The Shadow

Professor Kass was the wealthiest most stubborn man in the city. He had never worked a day in his life. He had his teeth nicely cleaned monthly and visited the barber weekly. He was not actually a professor. He had a ton of books and played card games in his library. He had never so much read one of the books. He like many other arrogant men had inherited his fortune from his hard working father. Unlike his father he lived lavishly. Each week he would host a party. They would gamble and drink beer and fraternize with women. The reason why Professor Kass wouldn’t marry is he did not want to share his wealth. Tomorrow would begin his biggest adventure. He was going to go to Palau on a tropical getaway. Like always, he was going to fly first class.

On the plane Professor Kass had ordered an array of dishes and liqueurs. Contented he fell asleep. He dreamt placidly of a calm beach while watching the waves lap at the sands. He slept all through the plane ride. When he got off the plane and arrived at his tropical paradise he was unhappy to see it was nightfall. He went to his hotel and having already slept stared out into the darkness. It was then that he saw the shadow. His hotel window showed the beachfront. While the beach was deserted, he could see a shadow of a man. Intrigued, he listened intently. He heard his name uttered. The name he never used-his given name-Mason.

He closed his eyes thinking he had merely just heard creaking. However, time and time again he heard a voice beckoning him. He looked again at the shadow and saw it had a hand extended. He chided himself arguing it was just his imagination. After all, it had been a long plane ride. Or perhaps he may have had too much to drink. He lay on his bed when suddenly came a tapping at his window. He heard his name called again and this time he put a robe on and walked towards the shadow. There sitting on a feeble chair was an old man in tattered clothing.

It took him some time to realize this man was himself. The man seeing he did not need to introduce himself mentioned to Professor Kass that he was from the future. “I’m rich and can’t be you,” said Professor Kass. The man with a wave of his hand projected a lucid video. It was of Professor Kass’ mansion getting raided and robbed. Furious, Professor Kass started to walk away, then turned back. “Why have you shown me this foolishness”, he chided his older self. The man replied that since Professor Kass only valued money and only had money to show for, he was destined to lose it. He closed his eyes for a moment to process what poverty would feel like. No more gambling or parties, no more frolicking with pretty women…He decided it was time to change his life. He opened his eyes about to talk to his future self, but the man had gone.

He went back to his hotel and thought long and hard. His riches would be temporary but if he used them to better the world, they would not be lost. He decided that this tropical getaway would have to wait. He flew home economy class and started figuring where to start donating his money. He started volunteering and purchased property to feed and clothe homeless people. His old friends declared him soft and left him. He decided they were not really friends after all. They only valued money. He dedicated the rest of his life to helping others. Till the end of his days, he questioned whether he had dreamt of the older version of himself. Whatever it was, that was the vision to who he was supposed to become.