Image: Julian Majin
He was glad he’d found it because he always knew it was there. The journey had been long but the view magnificent, the vista unparalleled.
In many ways, it was the stuff of myth and legend. He’d once read about the restaurant at the end of the world and so putting two and two together he came up with the notion of a village at the end of the world and here he was.
What surprised him was the sheer number of inhabitants. The place was humming with people going about their business and in fact every form of business at a breakneck pace. It was as if there was no tomorrow.
But he knew there must be until he discovered at the end of the world there was no day. There just was sunlight, endless sunlight, a temperature that made living more than pleasant and an attitude among the people of let’s enjoy it while we can.
As there was no day as such, there was no time as such either. It explained the breakneck pace of living here. No one seemed to know how long they had been there and how much longer they had until their end came.
You didn’t age as you did back in your own place of origin, in the village at the end of the world everyone was the age they arrived at which made it extremely difficult to know when your life might run out.
That was the thing about the end of the world.
Things ended because there was no place else to go. Other than back where you can from and who wanted to do that.
The false security of thinking you were forever thirty years old was a great temptation to stay put until one day you didn’t wake from your overnight sleep.
Another anomaly and no one quite knew why but people died in their sleep. As if their life clocks were set to some random sleep pattern and when yours was up, then it was all over.
Right now, though he was seated in a small café overlooking the universe, the magnitude of which he found completely overwhelming.
He took out his camera and snapped a few photos, watching in awe the turn of the earth as it rotated on its axis before him, the murmur of voices belonging to travellers like himself caught up in the wonder of a world where things would end, but no one was quite sure when.
There was an air of peace among the seething chaos, of wanting to fit in as much as you could before the inevitable end mixed with a laissez-faire attitude of what will be will be.
Sitting back taking it all in once more, he ordered another diet coke.
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/photo-challenge-160/
Morpethroad 
That was a bit mind bending Michael – in a good way…a bit like an Escher painting 😀
I think then I succeeded as I imagine it would be like this. That’s my theory anyway 😊
A place and space where time doesn’t exist in the realms to which anyone has known, but perhaps is a long-lost and forgotten “truth” or understanding …. and how this ends up screwing with behaviour and the day-to-day – how fascinating. Great story Michael, loved the reference to D. Adams – and your new twist on this – there are some amazing ideas here, like the anti-aging, of course, and I really loved the “false security” and not waking – death in sleep, what a peaceful way to go –
“The false security of thinking you were forever thirty years old was a great temptation to stay put until one day you didn’t wake from your overnight sleep.
Another anomaly and no one quite knew why but people died in their sleep. As if their life clocks were set to some random sleep pattern and when yours was up, then it was all over.”
These are awesome lines …. completely.
And I agree with Lyn, your matter of fact, accept this as it is, conclusion, which is set up so well, after the initial arrival and chaos and confusion really reinforces the whole idea of time bending in on itself and cycling and re-cycling.
Great piece Michael 🙂
Thanks Pat, that’s such a lovely comment. I did enjoy playing with this idea. How my mind responds to an idea always fascinates me.
Your mind is a true wonderland Michael – and journey into great adventures! 🙂
I think I’d order a regular coke at the café in the village at the end of the world. Wonderfully playful imaginative piece. Do you happen to have the directions?
Turn left at the point of no return
I did enjoy this one.
I can tell! Thanks for the directions. Think it’s time for a long vacation . . .