The End of the World

ArtemisMouse · Dec 24, 2004, 05:48 AM

A short story about the world ending...

He was deep within his thoughts. There didn't seem to be
anyplace else to go at the time. The fog was coming. It was almost
funny in a morbid way, who would have thought that the world would
end by literally being erased. For his own part, he had always
believed that the end would involve more panic. Here, there was no
panic. Everyone was too numb to do much more than react to their
immediate surroundings.

If it had been within his power, he would have done anything to
provide some answers to life's questions. Especially now. He was
supposed to be able to remember anything, so why was it that no
matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember the meaning to any of
this incredibly complicated life we are supposed to lead? Instead,
the only thing that came to mind was his mother's face. He found
himself unable to turn away from the thought of her, and he could
only hope that she would understand...

His mothers face eventually went away. It was replaced by others.
These were the faces of people who he had spoken to over the years,
both in person and over the radio. He didn't know how he could see
their faces when he had only spoken to them, but now didn't seem
like a time to argue. The world was ending, semantics could wait.
Licking his dry lips, he tried again to summon something
positive into his mind. Turning to the other two, he tried to
speak, failed, and tried again. "I'm scared... don't mind admitting
it. How about you?"

"No. I don't think so. It's the end of the world and I don't plan on spending my last few moments in fear."

Standing beside the embracing couple, he smiled. "You're right
of course. Shouldn't be afraid to move on." He was babbling and he
knew it. He shook his head. These two deserved to be alone. They
didn't need him ruining their time. Instead, he spoke quietly once
more, to himself. "The end of the world? At least whatever this is
doesn't seem to care what we do while we wait. Myself, I'm going to
sit here and remember every last episode of Mr. Ed."

Everyone was gone. So far as he could tell, he was the last to
disappear, die, and move on, whatever you wanted to call it. It
would have been amusing if it weren't so terrifying. His was the
power to remember everything, and it seemed that life had a cruel
sense of humor, as he would be alone for a few moments to remember
it all as it had once been.

Memories that couldn't be his own were flooding his mind. Dances he
had never danced, songs he had never sung, lovers he had never
loved. Each memory was as strong as one of his own true memories. It
was as though the world itself were trying to preserve itself for as
long as possible before submitting to the fate of all beings, living
or not.

Names, dates, and faces flew into his mind faster than he could sort
them out. He even remembered dying... dying over and over again in
so many different ways. Death was large part of his memories, but
not the biggest.

The most important memory he had, was one that he had always
possessed. His most important memory played over and over again in
his mind as the end came to claim him at last. The memory was being
born. It was the memory of living.

And it was worth it... oh so worth it.
[color=white][/color]

Falstaff · Dec 24, 2004, 06:00 AM

Interesting AM, you are a prolific writer in your own right, how are you shoes?

ArtemisMouse · Dec 24, 2004, 06:06 AM

Beautiful, just beautiful. I can now dance.

Well, no I can't. But then again, I never could.

Falstaff · Dec 24, 2004, 06:21 AM

I went to the Frank Zappa dancing school, and can truthfully say my money was refunded...LOL

TheOpposition · Dec 25, 2004, 04:39 PM

Good stuff Artemis. Makes me want to finish the one I started a month ago lol. I have so much unfinished crap

Drakon · Dec 25, 2004, 05:16 PM

good stuff, reminds me of The Stand by Stephen King.

Falstaff · Dec 25, 2004, 06:41 PM

Artemis Mouse is a good writer as well, you should read his short novellas, the kid is good.

ArtemisMouse · Dec 28, 2004, 10:20 AM

Those short novellas are supposed to be real novels, if I could ever keep my focus on one story instead of six different ones.

Dec 24, 2004, 05:48 AM	#1
ArtemisMouse DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	The End of the World A short story about the world ending... He was deep within his thoughts. There didn't seem to be anyplace else to go at the time. The fog was coming. It was almost funny in a morbid way, who would have thought that the world would end by literally being erased. For his own part, he had always believed that the end would involve more panic. Here, there was no panic. Everyone was too numb to do much more than react to their immediate surroundings. If it had been within his power, he would have done anything to provide some answers to life's questions. Especially now. He was supposed to be able to remember anything, so why was it that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember the meaning to any of this incredibly complicated life we are supposed to lead? Instead, the only thing that came to mind was his mother's face. He found himself unable to turn away from the thought of her, and he could only hope that she would understand... His mothers face eventually went away. It was replaced by others. These were the faces of people who he had spoken to over the years, both in person and over the radio. He didn't know how he could see their faces when he had only spoken to them, but now didn't seem like a time to argue. The world was ending, semantics could wait. Licking his dry lips, he tried again to summon something positive into his mind. Turning to the other two, he tried to speak, failed, and tried again. "I'm scared... don't mind admitting it. How about you?" "No. I don't think so. It's the end of the world and I don't plan on spending my last few moments in fear." Standing beside the embracing couple, he smiled. "You're right of course. Shouldn't be afraid to move on." He was babbling and he knew it. He shook his head. These two deserved to be alone. They didn't need him ruining their time. Instead, he spoke quietly once more, to himself. "The end of the world? At least whatever this is doesn't seem to care what we do while we wait. Myself, I'm going to sit here and remember every last episode of Mr. Ed." Everyone was gone. So far as he could tell, he was the last to disappear, die, and move on, whatever you wanted to call it. It would have been amusing if it weren't so terrifying. His was the power to remember everything, and it seemed that life had a cruel sense of humor, as he would be alone for a few moments to remember it all as it had once been. Memories that couldn't be his own were flooding his mind. Dances he had never danced, songs he had never sung, lovers he had never loved. Each memory was as strong as one of his own true memories. It was as though the world itself were trying to preserve itself for as long as possible before submitting to the fate of all beings, living or not. Names, dates, and faces flew into his mind faster than he could sort them out. He even remembered dying... dying over and over again in so many different ways. Death was large part of his memories, but not the biggest. The most important memory he had, was one that he had always possessed. His most important memory played over and over again in his mind as the end came to claim him at last. The memory was being born. It was the memory of living. And it was worth it... oh so worth it. [color=white][/color] __________________

Dec 24, 2004, 06:00 AM	#2
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	Interesting AM, you are a prolific writer in your own right, how are you shoes? __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Dec 24, 2004, 06:06 AM	Thread Starter #3
ArtemisMouse DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	Beautiful, just beautiful. I can now dance. Well, no I can't. But then again, I never could. __________________

Dec 24, 2004, 06:21 AM	#4
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	I went to the Frank Zappa dancing school, and can truthfully say my money was refunded...LOL __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Dec 25, 2004, 04:39 PM	#5
TheOpposition DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 27 Rep Power: 0	Good stuff Artemis. Makes me want to finish the one I started a month ago lol. I have so much unfinished crap __________________ "Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining, or testing your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live." -- Captain Cobol --

Dec 25, 2004, 05:16 PM	#6
Drakon DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Floatin'... Posts: 4,957 Rep Power: 0	good stuff, reminds me of The Stand by Stephen King.

Dec 25, 2004, 06:41 PM	#7
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	Artemis Mouse is a good writer as well, you should read his short novellas, the kid is good. __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Dec 28, 2004, 10:20 AM	Thread Starter #8
ArtemisMouse DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	Those short novellas are supposed to be real novels, if I could ever keep my focus on one story instead of six different ones. __________________