Fika (noun): a moment to slowly appreciate life

He was an ordinary man.

…With an exceptional background. Graduating out of his top-ranking high school as valedictorian and walking out of Harvard with a master’s degree in hand, he lived the dream of every child if not their parent.

And he was currently admiring some wildflowers.

They were very small; tiny petals of powdery pink surrounding little yellow pistil in its center. Barely anyone noticed them, for their roots took hold in a dimly-lit alley next to a vibrant flower shop.

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Gently, he tore one out.

In his hand, the lovely flower instantly felt weaker and duller.

A wistful smile bloomed on his face. How different was this wildflower from the golden roses in the shop? How different was he from the flowers?

They were the same. Ephemeral bursts of beauty that lasted no more than a few days once they were ripped from the ground.

He knew deep down, that no matter how prestigious an achievement was in life, it would become meaningless, when he too, left the earth.

Remaining an ordinary man, he continued smiling as he left the alley.