One sunny autumn morning, I woke up in a flying saucer. Surrounded by dozens of curious eyes, I thought: "Wow, that's just awesome! Does it make me a sort of gravity-defying gravy?" I started talking to my new friends (or maybe foes—we'll live and see how it goes and how it ends). I said: "I'd like to show you three things on our planet: the variegated and smokeless wildfires of our forests in October—the flames of maple leaves will make you dizzy from happiness and sadness; the flames and fires and deaths and despair of wars—be it in Ukraine or Iraq or Sudan or Kashmir—we also call them armed conflicts; and finally, the sparkles in my friends' eyes—fire, walk with me—and we walk and stumble, proud and humble, rise and walk again. So, where does the line between our ugliness and beauty lie? It lies... I do not want to lie: I don't know the answer to this question."
But it turned out that my kidnappers hadn't understood a word of what I had been saying. Although, they were compassionately shaking their heads, exchanging glances, and winking at each other. I couldn't read their stances. Shortly after, they gifted me a future forecast for the next one hundred years, dropped me back on Earth, accidentally nuked my house, and departed, leaving me homeless and alienated. And I thought: "Well, we have so much in common."
About the Creator
Off the Book
It ended like every other stupid idea. Badly, and alone. I’m researching digital confession ethics, he said. A tech ethicist. He gestured at floating data I couldn’t see then pulled out a physical notebook. Actual paper, fountain pen. He held it up like he was showing me scripture.
By Nicky Frankly4 days ago in Fiction
Comments (9)
"So, where does the line between our ugliness and beauty lie? It lies... I do not want to lie: I don't know the answer to this question." I audibly gasped at this. The breathlessness of this piece had my heart racing and this line stopped me in my tracks, almost too hard hitting. I think the humour elevates this overall as it makes the reader sit and think what they are laughing at - the story or the state of the world. Great work as always, Andrei!
Hahahahahahahahahha! Oops! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I’d really like to know what the future forecast was Andrei??! Can you let us in on it? 😁 Fun, surreal and quirky micro with your custom poignancy. 😊 🚀👽🤓
I love the simple absurdity & connected disconnect in all of this.
Ending with a huge misunderstanding and loss? How...human of them. 🤨
This was a really interesting and humorous read. I really enjoyed it. Good job!
Well done! Interesting!
WOW. I could see your sense of humor peek out at times, but really, this was hard-hitting. "Well, we have so much in common." + FIRE. Wow, Andrei. I see you.
Well, that was interesting. Gave me a giggle.