European Psychic

He had a pain in his leg
and had not been to the doctor
in over forty years.
Something he was proud of,
something his wife hated.
He didn't want to worry her
and irritate her weak heart,
but he was sure it was cancer.

He decided to go to a psychic,
the one he passed everyday on his walk
to the park, the one on Peterson.
European Psychic the sign read.

He asked her
when he was going
to die.

She told him.

He left quickly,
put on his hat
mid stride.
He walked about a hundred feet
before his mind locked
his body
in its
place.

He suddenly couldn't decide
how he should  breath.

Should he
conserve
his every
breath,
hoping
to change
his predicted
fate,

or should he breath rapidly, trying to get in every
breath possible
before
he died?