It’s Not the End of the World

It’s Not the End of the World

The pool water felt cool, the soft lapping probably the last sound I’d ever hear.

It was okay. I’d had a good run. We all had.

The horizon blossomed as a second sun seemed to descend. If the estimates were right, the shock wave would hit in ten minutes. I probably wouldn’t be around for the subsequent mile-high tsunami.

The apocalyptic light faded.

5 minutes.

8

9

10

. . .

11

12

A light wind blew, smelling like ozone. I checked the news. The asteroid was “smaller than anticipated”. Oops, our bad.

I needed to celebrate being alive.

Maybe I’d get barbecue.

29 Comments Add yours

  1. Sure feels like the end of the world so I like what you wrote. There’s hope in that small asteroid

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I guess I was in an apocalyptic frame of mind, but optimistic, as usual. There’s always hope.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. That really made me laugh…such a you remark. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. You know me. 🙂

        Like

  2. The deflection to fast food was oh so swift

    Liked by 1 person

    1. eh, almost dying makes a person hungry, I guess. 🙂

      Like

  3. I like how the narrator is so nonchalant throughout.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’d like to think I’d be like this, but you never know until you’re there. And hopefully I never will be. Thanks for reading, Bernadette. Have a great weekend.
      – David

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Dale's avatar Dale says:

    Hahahaha! So typical of the weather alerts. Almost always overblown… Barbecue sounds delicious!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. yeah, how many snowmageddons have there been now? Anything to get views.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale's avatar Dale says:

        Honestly. It’s become a joke. It’s no longer just a snowfall with accumulation; no, no, let us set the people into panic mode… 🙄

        Liked by 1 person

  5. poetisatinta's avatar poetisatinta says:

    Haha – great ending – get that barbi on the go😃

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hey, any excuse, haha.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Sandra's avatar Sandra says:

    Everything gets over-hyped these days – I’m sure some people thrive on panic.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. true. There’s a lot of money to be made in panic.

      Like

  7. James Pyles's avatar James Pyles says:

    Doesn’t have to be an extinction level asteroid to cause plenty of trouble.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Well, that’s true. Even smaller than expected can be pretty serious.

      Like

  8. plaridel's avatar plaridel says:

    lived another day, i suppose. enjoy the barbecue. 🙂

    Like

    1. Just thought what I would do if I survived a near-miss end of the world. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. They said it would rain today. It’s not. I know, I think I’ll have a barbecue too!

    A great take, David!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Lisa or Li's avatar Lisa or Li says:

    Good (and Happy) title. I like the way he was prepared to go and he was planning on a humble celebration. Very good story, David.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I feel like if I was in that situation, that’s what I would want to do, nothing big, just relax and chill out before the end.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Dear David,

    BBQ always makes for a happy ending. 😉 Clever story. I like the way you use the countdown to build tension.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Rochelle. I’m behind on reading comments, but I still value them as much as always. Yeah, BBQ seems like a good way to celebrate not the end of the world.

      Like

  12. Violet Lentz's avatar Violet Lentz says:

    Meteorologist and Politicians- the two occupations you are better off not believing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. true. Take anyone who makes predictions for a living with a grain of salt.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. GHLearner's avatar GHLearner says:

    That’s a surprisingly nice ending. I was thinking nuclear bombs… Great tension building and twist.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks! Yeah, it’s nice whenever the world doesn’t end at the end of the story. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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