silently>>\n<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\n<<set $oldLady = "yes">>\n<<endsilently>>\nYou have a wonderful breakfast with your new friend Patricia. She tells you about her problems, and you actually listen to her. You don't burden her with your own problems, because you feel like she's got enough to deal with as it is.\n\nJust listening to her and helping her cope has lightened your own burdens.\n\nFeeling better and ready to deal with the day you say your goodbyes and catch a taxi.\n\nWhile getting out of your taxi, you see a homeless man convulsing on the sidewalk.\n\n[[You rush to his side and start trying to help him.|giveFirstAid]]\n\n[[You hear sirens, you think to yourself, "He'll probably be alright. What could I do anyway?" You go inside to your meeting.|ignoreHomeless]]

You get up out of bed and shower. As you are heading out the door with your suitcase, you think, "One more meeting, and I get to head home". Not that home is much better. Life has been a living hell since your daughter died.\n\nThinking of Caroline and your miserable existence since her death hits you like a punch to the gut.\n\n[[You take the elevator down to the lobby. No time for breakfast either, who knows what traffic will be like.|drivenSlave]]\n\n[[As you enter the elevator you say, "If this is my last day alive, just please let it end now".|meetLady]]

<<set $karma = $karma - 1>>\nThe voice on the other end of the line says, "Good morning! This is your wakeup call for 6:00 am. Your checkout time today is 11:00 am. On behalf of Holiday Inn Express Times Square, we'd like to wish you safe and happy travels"\n\n[[You raise your voice and say, "Damn it to hell I'm still in this rat hole? Thanks, but do me a favor and go to hell."|curseHangup]]\n\n[[You scratch your butt and respond, "I only hope you have as many bedbugs at home as you do in this dump."|wishIll]]\n\n[[You mumble something like, "Thampks, smmtoo you"|wishWell]]\n\n[[You apologize for being gruff and hang up the phone.|apologizePhone]]\n\n<<if $dejavu eq 1>>[[You cannot get over the feeling that this has all happened to you before.|dejavu]]<<endif>>\n<<if $dejavu gte 2>>[[Why does this keep happening? Is this hell?|dejavu]]<<endif>>

You finally arrive at the airport with your new friend Patricia. You barely have time to get through security before you arrive at the gate and the plane is boarding.\n\nAs you check in the gate attendant asks if you'd be interested in giving up your seat to allow the mother and daughter standing by to fly in your place. They have one seat but need another to board.\n\n[[You give up your seat glad to help someone who needs it more than you.|giveSeat]]\n\n[[You politely say no and board the plane|stayFirst]]

<<set $karma = $karma + 1>>\nWell that's the end of that job but at least you got out of your meeting early.\n\nAs you leave the building you notice a homeless man who seems to be in some need of assistance. He seems lucid but in pain.\n\n[[You rush to his side and start trying to help him.|giveFirstAidAfter]]\n\n[[You think to yourself, "He'll probably be alright. What could I do anyway?" You hail a taxi.|ignoreHomelessAfter]]

Colin Freeman