Five minutes

Speculative

Written in response to: "Set your story over the course of a few minutes; no flashbacks, no flashforwards." as part of Slow Down.

How long are five minutes?


Long enough to devour a sandwich.

Not long enough to put one together from scratch.

Long enough to buy a book.

Not long enough to re-read your favourite one.

Long enough to call a loved one.

Not long enough to talk to them for the last time.


I learnt the meaning of five minutes when I saw someone breathing their last. I know that being a doctor meant seeing many people's last five minutes, I was trained for that, programmed, even. But this time I was unprepared.


Possibly because this time that 'someone' was me.


1...2...3...4...5.

That's five minutes, and that's it.


Posted Jun 05, 2024
Share:

You must sign up or log in to submit a comment.

8 likes 35 comments

Akshaya Sutrave
December 28, 2025 11:21

Heyyyyy

Reply

Dhwani Jain
April 10, 2026 11:10

Hiya!

Reply

Charis Keith
April 21, 2025 02:22

Ok, wow.
When I saw how short this was I was just like "...?" but it didn't disappoint! How you managed to pack so much into 99 words I will never know. Kudos!

Reply

Dhwani Jain
April 22, 2025 06:25

Thank you so much!
Even I don't know how it did it 😅

Reply

Dhwani Jain
April 22, 2025 06:26

P.S.: It is actually 107 words ;)

Reply

Charis Keith
April 22, 2025 17:00

XD
Oops, shoot lol. My bad.

Reply

Dhwani Jain
May 10, 2025 04:46

Hehee

Reply

Maddie's Closet
December 29, 2024 17:17

oh my gosh, this is one of the best short stories i've read in a long time! was not expecting that. well done :)

Reply

Dhwani Jain
April 15, 2025 05:57

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!

Reply

This hits hard. I was not expecting the ending.

I like how you juxtapose the ideas of eating a generic sandwich quickly and buying a generic book with eating a homemade sandwich and reading a beloved book. If I knew I was going to die, I’d much rather reread one of my favorite books than go start a new one.

I like the back and forth yes-no-yes-no-yes-no that asks me what I see as more important. The things we really want to do takes time we may not have, and that can be really sad.

[Long enough to call a loved one.
Not long enough to talk to them for the last time.]
This part is especially good.

Great job, Dhwani!

How are you doing?

Reply

Dhwani Jain
July 28, 2024 18:09

Thank you so much for this amazing comment, Guadalupe!!!
I'm doing okay these days, some highs, some lows.
What about you?

Reply

Philia S
July 12, 2024 15:43

love the story, its kind of poetic the way its written lol(and kinda reminds me of that one einstein quote on relativity)

how are you? tis been so long :)

Reply

Dhwani Jain
July 12, 2024 18:03

Thank you so much Philiaaaa!!!
How have you been? (I have no idea what quote you are talking about)

I've been great, started college year 2.

Reply

Philia S
July 13, 2024 05:03

:)
topsy-turvy haha but s'alright :) (the one which goes like if youre sitting on hot cinders 2 minutes feel like 2 hours but if youre in the company of a hot girl, 2 hours seem like 2 minutes or something like that)

thats lovely! how's college?

Reply

Dhwani Jain
July 13, 2024 18:02

Cool
(ah, I've heard that one)

It's great! What about you? You're in school (which class)?

Reply

Philia S
July 14, 2024 11:37

Nice! What are you majoring in?
Yep, I'm in 11th :] crazy how i was in middle school when i joined reedsy and now im teetering on the edge of high school :')

Reply

Dhwani Jain
July 26, 2024 10:14

I don't have a major as such. I am pursuing a BBA degree from an IIM.
XD, I was in 10th when I joined and now here I am, in second year of college! How are you liking class 11? Which stream have you chosen?

Reply

Mae A. Shaw
June 09, 2024 21:28

It reminds me of that country song "Five More Minutes" by Scotty McCreery. Five minutes is a precious thing. Thanks for the reminder :)

Reply

Dhwani Jain
June 17, 2024 10:39

Heyyy
Thank you!
I haven't heard that song, but I will and get back to you.
(BTW, I wrote the story in five minutes too ;) )

Reply

Dhwani Jain
July 14, 2024 06:41

I just heard the song, and I LOVE IT!!!!!!
Thank you so much for the recommendation!

Reply

Reedsy | Default — Editors with Marker | 2024-05

Bring your publishing dreams to life

The world's best editors, designers, and marketers are on Reedsy. Come meet them.