Choices

The moon was a small silver sliver in the cloud dotted night sky, its light dimmed further by the streetlighting. The man stood in the doorway, contemplating the street around him, his eyes roaming, stopping occasionally to examine something in greater detail. He puffed his cheeks out in a silent sigh and was about to light another cigarette when he heard the soft scuff of shoes on the pavement. He faded back into the doorway as a lone walker passed him, unaware of how close he was to danger.

The man was unremarkable to look at, average build, average height, average clothes, the sort of person who fades into the background and is never noticed. His appearance however, belied the turmoil in his mind. "Choices, it always comes down to choices" he thought, stepping forward again, his eyes fixing on the one thing he had until now been avoiding. He lit his cigarette, squinting through the smoke at the bright lights opposite him.

He knew that eventually he would have to enter this world, the lights beckoned to him like a siren song. He started across the road, flicking the remains of his cigarette away from him as he squared his shoulders. "I can do this" he thought, "It's a simple thing, in and out, no fuss no muss."

The doors opened for him as he stepped from the darkness into the light and his senses were assaulted by the sights, sounds and smells of this place. He hurried passed the others who had been drawn here, anxious now to get his task over with. As he drew closer to his destination he slowed, his feet suddenly feeling as if they were encased in concrete.

He reached his goal and his heart lurched, "No." he whispered "This isn't fair" He looked around, his eyes wild. "I can't do this, how can I do this, how can I choose between jelly babies and dolly mixtures?"