[ FF ] A man has twenty minutes to live and what he wants most is a cigarette

*Twenty* 
 
 The first thing he'd seen was the dog. That's when he'd braked. 
 
 *Fifteen* 
 
 Then he saw the boy. That's when he swerved. 
 
 *Ten* 
 
 He looked up at the clock. 11:50. Ten to go. With hands shaking and lips trembling, he raised the second-to-last one to his lips, struck a match and breathed in. It was all he had left. 
 
 *Five* 
 
 Time for one more. With the still burning end, the last was lit. He breathed in, leaned back against the tree and smiled. 
 
 *Two* 
 
 The last words from his mouth were, `` I'm sorry... 
 
 *One* 
 
... Happy birthday.'' 
 
 He looked down. The pack was empty. He sighed and checked the time. Time to go.
