The Old Man and the Chair

By Álvaro López

After moving to a rural area far away from the city, a young man meets an old man who is very well-respected in the town. Over time, they become good friends and the old man advises him to be humble, because a humble person is welcome anywhere; to always seek wisdom and to stay away from people that cause problems. The old man tells him things from his life, his sadness and joy. The young man treasures the old man’s valuable advice, considers him one of his best friends, and tells him about the dreams he has had, his experiences and many more things that nobody knew.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palibrio
• Release date: Feb 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781506540023

Álvaro López

Álvaro López nació en el Departamento Jutiapa, Guatemala de padres guatemaltecos orgulloso de su descendencia, escritor de nacimiento. A los ocho años participó por primera vez en un concurso de poesía, donde ganó el primer lugar en su escuela primaria. Fue así que empezó a practicar más en la; poesía, dramas, comedias, pero siempre resaltaba más en la poesía. A los diez años escribió en el salón de clases su primer poema “Amor.” Y a los dieciocho años emigró por primera vez de su natal Guatemala, en busca de un mejor futuro. Trabajó en barcos turísticos viajando por; Canadá, Alaska Estados Unidos, Islas de Caribe y México. Durante el tiempo libre uno de los lugares favoritos del autor era la proa del barco donde contemplaba; la grandeza del mar, el amanecer y ver como el sol se ocultaba en el atardecer. Aquellos momentos lo utilizaba para inspirarse y escribir sus poemas. En uno de esos viajes mientras escribía conoció a su amigo, quien le apoyó a que escribiera un libro. 1993 llego al estado de New Jersey, donde continuo sus estudios en; Mercer Country Community College, Spanish Easter Bible Institute of the Assemblies of God, Omega Vega School of Urban & Globlal Mission, Radio Manantial en Cristo. Lo que más resalta como poeta es su sinceridad, al momento de escribir un poema. Dándonos a conocer en su primer libro publicado “Poemas de lo Profundo del Corazón.” 1999 conoce a Claudina Azogue de Ecuador, su gran amor con quien está felizmente casado y tienen tres hijos; Álvaro Javier, Kayla Sarai y Adriel Yair, en la actualidad reside en el estado de New Jersey, Estados Unidos.

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Copyright © 2022 by Álvaro López.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/02/2022

Palibrio

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Bloomington, IN 47403

431269

CONTENTS

Dedication

Introduction

Overview

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

DEDICATION

This book is first and foremost dedicated to God, as it is he who gives us the strength to continue forward and who illuminates our daily path.

It is also dedicated to my astounding and dear wife Claudina, my companion and my friend, who always offers me her support and love.

Last of all, it is dedicated to my children Álvaro, Kayla and Adriel López. Thank you for all of your support, love and understanding. I love you.

INTRODUCTION

The path of life is short and ends with a sigh. While Earth hangs on by a thread, who keeps your life upright? I am letting loose my thoughts today like torrents of water rushing over the avenue of life; I am running over the memories hanging on the walls of time as I navigate through them. I move swiftly, like a breeze sweeping over the streets of life.

In the decadence of silence, anguish chokes my heart and makes tears pool up in my sad eyes, which fade like the sun at sunset. I look for you during the clear nights of errant days, my love. Solitude is ripping me to pieces and the sea of sadness strikes me with its waves, but my ship is still willing to cross other seas and new horizons; my soul, worn down from so many disappointments, is still willing to keep your memory alive. Today, I will kindly close the door on them, as the days come and go and there is no human strength to keep them at bay.

Humans’ lives leave them like the sunset: how brief my sigh and how tired I am on this sad night! My pain grows; my agony has remained in the valley of melancholy along with my aching heart, as life leaves like a night vigil. To be honest, the only thing I know for sure is that my days go by as light as cloud and disappear in a light and pale reflection of life itself.

OVERVIEW

In this book, you will find advice, the life experiences of an old man, which, over time, have allowed him to reflect and make wise decisions. They are dreams hanging on the walls of memory, making his heart beat intensely as he remembers his beloved through verse, poetry and his thoughts. In the whispering of silence, they enter the depths of his heart and pluck the strings, the fibers of his soul, and draw up tears and sobs in the narrow alleyway of agony.

Solitude—a dear companion—clenches down in the darkness; the sea of anguish raises its waves and shakes feelings anchored in the memories of yesterday. But despite it all, the old man finds the perfect moment to release his cries and to talk with the Creator of Life. Using these experiences, he finds the strength to continue forward along the path of life.

As you read this book, you will discover that despite your pain, sadness or anguish, God is always at your side. He has the solution for our problems. Every morning, he offers us an opportunity to be happy. He gives us life and fills our hearts with joy.

CHAPTER 1

One day, an old man sat down on his chair, which had been worn down by the passing of time. In silence, he asked himself questions.

Everything I have lived, what is it? It’s no more than yesterday’s shadows and the blurry recollections hanging in my memory. What’s the point of bragging about all of the power that I have had if today I’m losing my strength and my eyes are fading away like the sun at sunset? Where are the friends that said that they would be at my side until I died? The wind has blown their promises away to who knows where.

What can I take home from my experiences if they all slip away like smoke, like fog between my fingers? The bones of my aching body squeak like the nails holding up his chair, as the days come and go, and no human strength can keep them standing. Some people worry about what comes after death, and others don’t even think about tomorrow. They smile in vain, pile up treasures, and their souls are never satisfied. In doing so, they forget about their life each day. Do they even realize that one day they will die, that we all flow towards the sea like a river? Someone once said that there are only two paths to follow: everyone knows inside himself which one he will take.

So, what have I truly amounted to? The little that remains in memory. And most importantly: what will I become? The same thing that I was? I don’t think so; I’m no longer the same man I was yesterday: I count my days in silence; my back curves forward and my knees hurt from the weight of the years burdening my being.

I know that nothing on Earth can give me back the days of my youth, as everything comes to pass, like yesterday. Maybe there’s something that will bring me back my youth, my days as a young man filled with vigor… You only live once: that’s how the Creator of Life has made things. Have people forgotten the principles that he has set? Has the human mind been filled with pleasures, corruption, lust and forbidden love, slowly scorching the tender twinkle of the conscience? That’s why we are in decline and our spirits in pain.

What’s the point of accumulating so many treasures if you can’t analyze things deeply or enjoy the sunset or dawn? What’s the point if you can’t contemplate the strings of the soul weaving thoughts on the mind’s surface?

Honestly, I say it from the depths of my heart: is it worth it to pile up so much fatigue, to accumulate so many treasures while casting God aside? I don’t think so, as everything comes to pass and the Creator of Life awaits us at the end of the tunnel. In the end, we will settle accounts for the life that we live…

Later, a moment of silence passed and a tear rolled down the old man’s cheek as the breeze ruffled the leaves of the orange tree at the entrance to the house. He looked up to the sky and uttered through his teeth.

At the lowest points on my journey

my thoughts flew away,

my thoughts flew away,

over the desolate streets,

A step away from my maze, my heart cried

and my life nearly left me behind

through the broken veins of the decadence of time

during my final days.

My pain grew in size,

my pain grew in size,

and my body trembled

in the remoteness

that oblivion sires.

I dragged myself along the narrow alleyway of agony,

confused and cheerless,

my eyes filled with tears.

I called out to the Creator of Life:

My Lord, my Lord, save me,

else I shall perish in my agony.

The old man fell asleep for a moment in his chair. A young man watched him for a few seconds. The old man’s wrinkled hands were evidence of the hard work of his long life; his forehead marked by time and his white hair showed his age. As it was late, the young man helped him to lie down, gave him a kiss on the forehead and shared a few words.

Good night, I hope you sleep well.

Will I see you again tomorrow, or will keep this day that you talked with me in your memory only? the old man asked, somewhat sad because he wasn’t sure whether the young man would come back the next day.

Rest, because you seem indifferent to life, distracted, sad, as if you were trapped in the memories remaining in yesterday’s shadows.

The old man remained silent after listening to the young man. "What