DOOMSDAY DIARY CONTEST

The breeze lifted some of the sand off the ground hazing my vision as the sun rose this morning. The air chilled my flesh sending waves of bumps across my body. It was the first time I felt something familiar since the Fall. I grazed my hand in the dirt as I rested outside my bunker. I stretched my legs with my boots sinking in the sand. For a moment, I couldn’t tell the difference whether I was sitting in sand or ashes. In my exhausted state, my graciousness took a backseat to my survival. It’s unclear if grace will ever return in my life. As the sun was finishing its morning rise, I grab my basket and begin my daily walk to the streams.

I walked the same mile every day to these streams. The fish are abundant and provide physical and spiritual fulfillment. I don’t know what I’d do if these fish weren’t here. No matter how many I eat, they’re always here. It’s amazing what’s truly reliable in this world. I pick up my spear I left along the rocks in case someone ever finds me. I observe the plentiful of fish swimming down unphased by our destruction. The sounds of the stream splashing on the rocks were the only music I heard every day. Enjoying the rhythm, I place myself above one of the rocks ready to strike an incoming fish. I strike the spear through the heart of the fish as I do everyday now. I place it to the side in my basket followed by several more times in routine fashion. After I gathered them, I take the basket back to the bunker.

It was the same trail everyday creating a pathway for future humanity. On my walks, I think about everything that happened. I think about how we allowed ourselves to get to this point. Unfortunately, I have so much time to think about this. There’s a certain nostalgia longing for the busyness in which we use to live. I spend the late morning and early afternoon skinning and cleaning the fish. It was one of the few rituals left in my possession. I began the fire after preparation placing the fresh meat over the wooden slabs. Unseasoned fish was never so precious until now. I record every activity, movement, and thought to keep myself centered and hopefully someone in the future. I finished roasting the fish and place them in my bowl. I began eating one by one stomaching the same fish as I had previously. The sun was coming down as it had rose earlier. I recognize the same songs of nature like the other days. I was saving the leftover fish for the next day when something caught my attention.

I see a small, beautiful light reflecting perfectly from the dusk of the sky. It was floating like a fairy with grace and style. I was captivated as my attention dissipated from my surroundings. I involuntarily stood up and observed this nimble in front of me. It begins flying away, but I had no choice except follow it. Every time I got near the light; it would distance itself again as if it was leading me. The light shined like an opal green in its illumination that you can capture on a golden ring band. I followed it into a set of woods with beautiful trees I never recognized before. I couldn’t tell you how far I was from the bunker at this point. I entered this other dimension following the light wherever it takes me. We get to a crossroads in the trail with a wider trail to the left and a narrower one to the right. It’s almost as if it’s contemplating where to take me next. I stopped when it did following its every move. Suddenly, it shifts to the narrower path in a rush, and I began chasing after it. After a few seconds it stops by this terrifying tree.

The tree looked droopy with sadness as if it was cursed by a sorcerer. A facial pattern was recognizable when you acutely observed its detail. The green light hovered around this tree as I got closer to it. When I got within inches from it, I put out my hand and realized it was a firefly. I haven’t seen a firefly since before the Fall causing a sensation of childlike wonder. It landed on my hand as I observed its delicate wings and poetic movements. I wanted to blow on it or catch it in a jar like my brothers and I did as children. I lifted my hands to let it go and watched it fly into a hole of the tree. I couldn’t resist the temptation of peeking in the tree seeing what I might find next. The firefly led me to this shining box inside the tree. I stood in awe not realizing what danger I might’ve placed myself. After I fully immersed my head in the tree, I see from arm’s length the peculiar discovery. The edges were trimmed in gold giving its aura illuminating the inside of the tree. The front of the box was red making it more exotic. I can see a stain on it as if it had bled. As dangerous as this appeared, I went ahead reaching down to grab it. As my hand made contact, I felt a jolt in my arm. I sighed temporarily in pain, but I resisted letting go even if it gave me my last breath. I remove my head from the tree followed by my arm with the box. The firefly seems to be sitting in approval of my action. I place it on a stump of the tree on the ground feeling the jolt disappear from my body.

The box filled the whole of my hand making it small compared to others like it. After some careful consideration, I turn it over and realize it’s not locked and must have something in it. I wanted to shake it, but I resisted given the gravity of the situation. My palms begin sweating with feelings of nervousness. At this moment, nothing was bigger in my life than opening this box. I take a deep breath and say a prayer with the little faith I have left. I’m on one knee with the box over my other knee. It wasn’t particularly heavy making it more bizarre. I begin opening the little chest and see the firefly approaching. Some dust flies up indicating it hasn’t been opened in some time. When the dust is clearing, a gorgeous heart shaped locket reveals itself. I look around seeing other fireflies of many colors appear like an artist’s palette. They hover around me creating a beautiful light show putting me in a trance. I grab the locket feeling the chain run down my hand as I stood up looking at it. I take in everything around me seeing beauty I haven’t experienced. The locket was centering the fireflies all around me. Every direction I moved the locket, the fireflies moved with it. What beauty I never thought existed in this forsaken world.