**Five Facets of Tomorrow**
*Diary Entry*
Well, our children will hopefully take care of us in our old agethats partly why we had them. But you, Mary, youve got a real problem, Nattie said with a mix of mockery and sympathy, refilling Marys glass with white wine.
Five women lounged under parasols on beanbag chairs by a beach bar in Brighton. The evening smelled of salt, pine, and a tinge of melancholy.
When her friends invited Marianow Maryto join them at a wellness retreat, she wasnt sure what to expect. To her, «retreat» sounded like something from a bygone eratrade unions, bad knees, medicinal baths, and boredom. Maybe, if she was lucky, a little harmless flirting by the seaside.
But it turned out to be a modern hotel, delicious food, spa treatments, and long walks through forests carpeted with emerald moss, listening to the whisper of pine needles and chasing sunbeams. The sea, though chilly and shallow, was still a joy. In both directions from the beach stretched nudist zones: to the left, womens; to the right, mens.
The womens side amused them. Were not half bad, compared!
But the mens side? They laughed out of sheer shock.
Bloody hell, look at that blokeless impressive than my grandsons! Lily snorted.
And that short blokes gone the opposite wayvanished into the roots, Tanya added.
Cheers, ladies! a male voice called back unexpectedly.
The women burst into laughter and hurried off, hiding their faces. Theyd forgottenBrighton wasnt *quite* abroad.
After dinner, no one wanted to leavethe treatments had left them energised. The beach bar played soft music, the sun sank into the sea, and conversation drifted toward the inevitable: aches, pains, and the spectre of old age.
One complained of high blood pressure, another of a sore arm, the third of sleepless nights. Then it turned to deeper fearsloneliness, children with lives of their own.
Mary tried to lighten the mood. The worlds gone madmight not even *have* to worry about getting old.
But the others were in full swing, swapping horror stories and fragile hopes.
Then Diana perked up. Remember when you lot lost me at the market the other day? I met an old woman selling odd stones. Bought this crystal from her. She pulled out a blue-green polyhedron with a chipped top. Said it shows the future.
Shows *what*? Nattie squinted.
The future, apparently. Her English was patchy, but she said, Five sessions left. Theres five of us. Why not try?
They laughed but touched the crystal anyway.
**First Vision: Nattie**
By eighty, Nattie had been a widow for five years. She lived in a spacious flat, kept herself sharp, though her eyesight faded.
Her daughter, a high-flying executive, was always busynever even married. She cared for her mother out of duty, not warmth.
One day, Nattie climbed a chair to fetch an old vase for her daughter. She fell. No breaks, just bruises. Her daughter gasped and moved her in just for a few days.
White kitchen, white walls, white despair.
When Nattie spilled tomato juice, her daughter snapped, Mum, why must you meddle?
Nattie tried to smile. Now your kitchens got some colour. Looked like an operating theatre before.
The joke fell flat.
**Second Vision: Diana**
Diana raised her son aloneeverything for him. He became a skilled programmer, married a German woman, and gave her all the love meant for his mother.
His wife was ice. The house, signed over for tax purposes, became hers.
Diana, frail and breathless, was tolerated but resented.
*Mum, dont interfere. Mum, dont fuss.*
She hid in her room, wept silently at night, smiled by morning.
One day, she called Nattie. I cant take it.
Then pack your bags. Move in with me. Well manage.
And they did.
One half-blind, one slow on her feetbut together, they coped.
They laughed at their shortcomings.
Youve swept all the dust into the corners again!
At least the middles clean!
Evenings were for debatespolitics, technology, happiness. They disagreed often, but it never mattered.
Nattie once mused, Maybe its good I cant see well. The worlds turned ugly.
Diana scoffed. Nonsense. Were just relics. The world moves on.
**Third Vision: Lily**
Lily had twin daughters. In old age, one took her in; the other visited with grandkids.
The house buzzed with laughter, smelled of popcorn and baby shampoo.
Gran, is it true you were born before the internet? a curly-haired boy gasped. Did you see mammoths?
Lily grinned. Aye. And sabre-toothed tigers!
The boy yelped and hid under the table.
She ruffled his hair, thinking, *This is joytiny curls and all.*
**Fourth Vision: Mary**
Mary, a doctor, spent most of her life alone. Two divorces, countless shifts, hundreds of patients. She worked, saved for retirementknew shed rely on no one.
When her strength waned, she chose a care homemodern, cosy, with gardens and Wednesday dances.
And there, she blossomed.
Shopping trips, excursions, bingo, new friends.
At a dance, a charming man with a rollator asked, May I have this cha-cha?
Mary laughed. If you can keep up. Maybe start slower?
**Fifth Vision: Tanya**
Tanya and her husband always dreamed of a seaside home. They bought onein Thailand.
Now they had a little paradise: a local woman cooked, cleaned, helped.
Her husband had suffered a stroke, but evenings, Tanya wheeled him to the shore.
They watched the sun sink into the ocean, talkingor sitting in comfortable silence.
Glad we made it, he whispered.
We did, she replied.
The visions faded. The women sat quiet.
The sky turned violet; waves murmured secrets.
Well, Tanya cleared her throat, not so bad, eh?
Quite the opposite, Diana smiled. Feels human.
Even beautiful, Nattie added. Fewer bruises, though. More wine to that?
They laughed.
The waiter brought another bottle. The crystal on the table caught the sunsetdim but persistent. Unbroken. Unfaded. Just clearer.
Let it be so, Mary said.
Old age is still life, Lily mused, pouring a glass. Just a different time of day.
They clinked glasses, and the sea sighed in agreement.
**Lesson:** No futures set in stonebut shared, its easier to bear.
