Four seconds · 10. February 2007
On my way to a friend I needed to cross a street with heavy traffic. As I was told back in my early school days, I go down the road, looking for traffic lights, which I found just a few hundred metres ahead.
As I approach them I notice that somebody just pressed the button, approximately four seconds before I would have done it. I guess it was pressed by a couple waiting on the other side of the road.
I start to think: As they pushed the button four seconds earlier, the traffic lights will turn green four seconds earlier. I will be able to cross the street four seconds earlier. I will arrive at my friend’s place four seconds in advance. My life is four seconds ahead.
When finally crossing the street I smile at the cople to express my gratitude. Maybe they will understand. Maybe they won’t. But I don’t really care.
I gained four seconds!
Unfortunately the Bus I need to take is just in time. The driver didn’t know about those four seconds.
I lost them again.
— Kristian Sinclair
