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The Favour; What Is Happiness by Royden V Chan



The Favour


She had over-slept. There was no time to make her usual


breakfast — she would be late for work and that would


be the first time in forty years.


She opted to pick up something at a coffee shop on the way


to her bus stop.


The line there was long and slow and if she waited to


be served she would miss her bus. She decided to leave,

but as she was about to go, the cashier signaled her


to the front of the queue and took her order.


”You are so kind. How much do I owe?”


The young girl smiled affectionately as she gave her


the cash register slip.


”No charge.”


When she was seated on her bus she looked at the


receipt on which was printed:


”Staff”


and scribbled on the bottom was:


”I never forget a favour.”



What is happiness?


You seek the definition of something


that is beyond all boundaries.


An emotion, as complex and


as variant, in essence and content


as nature itself.

Is it possible,


to find the chemistry of this solution?


Or perhaps to weave some mantle of permanence


from this ephemeral thing?


Or could we grasp


our fleeting joys or pleasures


and clasp them to our breast


so as to drain their nectar content dry


and by doing so


sweeten all the sea of our life’s bitter existence?

NO!

It will remain as it is —


a temporary, transient thing,


an unreal reality, that links


the chain of endurance for the living.


An eternity of happiness is the heritage of the dead.

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