Fifth Man in the Room

Short Non-Fiction By George Frost

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The pain in my chest started at one in the morning, it was unbearable. I dialed 9-1-1, and the ambulance was on its way.  Sirens began to sound in the distance as I drifted away on a cloud between this world and the next.

It was only a few hours ago I was frantically trying to turn in my weekly online assignment.  I’d pressed submit, but something was wrong. The program kept showing errors.  I didn’t know what was going on.  This app was set up for student access, but at this moment in time, no access was being granted.  Being late meant a reduction in my grade, which was a slap in the face.  Foul words began to flow from my mouth.  Amy, my wife, kept begging me to take it easy.  Easy? She didn’t have a deadline.  On the fourth attempt, the computer confirmed the assignment was submitted.

Success, hallelujah! Blood pressure would go back to normal, right? Not a chance.