Ash

I was with my best friend's family reunion, which apparently decided to be held by the youth center near Condor Elementary school. I brought one of my closest friends there, and she was enjoying herself. I played with the nieces and nephews of my 2nd family, waiting until the food was set. Laughter filled the air, swirled through the leaves, and gave fruit to limitless joy.
When the food was finally placed and we all had our shares, the family decided to put on a Theatre show, each family member doing their own idea of entertainment. I was amazed at the varied styles of performing, from simple puppet shows to purple-robed-wearing magicians! Finally it was my turn.

Time skip.

Applause rang out at what I did, although I could not remember what it was. The sun was escaping the moon, ever running behind the horizon. I saw friends from previous years stand in the distance, beckoning for me. I went to them. We enjoyed the company of each other, living in past memories, laughing at each other's quirks. Finally it was time for me to go, in the direction of the youth center. We said our farewells but not before they decided to have a little fun.
As I was crossing the street I heard shouts of alarm for the imminent car. Turning towards the lane of incoming traffic, I realized it was but a joke. Laughing at my folly, I continued onward. They did it a second time, and still I fell for it. Slightly irritated, I turned back to look at them all and wave goodbye. When I turned, however, I saw a dull red glow, grow from the ground.
I looked upward, and saw that there was no moon in the sky, but a planet resembling Earth, inching ever so close to ours. Yet it seemed frozen there, waiting to be noticed. The clouds were tainted blood red as they formed circles around the mysterious object, allowing the image of a portal to be easily conveyed. The object was close enough to make out land on it's surface, and one could almost swear to see Africa or South America staring back.
With everyone frozen in fear, breath forgotten, time seemed to have stopped. Until the object slowly began to turn. Alarmed, some people began to finally scream and run frantically about. The object was gaining momentum, however, and was ever so quickly turning and turning. Still I stared at what was above me. The object was spinning impossibly fast, looking almost like a blurred ball of color. It was then that I became alarmed, and ran to the nearest building, a two story refuge. I yelled behind my ear at my old friends to run and live, but still they stared at the unique sight.
Once it had gained enough momentum, the object decided to crash. It gave no warning. It simply crashed directly onto my companions. I ran faster than ever before, feeling the fire of the object seething through everything around me. It burned the asphalt off my toes. It burned the clothes off my skin. It burned even the bushes right ahead of me. It burned buildings into ash. Still I ran towards my refuge. I felt my nostrils breathing in and out the heat, wanting to stop such pain.
Screams of people melting in agony were quick and swift, but still they rang in my ears. Finally I reached my destination, but it was missing the rest of itself, with the back portion being burned off. Stunned at my survival, I stared back at what I had ran so hastily from.

Time Skip.

I found my abandoned house still in tact, yet it offered no pleasure for me. I looked at the dead cell phone within my hand, wondering if electricity would ever exist again. I thought about the Screams once more haunting my ears. I thought about the people who mattered most to me, possibly still alive, and contemplating searching for them.

I weighed the options: To give myself hope and search for possibly the rest of my life with no means of contact, or start anew and live in what was Now. I thought of their faces, their smiles, their laughs. I thought of holding the cell phone in case I get a lucky break.
I thought.
I threw the cell phone against my crumbling adobe walled house. I threw my hopes against the walls of reality. I threw my mind against the horrors of realization.
Realization, that I choose to not search.

Memorable and Dangerous, is the licking of the Tongue of Flame.

Long Road

My feet led me down the asphalt road, curiously down the middle actually. Barefoot, my blisters riddled my nerves with pain with each step, yet still i moved forward. No dividers for the lanes were found, only my slow tread down the center. I felt the cool night-winds cloak me in comfort as I stared at the road ahead. My eyes couldn't make anything ahead, yet noticed light coming from behind.
Unable to stop, I turned my head to see a vehicle carrying people I knew drive by me, keeping pace with me. We engaged in conversation, one that left me with a sense of joy. Enjoying their company, I yearned to ride with them, to be rid of my blistering walk. They were forced to decline, however. Their vehicle was already full. After some unknown amount of distance was passed, we came to their turn, and we parted ways there. Still I kept walking down my road, however.
Not knowing how much time had passed nor distance covered, vehicle by vehicle drove up to me, carrying the people I grew fondly of. It became a routine: Talk to them, enjoy their company, ask for a ride, and realize their vehicle was full, and watch them drive off their turn. Still I wondered when I'd find my own.
I turned my head around and looked at the road I left behind. Lightposts flickered occasionally and showed no pattern for placement, seemingly random. I found it interesting, seeing as I could find no lightposts on the road ahead of me. I would, however, notice that when a great deal of time had passed from walking through the Night, a lightpost would find itself power and light my path just a little bit. Each lightpost seemed to need more and more time than before to light my way, however. I wished to reach my Turn.
I wondered when the Lightposts wouldn't light my way anymore.
I wondered when my feet would give.
I wondered.

There are those who feel safe in the light, and those who feel safer in the dark.