As the reader finishes this story the question arises: did one person's fortune have more to do with motivation than with timing? Was it the narrator's courage that was the saving grace, and the poor man's lack of courage that did him in? The moral of the story suggests perhaps this may be the case.
You certainly managed to work the prompt in creatively. Good job! Thank you for posting the story in the Ink Well community. Have you read and commented on the work of at least two other writers this week? (See The Ink Well community rules on our home page.) This helps our community thrive, and also makes you eligible to be chosen for a spotlight in our weekly highlights magazine. Thank you!