My three friends...

One fine day, while in my room. While mugging, I felt a soft touch, delicate and subtle, beckoning me to look behind. There, lo and behold, stood a person. She introduced herself. My name is 'The Past', she said.Well, I don't mind making a new friend, funny name though, I thought.

Soon, as I talk to her more, I grew more attached to her. She is lovely and beautiful. My identity grew by spending time with her. However, as time passes, she demanded more attention from me and I became obsessed with her.

As time went on, she was not perfect as I thought she would be, revealing her flaws, her blemishes. How I wanted her to change but she strong character never changes. Never! The utter feeling of helplessness made me bitter and resentful.

Then one day, I bumped into another person while going for a lecture class. She smiled at me and I smiled back. Soon, we became friends and her name was 'The Present'.

Unlike 'The Past', 'The Present' is very fickle minded, she goes with the wind, chasing everything she wants as if she was lived for today only.

I tried to follow her, to spend time with her, but she was so unpredictable. When I became close to her, my mood swings with the weather: When the sun shines, I am happy; When the rain pours, I am sad; When the storm clouds gather, and the thunder roars, I feel angry; When it is spring, I feel hopeful; When it is winter, I feel depressed. I realised, as much as I was enslaved by 'The Past' I was also heavily influenced by 'The Present' - going through every activity one after the other.

Once, while following my friend 'The Present', I tripped and fell head down. What hurt most wasn't the physical pain, but pain of losing my pride.

Then a hand reached out, gentle but firm it pulled me up on my feet. I was standing again. I gazed upon her face, her beautiful countenance. Her individual facial features were not that attractive but her features as whole were lovely. I stood totally absorbed in her beauty. I am "The Future", she says smiling then she left. She left shortly after that, saying " If you want to be my friend, you'll need to find me first".

However, that was the only encounter with her. Once a while, I catch a glimpse of her. But I never met her again. Sometimes I can picture her clearly in my mine, at other times, her visage is blurred.

There is always hope I'll find her and meet her.