Four Stories

1998.

Four.

One was smart. One was good-looking. One was rich. One was popular. Together they had everything. Together they could do anything.

But "together" never happened.

The smart one lived in Italy. The good-looking one was from the late 17th century. The rich one was almost 110. The popular one was in high school. Time wouldn't allow them to meet. Fate wouldn't let them meet.

So why does it matter that together they had everything? Because when you talk about everything, everything matters.

Azzurra ran a bookstore in a small Italian town. In her spare time, she enjoyed writing. She had attended college and majored in Math. She was at the top of her class.

Thomas was the son of a governor. He was looking for a wife, which was not difficult to find. He had wooed every girl in his town, and had his pick. He was looking for a beautiful wife.

George spent most of his days in bed. He watched television to see his company's products advertised during commercial breaks of his favorite shows. He had led a happy life and was ready for Death when he came.

Roxxanne was a cheerleader. She had dyed her hair red and streaked it with three different colors. Her numerous friends loved hanging out with her. She was never without a friend in her classes.

- - -
Thomas married a young, beautiful girl when he was 26. She was pregnant with his son. But Thomas was suddenly called away from his new family to attend to his parents. When he got the letter from his wife that she had given birth to a healthy son, he begged to go back to her.

He was shot before he saw her, or his son.

- - -
George visited the local high school to talk about his job and his company. Despite his age, he got along well with the students. He met with and talked to each and every single one of them. They were eager to ask him questions about his life.

One student was absent from the assembly.

- - -
Roxxanne took a vacation to Europe with her family. Her mother insisted on seeing the smaller towns to see the traditional European way of life. Roxxanne absorbed the history of each country they visited by buying a book.

One bookstore was closed, and she never bought a book.

- - -
Azzurra was at her high school's ten-year reunion. Her interest in books brought her to the library where she examined their collection. She pulled down a copy of a journal they had from a century ago.

She was called away before she could open it.

- - -
The son's name was George.
Roxxane was absent.
Azzurra had closed shop for the day.
The diary belonged to Thomas.

Everyone is connected. Time and space are irrelevant. A simple decision you make today can change the course of your life.

If Thomas had waited until his affairs with his parents were settled, he would have gotten to see his wife and new son.
If George had had a father growing up, he would have ended up attending law school and been killed in his 30s.
If Roxxanne hadn't have skipped the assembly, she would have been asked out by the boy she liked.
If Azzurra didn't attend her high school reunion, she would have been mugged in an alley on her way home from work that night.

One decision can change a life.

Think about it.