One summer evening, Markus received a call as he was working late as usual, immediately he heard what the other person on the line had to say, the phone fell off his fingers as he became numb with shock. His best friend Lawrence walked in as he snapped out of the dazed look and pushed away all the papers on the table with a growl that sounded like it was dragged painfully out of him, he looked up at his friend and said,” Law, what have I done? I should have been there when she needed me. Instead I sent her money every time she needed to see me; I gave excuses that I was busy. I lost all my friends that meant a lot to me, I can’t even indulge in doing the things I love; I got caught up in pursuing shadows, instead of substance. The only person who stood by me and believed in me while every other person gave up on the “local boy” is gone because I never made out time to spend with her, even while she was in the hospital. I never enjoyed today’s gift because I always put it off for tomorrow, now my mother is gone and I never told her how much I Love her and appreciated or celebrated her.” Markus sat down and held his face in his hands and wept.