World's End

Continuous Writing

Question:
8. You see a bus that says ‘World’s End’ on the front. You decide to go there. Write the story of the journey and what happens when you arrive at your destination.



The crisp clear morning greeted me with its brisk winds and sweet air. I heaved a sigh of comfort; realizing that I’ve never been in a place with such wondrous atmosphere in such a long time. My schedule is jam-packed with innumerous tasks each and every day. I have a busy life, but so is any other middle-aged businessperson living in the city of New York. Any normal person reforming into a workaholic is a convention to anyone living in the city of lights. Stumbling upon traffic jam during rush hours, busting in noisy offices where rowdy workers hustle with one another and avoiding high-rise buildings that embodies urban lives happen every day. I just wish I have the time to be away from the skyscrapers whatsoever, which does not happen every day. Fortunately, that day happens to be today.

I rested my left hand on the armrest of the wooden bench I was lolling on, helping myself into a comfortable position. At least there was still a source of solace in the metropolitan, the vast and enormous Central Park. Right then, the direction I was facing was a few distance away from a bus stop crammed with crowds of people; some admiring each other’s purchases, others just couldn’t get their hands off their cell phones. I closed my eyes to flee from these views I got bored of seeing every day, what is with these people?

My visions were blurry when I opened my eyes again, but I saw something that caught my eyes from a distance. It’s big for sure, and, if it’s not for its vibrant hues, it couldn’t have grabbed my attention. I squinted to get a better view, and there it is, a huge double-decker bus emblazoned with shades of tangerine, just like the sun. I gazed at it for a minute when it veered towards the bus stop’s direction abruptly. I was bewildered to see that not one person in the bus stop have set their eyes onto this bus, despite its picturesque design. I approached the bus when curiosity overtook me. Strange bus, I thought. There was no plate number, no charges for rides, as indicated by its signboard, and there were no passengers inside; only one driver was in the driver’s seat, eyeing at me. I pretended not to see when I turned my head away, and then I saw this banner in front of the bus that says, “World’s End.” How weird could it be?

I glanced at the driver, signaling him that I would appreciate the offer for a free ride. The door swung open, and he gave me a sincere smile. “Enjoy the ride!” he exclaimed. I forced a weak smile back to him and decided to choose the backseat. Out of the blue, it all blackened out.

When I was conscious again, I tried to recall where I was. There, outside the window, I was astonished to see such magnificent view of trees of various range of colors; emerald to ruby, lime to ivory, all blooming and seasoning. I marveled their glory, forgetting the intention of finding out this mysterious place.
“Been a long time since you’ve last seen these, eh?” the driver called from the front.
”…Yes, it has been.”

He murmured something under his breath, but I was too stunned by the forestry that I couldn’t care less for more.

Soon, a lake came into view. It was when all the shades of green vanished away; the blue skies and azure springs showed up. Once again, I was bewildered by the striking seascape; the waters so clear they glittered under the radiant sunshine, so blue that I almost thought that I was back in front of my PC, admiring the slideshows of natural landscapes. How different is this to the urban lives? Heaven and Earth, I suppose.

It dawned on me that the sun had sunk beyond the valleys that stood as far as the eye could see; some time had its first gold faded through the ground. The majestic view of sunset before a lake was astounding.

Before I could ask why did this peculiar driver offer me, without expecting anything in return, to let me goggle at God’s richest creations for half a day? And where was he heading then? The sun had completely slipped beyond the boughs to dream till dawn, and the sky was obscured, but adorned with glimmering stars that I’ve never seen before in the metropolitan skies. Where am I? I was wondering for a moment whether I was still inside the bus or not; the sights were all so real, I was skeptical about being indoor or outdoor. Sudden crispy winds howled, and somehow I felt the chill. That proved that I was not in the bus. I realized then where I was. In the twilight, I saw light waves of water heading towards my feet while they were dipped under soft sands. I couldn’t picture the panorama before me, but I could see the silhouette of human figure ahead of me. It was the driver.

”Isn’t it great to spend a day alone marveling creations of the One above? Like, away from the urban sprawl for once? Hmm?”
Alas… How did he know?

”Who are you?”
”Funny how I know what you were thinking all day, funny how others neither see me nor the bus earlier, funny how I know exactly what you want.”
”You mean, being anxious to know how you can explain logically to me to get out of the bus without taking any step? Or wondering whether someone have been spying on me all day long?”
”I don’t mean that. Who could possibly be there in the very beginning and at the very end at the same time, scrutinizing people’s daily urban lives?”
”No one. I mean, yes. There’s always God.”
”Bingo! The Alpha and the Omega.”
”What are you talking about!?”
”Let me rephrase your question: Who are you? I am God.”

Sounds of waves smashing on the coastlines stopped, and everything fell into silence. What had I done to meet a mad guy on my Sabbath away from urban lives?

He broke the silence when he cleared his throat. Not long was when I really heed the crazy driver’s explanations about all the immortal events that occurred earlier today. Without anymore doubts after listening to this man, I stared in awe, not quite easily believing that I’ve just met the Creator of the forestry, the seascape, the sunset and to my dismay, me. He began his stories about how the world has changed into the present days while eschewing his sadness that his own creations have been destroying the world, his creation too. That was why the world’s approaching to and end, and luckily, he sensed a mutual feeling of the mortal world today, and that was me.

The greatest mistake I had done was to be ignorant and continue to do the things I don’t want to do, like adapting myself into the place I neglect to be in. He, that day, have brought me awareness of the outcomes if that continues, and suggested that maybe it’s time to do something about it soon enough. When he was finished, he gave me a pendant with a shape of a crucifix, on which it was engraved with words saying “World’s End”, and then instructed me to close my eyes if I perceived his words of wisdom, and reopen them when I am ready to make a difference.

When I did, I was back in the wooden bench again, down in Central Park.

The sky had darkened and I’d better get back home soon. When I was dashing across the street, I heard clinking noises coming from myself. Something kept on hitting lightly onto my chest. When I looked down, it was the pendant that I saw; the pendant saying “World’s End.” Yes, I’d better get back home soon to make a difference as soon as possible.

A few meters away from the street, a man was observing a girl dashing across the street from afar. He secretly smiled. Being satisfied, he swerved the bus away from the street.