If I’d not taken five minutes, Billy, my eleven-year-old son, would now be dead.
It could have been so different if I hadn’t decided to do what I’d been promising myself to do for the last five years. Just five minutes, that’s all it took.
The world of technology had taken over my life. Like most of the rest of humanity, my head was forever buried in a screen. Morning, noon and night, I couldn’t resist it. If I wasn’t checking my social media accounts or email every five-minutes, I felt like I was missing out. Missing out on a new world! A new world that just five minutes could change.
It was the distant sound of crying coming from Billy’s bedroom that forced me to bring my head up from the screen of my iPad. Why was he awake and sobbing at this ungodly hour?
When the familiar sound of a ‘ping’ came from my iPad, I could feel myself being pulled into the online world again. I’d made the mistake of looking down and seeing the fixed notification on the screen telling me that Rachel, my online mistress, was available.
Aroused by the thought of Rachel, my finger hovered over the Skype button, where I could instantly connect with her, while my ears picked up the sobbing coming from Billy’s room. What should I do? Check-in on Billy, or find out if Rachel’s was wearing that sexy nurses’ uniform and fishnet stockings?
Thank goodness I chose to take those five minutes wisely. You see, if I hadn’t used them to check in on Billy, I’d never have found out that he’d been contemplating suicide. Not only had the death of his mother, five-years earlier, taken him to the edge of a cliff, but my new online world and the neglect it had forced upon him had also taken him there.
The self-harm images he’d been looking at on his Instagram account were worlds apart from the images I’d been watching when Rachel was online. Ready to blackmail me, she’d had the camera ready to record me that night.
Not only had those five minutes saved the life of my Son, but they’d saved mine, too.
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Hugh's Views & News 
So sad,
Both father and son dealing with lost in there own way.
Indeed, Aimer. So different in how they would have dealt with it before the age of technology.
True, but a father who burries himself in tech now probably would have burried himself in the bottle back then. Not any better.
And, unfortunately, that still something that happens today.
Yes, when you’re hurting yourself it’s hard to remember that others are too.
A powerful story, Hugh.
Thank you. I’m overwhelmed by the comments about this short story.
Wow! That’s quite a story, Hugh. Brilliant writing.
Thank you, Eugenia. I’m glad you enjoyed reading it.
My pleasure!
Well done, Hugh. I see so many young parents immersed in their phones instead of talking to their children these days.
It seems to be a common way of living these days, Stevie. What really gets me are those you are eating a lovely meal in a restaurant, but are immersed in their phones rather than speaking with one another.
Yes, that annoys me too. Why bother to go out?
Wow, deep thoughts on this dark story, Hugh and a good reminder we can all write a post using 5. Your third book in the Glimpses series is already collecting I see! I’ll be incubating a post this week while in Hawaii 🌺
Thanks, Terri. From the comments, I think this story deserves a place in any next book. It took some time to come together, but only because I didn’t want to rush it. It was recent news events where I got the ideas for the story from.
I look forward to reading your blog post.
Have a lovely time in Hawaii. 🌞
Now that was five minutes of my precious time well spent! Loved reading your story, Hugh. And, I hope it will make people think about their online addictions.
It may make people think and take action, Liesebet, but I wonder for how long? I’m so pleased you enjoyed reading the story. I got the inspiration to write it from some recent news stories.
Great read, thanks for sharing.
Thank you, and you’re welcome.
Enthralling til the very end in true Hugh style! Such clever writing Hugh, especially sharing in the dangers of the digital world and life and death. Compelling! And a great number fiver! ❤
Wow! High praise, Debby, thank you so much. When the theme for this year’s competition was set, I had no ideas what to write. Over time, this story came to me, taking much of what was going on in today’s world into account.
You did a fabulous job of incorporating life Hugh. ❤
Very powerful Hugh … there are often woulda/shoulda/couldas and you covered them perfectly in this post. It’s too bad you can’t enter the competition as it would be a winner for sure.
That’s very kind of you to say, Linda. Thank you. I hope I’ve inspired others to give the competition a go.
You’re welcome Hugh. I think you have inspired others with that post.
That was a hard choice, a nurse in fishnet stockings or the son 🙂 Hugh, I did see the funny and serious side of your short story, and yes it is entirely believable!
Thank you, Suzanne. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Hugh, that was fantastic! Touched on so many real life issues today. Yet drew me in as soon as I saw the devices! 😂 great story thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Debbie. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I wanted to tell a modern-day story, yet also wanted it to have a dark side. ‘Technology’ seemed the right path for me to take.
Great story Hugh! A wake-up call for many of us.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
This is so relevant to the times, Hugh. Great storytelling as always.
Thank you, Eloise. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Are you going to give the competition a go?
I would love to Hugh.
Touching piece and quite believable in todays world. We have become slaves to technology especially as it is so mobile
We have, haven’t we? It’s certainly taking over the lives of many of us.
What an intense story and powerful lesson, Hugh. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Diana. Glad you enjoyed it.
Wow what a fabulous entry Hugh. You nailed those five minutes and made them matter. 🙂
Thank you, Marje. I hope it inspires others to have a go at writing something for the competition.
Nicely done – the story gave me a bit of chill. How close we all are to having our lives forever changed.
Thanks, Jan. Yes, indeed. Many of those using technology are always putting their lives on a knife-edge.
That’s given me chills.. as I stand here on my tablet cooking dinner whilst the kids are playing in the lounge… grrr to the distraction of social media..
I’m glad it gave you chills. We don’t know how close we are to changing our lives where technology is concerned.
I hope dinner was good.
Thanks Hugh, yes dinner was good
Wow. This has quite a lesson within it Hugh
Yes, it does, Ritu. Even I need to take its lessons and spend less time on technology. There’s a world out there that many of us now take for granted.
Too true… And I am even more guilty…
A really good entry, Hugh. Quite possible too.
Thank you, Robbie.
An extraordinary write Hugh. Another, hopefully to slot into a new book. One of a collection of time maybe. Only a suggestion but *taps nose with forefinger * Remember who suggested it 😂🤣😁
Thanks so much, Ellen. It’s too late for the upcoming book, but it’s certainly something I will consider putting into book number 3. Are you going to enter the competition? If so, I look forward to reading your entry.
I am almost there Hugh, Just one more edit sweep. I am having oodles of problems, facebook blocking any link (5 weeks) from my blog so am a bit despondent. Not one reply from face book as to what I can do to rectify the problem (link not up to community standards). Despite six emails two phone calls. And numerous tricks people suggested. 😕🤐
I’ve been reading all about the Facebook problems. Luckily, I left Facebook two years ago. I see that many users are moving to a new social media platform called MeWe. I’ve had a look at it, but haven’t joined yet.
Good luck with your entry, Ellen.
Thank you.
Well done Hugh. Sadly, so true to life for many…
Yes, it seems to be something that we hear too much about in today’s world, Brigid.
Hi Hugh,
Great imagination and a life lesson included. I think you hit a home run (sorry, an American saying). HUGS
I’ve heard of that saying, Chuck. Thanks so much for the feedback.
Hugs to you.
Brilliant eye opener, this is so much a story for today Hugh very well done. It’s a shame you can’t enter Hugh it’s a very relevant story ❤
Thank you so much, Willow. I hope my entry inspires other writers and bloggers to give the competition a go. Thanks so much for sharing it too.
I hope it makes us all think too Hugh ❤
Hugh, an eye-opening story! Good model for the competition. Distractions can be fatal in many situations. 📚🎶 Christine
Thank you, Christine. I hope my entry inspires many others to have a go at the competition. ‘You gotta be in it to win it.’ 😀
This is a very thought-provoking piece….and a great model for this competition!
Thanks, Donna. I hope it helps inspire people to enter the competition. If I can do it, anybody can. 😀
I’m not so sure about that… 🙂
Really powerful story.
Thank you.
Well done, Hugh. Good luck.
Thanks, John. Unfortunately, I can’t enter it into the contest, but I hope it will inspire others to have a go.
Wow… this is a powerful story, Hugh. Well done! 🙂
Thank you, Penny.