In the tenth second of forever I thought of the sea and a white yacht drifting. In the ninth second of forever I remembered a warm room where voices played. In the eighth second of forever I thought of the life I would not lead. In the seventh second of forever I thought of a leaf, a stone, a plastic fragment of a child's toy. In the sixth second of forever I saw your mouth whispering something I could hear. In the fifth second of forever I thought of the vermillion deserts of Mars, the jewelled forests of Venus. In the fourth second of forever I could remember nothing that I did not love. In the third second of forever I thought of rain against a window, I thought of the wind. In the second second of forever I thought of a pair of broken shades lying on the tarmac. In the first and final second of forever I thought of the long past that had led to now And never... Never... Never...