The two hands rhythmically creeped closer, tracing out the familiar path to meet one another.  How many times has this path been taken? It must be far higher than any human could ever count. Each time they trace the path to find the other in the same comfortable spot as they were once before.  Yet, their meeting it fleeting, and they will soon part. But their parting is not one to mourn because they will not be separated for long.  As the world changes around them, the single thing that can always be relied upon is their reunitement.  Or is that simply what we are lead ourselves to believe to possess some form of lasting stability? Are these meetings truly infinite or will they reach one fateful last encounter? 
The two hands were nearly touching now, and Benjamin could not divert his gaze from them.  He longed for their meeting, he awaited their predicted encounter.  He waited.  Until finally the two hands met, and in that instant, a sharp, ear piercing bell rang and Benjamin peeled his eyes off of the clock reading 3 p.m. as he stood alongside the mass of people being dismissed.
He exited the schoolyard and began walking towards his home a few blocks north.  He passed he passed the wildly unkempt garden of Mrs. Johnson, who swears each day she will get around to trimming it.  Then he walks past the new library that seems to Benjamin as if it has been in the process of being built for years.  He continues his invariable path towards home, but becomes momentarily distracted as he passes the house of Bella Dukes.  She was not the conventional kind of beautiful, not like the types of girls you see on magazines or on Hollywood produced films.  She was not reserved in the way she spoke, but that does not mean she was rude or vulgar, it was that she never held back her feelings.  There was never a time when she was fearful of risk.  She was spontaneous and was always off on a new and enthralling adventure or mastering a new skill.  To Benjamin this was not intimidating, it was enticing and he grew increasingly intrigued by her.  He could not help but stare at the exterior of her house and wonder in what thrilling way was she occupying her time right now.  Benjamin was provoked to knock on her door and ask if she was free to see a movie later tonight, but he talked himself out of it by convincing himself someone of her spontaneity would most likely reject the offer to partake in something as typical as going for a movie.  Benjamin turned his body back towards the sidewalk and mindlessly walked home. 
He walked through his front door to see his father crouched in front of the television screen, unusually close with the volume abnormally high.  Benjamin thought it strange for no more than a moment and then attributed his father’s odd placement to him watching a playoffs game for football.  However, as Benjamin stepped closer he saw the screen was not painted with athletes in helmets, but with the face of a news reporter whose face was tensed to the point of wrinkling.  He could feel his nerves emanate through the inches of plastic and transfer onto his father’s face.  What could have happened now to elicit such a reaction from his rigid and stone-cold dad.  Benjamin stepped close enough to hear the words form the news reporters mouth now. He comprehended the fragmented statement “the approximated time before we can expect any dramatically painful temperature change is 20 minutes.  We anticipate that in 30 minutes the temperature will reach measurements unsuitable for human survival.  Again, this solar flare was unpredictable and nearly unpreventable, but scientists are working fervently to prevent the flare.  I apologize for the late receive notice but it is suggested that all necessary arrangements you see...uhm fit... should be taken should be made before the half hour is up.”  Benjamin's jaw dropped to the floor and feel to the crouch position beside his father.  This seemed surreal, and Benjamin was shocked this was not just a dream he could wake up form, this was happening. 
After spending about 5 minutes staring absentmindedly at the television and attempting to process the news he had just heard, Benjamin realized there was now only 25 minutes left for him to fill until there would be nothing left.  The seemingly reliable hands of the clock would cease to meet each other at 4 oclock.  He looked at the clock around his wrist that read 20 minutes to 4.  The next 5 minutes were filled with overwhelming wave of thoughts that came crashing down on him.  He was not old enough to be dying this soon, so much will be left incomplete or never experienced.  His mind was flooded with thoughts of Bella, and he was overcome with the urge confess his feelings for her before he left them unspoken forever.  He exchanged a heartfelt farewell with his father who seemed just as aghast and emotional about this abrupt news, then ran up the street he had come from once before.  Glancing at his watch as we reached Bella’s front porch steps he read 3:55.   He reached the top step and paused with his arm outstretched just before knocking.  It was as if time slowed to a halt in this moment, time was no longer fleeting, and in able to dictate his life, Benjamin now felt he had control over his own time.  He filled his lungs with a surplus of air and quickly pounded on the door 2 times before ripping his arm back in disbelief he had truly knocked.  The next few seconds seemed as if they were an eternity. But this eternity was was terminated by a soft click from the door lock, and Benjamin held his breath as the door creaked open.  Even in this state of terror, Bella greeted Benjamin with a smirk and inquired his reason for coming.
“Bella…” Benjamin started but his voice trailed off. 
He looked to his watch once more to see the hand were nearly touching. 
“Bella, I really like you and I know it doesn't really mean very much to say now but I couldn't leave that unsaid.”
Bella’s smirk gradually faded and she blankly looked at Benjamin for a few seconds.  Fear began to overtake Benjamin, he wished she would say something, anything, or simply convey some some emotion, but he was left with nothing but wonder.  He saw his watch was 1 minute away from 4 o’clock. 
“You don't have to say anything to that I just needed to tell you before I couldn't” Benjamin remarked in an effort to relieve the awkwardness.  Benjamin turned from the stairs and began to walk towards while staring at his watch to distract him from that which he had just done.  The minute hand was millimeters from meeting the hour hand now and Benjamin thought to himself, “this is it.” He watched as the the two hand were finally aligned and he clenched his eyes shut and covered his head with his arms, holding this position for at least a minute.  A dull silence swept over Benjamin and Bella.  Benjamin moved from his protective stance and turned back towards Bella, whose face was still unchanged.  They stared at each other for a few moments,  before Bella’s face  broke its repose and she motioned for Benjamin to come inside.   He looked down at the hands to see they had parted, and he climbed the stairs to her front door.