Create a fictional person who is like you in some significant ways.
Tony watched as a small turtle crept off the pavement and towards the pond. He was leaning on the car door with a phone to his head, as he had been half an hour ago when he found the turtle. “Yes, I’m okay, life goes on.” The turtle took a step. “Look, you just ruined my day for me. As much as I still love you, I’d rather not talk to you. Not for a while.” Another step. “Bye.” He dialed another number. “Hey, I’m running late. Don’t hold dinner for me.”
It was dark. The parking lot had emptied, and he too would need to head home soon, but not yet. His life had reversed at the whim of a few intangible waves carried cross-country by the combined ingenuity of mankind, and in all their wisdom they had not prepared for the inevitability in which Tony now found himself.
The turtle plodded on oblivious to Tony’s self-pity. “You and I are not so different,” he said. The turtle took another step. “I have a deadline at work. I wish I had your determination.” Silence. And Tony sat in it as the turtle vanished into the pond.
Tony forced a smile, glad that the nighttime darkness hid the corners of his mouth that were struggling to stay raised. And when his mind finally wandered to thoughts of dinner, he sat back down behind the wheel. “You’ve got it figured out, little dude.”
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