He was scared…frightened to leave his house…would stare out the windows in his living room at people as they walked-by…carrying groceries…kids skipping home after school…cars cruising up and down the street…he was scared…

Heard sirens going off…ambulances…fire trucks…cops…this frightened him even more…didn’t want any part of that world…stayed inside with the door double locked…living off apples and oranges…

And he slept most of the time…had dreams of when he was younger…back then his legs were quicker…stronger…used to run up the stairs at the train stations…didn’t need an elevator…

He’d dream of the old bars he used to go to…where he held court…telling jokes…picking up women…drinking til the early morning hours…this town was made for youth…

Now he just stays inside…looking out windows at people as they walk by…mostly young folks…people moving with a purpose…couples holding hands…a dog on a leash…

Now all he had was fear…fear of going out into a world he no longer knew…he was scared…just scared…

He poured another cup of tea…sipped at it…remembering the past…always thinking of the past…

You can’t live on the past…