The survivors cling to the fragment of earth as it hurtles through the void, heading straight for a bright light.
Looking backwards, two women yearn for earth but the explosion had obliterated it and all its inhabitants, apart from them.
An man, his chest hefting with wheeze lay, stuck in a twilight world, waiting for death. Near him, a boy stares at the bright light at the end of the tunnel. His mother had always told him ‘stay away from the light.’ He worries. He has no wish to die.
Two women look into the black space amazed that all the colours of the rainbow were contained within it. The red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet overwhelms them. Their hearts fill with joy. Impossible to be frightened amidst such beauty.
An inquisitive child crawls to the edge to get a better view. She had no knowledge of death. Her journey had started simultaneously with the explosion and she was unaware that earth’s inhabitants had died. Her only emotion was curiosity.
I’m Peter. I’m taking these people home.
Word count 179
In response to Priceless Joy‘s FFFAW prompt using with thanks one of Goroboy’s photographs.
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Finally it happened. Poignant write.
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Yes, finally. Thank you.
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I felt like I was on the journey with them Irene. Well written.
Peace
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Thanks for joining the journey. Cheers
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A busy day for Peter.
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This might be the only lot that was worthy of his transport. Lucifer may have had a busier day.
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I wonder if the actual Peter we read about in the Bible ever thought he’d be seen this way?
Reminds me a little of Jules Verne’s “Off on a Comet”. Also of the old Superman stories about Argo City, a domed community that was expelled intact when Krypton exploded. Kara, Superman’s cousin was born there and eventually was sent to Earth when the material under the city became toxic. She grew up to become Supergirl.
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LOL. I doubt it. I always think of Jules Verne for Round the World in Eighty Days and have never heard of any of his other books. Supergirl I know. Reminds me a little of Dr Strangelove with Peter Sellers and Slim Pickens.
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I love that movie, Irene.
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Let’s hope they all make it safe and sound.
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I see a happy future for them.
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Bittersweet yet so beautiful! Wonderful story Irene! Very profound.
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Thanks Joy.
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Gives alternate interpretations of the idea of light. And another wonderful, unexpected ending from the mistress of Twists and Turns. Or put another way, you never saw it coming, did you?
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Funnily no I didn’t see it coming. This one wrote itself. It started as survivors of earth’s explosion but ended with them the only ones going to heaven.
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