Wheel Of Life

The Autumn sun was shining as Mark headed out of his busy apartment building. He was heading towards the train station for a meeting with his company Director. Mark had recently applied for a promotion as a Senior Manager and today was the day to find out if he was successful.

He walked past many apartments similar to his, tall multistory buildings built recently to accommodate the cities massive growth in population. The streets were immaculate and electric cars drove past silently on the busy roads.

Mark headed towards the end of the road through the bustling crowds. He reached the end and pressed the crossing button on the lights. The traffic soon came to a stop and he crossed the road towards the park on the other side.

The park was large for this busy metropolis, and along with the rest of this city, it was pleasing to the eye, with tall oak trees that lined the pathways and beautiful rose gardens. It was an enjoyable part of Mark's commute to walk through. This park has been built to commemorate a famous landmark event that happened in the city several years ago.

In the park children played, both in the play park and on the adjoining sports pitches. Near the park was an Doughnut and Pastry Stall which sold it's delicacies to the local community. Mark headed across to buy his morning coffee and Chocolate Brioche.

"Good Morning Michelle!", Called Mark.

"Good Morning Mark, the usual?" she replied.

"Yes please Michelle! How are the kids?" Mark asked.

"They are well Mark, you look well dressed today, a special occasion?" Replied Michelle.

Mark was dressed in one of his best suits, it was a navy blue 3 piece, with 3 buttons on the suit jacket. The collar of his crisp white shirt was button to the top, with a patterned tie that matched well with his suit.

"I have a meeting with the Director today!" Mark replied.

"Ooooh, for the promotion?" hinted Michelle, "I Have high hopes for you Mark"

"Thanks Michelle, it means a lot. I think it's my time for some good karma for once." he replied. He took his food and left the stall, heading further through the park towards the train station on the other side.

Mark rejoined the bustling crowds as he reached the station, the station had a huge clock tower that rang ever hour. The time was currently 8:36 and Mark had ample time to reach his Train.

He headed through the electric barriers and swiped his annual pass that allowed him to walk through. Nerves were starting to take over as this was a huge opportunity at work if he was to get the new position. His team would grow and he would have enough money to look at purchasing his own house, rather than renting.

As he reached the platform he noticed a larger crowd than usual waiting for the train, they were rammed tight. He looked up at the electronic timetable and noticed the previous train due at this platform has been cancelled, causing the pile up of people.

He squeezed his way through the crowds, closer to the front. Worried he wouldn't be able to get on his train, therefore missing his meeting. Today he could not be late, he thought to himself.

"The next train will be arriving in 5 minutes at platform 4" announced the stations internal notification system.

Suddenly the bustling crowd started pushing closer to the front, people from the back wanting to get on the train, whilst the people at the front didn't want to loose their space for their next train.

Mark felt frustrated at the pushing, he felt the station could manage this better. With crowd management and a train service that actually worked would be ideal.

There was a scream, Mark looked across and a couple of people had suddenly fallen on to the track near him. The Scream didn't stop the crowds who continued to push. The people on the tracks looked to be a young man and woman.

"People on the tracks!" someone shouted.

"Stop pushing, we need help!", replied someone else.

The crowd slowed there pushing, as people removed there devices to photo and film the unfolding drama.

The man had stood up and was trying to climb back on to the platform. He was wearing a suit and had to remove his jacket so that he had the freedom to reach up. The woman seemed stuck and a little dazed, She was also dressed smartly and her faced seemed bruised from the fall.

"The next train will be arriving in 2 minutes at platform 4" announced the station notification system.

The girl looked up, her deep blue eyes catching Mark's. She had fear on her face as she struggled to stand up.

"Shit!" exclaimed Mark.

He lent down and reached towards him and the man next to him who was also trying to help.

"Stop the train!" someone shouted. The trains were on an automatic system and would need a station manager to shut them down. However the crowd was so packed the station manager couldn't get to his booth to do anything about it.

Suddenly Mark was on the tracks grabbing the girl. He didn't know how he got there, he just new that when he saw her eyes, she was crying for help. Mark was the kind of guy that would help.

Once a Kitten was stuck on a tree near his apartment, it cried and cried for hours. He hated cats, but he couldn't see a creature in fear. He climbed the tree, grasped the Kitten and brought it down. He suffered several scratches and no gratitude, but it was the right thing to do.

"We need to move!" he sternly instructed the girl. He grabbed her under his arm and lifted her up. Her ankle was twisted awkwardly and she screamed in agony as he moved her.

"Emma, hurry!" shouted the young man who had just been lifted on to the platform by the crowd.

Mark reached the platform edge, lifting Emma to crowd above, the man that was trying to help him earlier reached down and grabbed Emma's arm.

Mark was reasonably strong, he exercised regularly in the company gym, and had been a sports enthusiast through most of his life. He pushed Emma up and she was slowly lifted on to the platform.

Mark reached up, people leaning down to help him.

*Honk Honk*

Mark looked to his side and saw two beaming white lights coming at him.

...

...

All Mark could hear was silence, he looked around and saw an endless white void. Nothingness everywhere, yet he felt tranquil and at peace.

He put his hands in front of him and tried to walk forwards, he felt like he was moving, yet space around him stayed stationary.

"Am I dead?" he asked out loud.

"Congratulations lucky soul, you are the 1 trillionth winner of the good karma award. As a special commemoration, you are allowed to spin the wheel of life!" a loud booming voice exclaimed.

"The wheel of life? Where am I?" Mark shouted in response.

"Dead, duh!" replied the booming voice, "but do not worry, you have died many times before and experienced samsara"

"Samsara? Dead?" Mark exclaimed, "The train, the girl, my life!"

"Yes, yes. Now you understand yes? Ok winner, I do not have long, billions of souls pass through here daily, from countless realms and countless species." replied the voice. "Through your cycles of reincarnation you always have good Karma, but this time you hit the jackpot. Congratulations! Would you like to spin?"

"Wait, reincarnation, wheel of life?" he asked. "The girl, did she live?"

"Yes, yes, she lived. Not that matters to you any more. She'll forever be grateful, but guilt will take her down a dark path for a short while. Thankfully she will be ok. One day she will marry, have children, her son will be named Mark after you her 'Hero'. He'll be successful in life and she'll die happy at the ripe old age of 87." The voice explained.

"Now we arent really getting anywhere fast, so your choices:

Reincarnate, go back to 'Earth' and enjoy the life of a human again, or if you would like I'll let you choose any species on earth? Have you ever seen a Rare Flying Chameleon from New Zealand? Nope? thought not, they have a great life, fly around, invisible, lots of fun.

New Realm maybe? Earth is just one planet in the cosmos, you could be a bacteria on a moon of Jupiter? Sorry not much intelligent life out there, still there is life.

Or you could spin the wheel, it's a one in a millenia opportunity. Who knows what could happen? Even I don't! But I know it will be fun!" The voice offered.

"Erm, I mean, I've just died, I haven't even come to terms with that and you expect me to decide on this?' Mark asked.

"Good point!" replied the voice. "I'll decide for you, wheel spin it is then!"