Stage 1: Denial
The Song for Denial: All the Time in the World, by Lazlo Bane
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Henry stood silently on the beach, staring out into the vast ocean and letting the surf wash over his feet.
Overhead, the sun was shining.
Around him, seagulls squawked and fought for food.
Kids were running everywhere, squealing and pushing each other into the waves.
For all intents and purposes, it was a perfect day.
Well, it's a lovely day
Enter the warm sun
Sit back and soak up the rays, there's nothing better to do
Well, it won't be too long until I get burned
So much for Bain de Soleil, it can't protect me from you
His mind quietly drifted back to when Shawn was a kid.
This kind of day, sunny and on the verge of being blistering hot, was the kind of day he had always liked best.
Henry could hear his voice, echoing off the walls of his mind.
"Come on, Dad! I wanna go swimming! Let's go to the beach!"
Henry would just roll his eyes and mutter under his breath, but Shawn never gave up, and they always ended up at the beach.
Somehow, on days like today, they always ended up at the beach…
Well, that's right
We're near the after life
We're inching closer to extinction every time that we turn
Well, all right
We've been acting like there's nothing wrong as long as we've got all the time in the world
Not today…Henry thought stubbornly.
Not on a day like today…
No one dies on a day like today…
Not when they're supposed to be at the beach…
We've got all the time in the world...
He turned around again, facing the beach, his feet still immersed in the water.
It doesn't end like this…
This isn't how it ends…
He could see Shawn, running down the dune, screaming at the top of his lungs, throwing his bucket and shovel in the sand as he dove head first into the water.
He should be here…
It's not over…
Another day another week and one more year goes by
Would you please just make up your mind?
Don't wait to procrastinate
Let's take a holiday 'cause we've got all the time in the world
He'll be here…
He always comes to the beach on days on like today…
We've got all the time in the world
We've got all the time until California sinks into the sea
And I know that you're waiting for your real life to begin
Well, that's the problem with people like you and me
Suddenly, the thoughts started coming to him.
He did the best he could to suppress them, but they were relentless.
They thundered through his mind, on an endless loop.
Everything he had meant to say…
Everything he had tried to say…
Everything he had thought he had all the time in the world to say…
Well it's a lovely day
Enter the warm sun
You know it won't be too long until we really get burned
No.
It's not over…
There's still time…
Still time…
We've got all the time in the world
We've got all the time in the world…
Henry started to walk back up the beach, his eyes scanning every face in the crowd.
He'll be here…
He'll be here…
He always comes to the beach on days like today…