"Last night i suddenly had to think about life and death. About my life, my death, Carl. New life, old life, aging. About eventually perhaps getting old, because not everyone gets old, you know. In any case I never get younger, that's for sure. Right? We can only move forward. "
Hugo looks up to his colleague, who seems not to have heard him.
"This guy has kept my bag closed all morning again," Carl says, while he fiddles with the clip of his sandwich bag.
Hugo continues.
"Sometimes I do nothing out of fear. I try to save time. I think about how to efficiently spent my time. For example, I don't fold my laundry, because I'm afraid to lose time, to miss something. But eventually I end up doing nothing. Crazy, right?'
Carl takes a bite of his wholegrain bread with old cheese. He seems to nod, but it could also be that he simply distinctly chews. Hugo continues his story unstirred.
"Yesterday I saw a play. At one point she sang a song about aging. It reminded me of John Lennon - God rest his soul - who sang about a race against time, But time is in the lead. You know, Carl? Do you understand?'
Carl nods a number of times in a row.
"But why am I so insecure, Carl? Why do I doubt everything? Sometimes I think: I should grab life by the throat? Can I push my shadow aside and take a step into the light? A step forward? In the light? In my light? But nothing happens, you know. "
"It's almost time, Hugo."
He tilts his head towards the barely touched slices of bread on the table in front of his colleague. Hugo quickly takes two mouthfuls and continues with his mouth full.
"Every day is the same as the last. but you get older and older, "he mutters.
"What would you really want to happen then?" Carl asks.
"I want to design witty birthday cards. I already have some ideas. Do you want to hear them? "
"It is time, Hugo."
The men get up, walk away and head back to the workplace. Lunch is over.
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