"H"

One letter was all the letter contained, and I pondered it over a cup of morning coffee. What could it mean? H is not an uncommon letter, but neither does it really have many clear associations. I did not know anyone whose name started with H, at least, not that I could think of. No clubs or organizations came to mind, no, there was nothing that this could possibly mean, and yet I continued to ponder it on my drive to work, and while at work and when I went home. Such did this letter vex me so that I could barely sleep that night, not till the morning Sun greeted my eyes and I realized that I had but a few hours to sleep before my speech that morning.

Alas, sleep continued to evade me long into the morning hours, and I arose from bed with a sigh. One, two, three cups of coffee and then I was away to the university, where he sat there on a bench. From a long way off we saw one another, a sly smile forming on his lips as I got closer.

"You look awful," he said to me, malice behind his eyes.

I stopped short there and then. I then laughed, the kind of laugh that is laughed when one realizes something far too late, and I fell to the ground. Of course, the letter meant nothing, of course! There is no meaning behind "H," it was simply his mind games, and I feel for it, hook, line, sinker.

His smile grew wider, and he stood and walked off, going to give his speech, which would surely surpass mine. Not only had he been able to rehearse last night, but also sleep, something I could only dream of. Now he would surely win the competition, and I would be left behind. I had played right into his hands.