Between Coke and Water

A lone man is walking in the dessert. His feet drags at the dry sand and in his eyes, there is a vacant look. “Water”, his dry lips crack. It has already been 3 days without water. His skin clings to his bones as he clings to the last hope of finding water.

Suddenly, he sees something shiny on his right. He turns and looks and behold! It is a glass of water! He musters the new energy hope brings, shoots out his right hand and grabs the glass of water. He takes a gulp from the glass. He smiles. The water refreshes his soul and new life pour into him. His eyes lose the vacant stare as hope, once again, glimmers in them. He raises the glass again and is about to take a second gulp when he notices something on his right.

It is a glass of ice cold Coke! He cannot believe his eyes! Coke! If water gives him life, then Coke gives him the will to live. Thirstily, he reaches out for the glass of Coke.

“Stop, my friend.” Is he going crazy? His mind recognizes the speaker but his heart cannot believe it. In front of him stands the devil, red and glowing and on his face is a recognizable grin.

“I am here to offer you a proposal. In your left hand, you are holding onto a glass of Coke. In your right hand, you are holding onto a glass of water. Should you wish to drink the glass of Coke, you will have to forfeit your glass of water and vice versa. Now, make your choice.” The devil grins even more widely. It seems that he is enjoying this little game he is playing with the man.

The man looks at the glass of Coke. Oh, how mysterious and dark it looks. He can almost remember the taste on the tip of his tongue; to feel it sliding down his throat and swishes in his stomach. The man grasps at the strand of the memory as the desert sucks it out of him.

He looks at the glass of water. How bland and uninviting. Moreover, he has tasted it and has lost a bit of interest in it. Why should he still choose it?

“No! Water has saved your life! How can you discard it after it saved you?” He asks himself.

“You are going to die soon anyway. Why not have some pleasure before you are gone?” The devil must have an acquaintance living in him.

“Water will quench your thirst and you may survive this ordeal! You can drink coke for the rest of your life if you get to live.”

The man looks at the glass of Coke and water. The mind argues back and forth. Which one shall he choose? Which one.


Which one will you choose? Coke or water?


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This is what happened when I can't get to sleep at night. I'll start thinking of stories.