The universe is unknown and giant. Who knows what could be out there, if there is even an “Out there”. Heck, how do we even know we matter in this world?
Any second now any of us can be killed during our sleep, or murdered by the Grand Navy, or ripped apart by wild animals. Who knows if someone powerful will just decide one day to just blow up the world?
Why do we still try to fight the unfightable? Why are we trying to find meaning in this unmeaningful life? Why are we even trying to find a path that never was?
Who knows, maybe it’s just because we are mad, or maybe it’s something bigger. People say it’s destiny, or fate, or whatever they believe in. But I believe in something else.
I think it’s because we as humans try to find meaning. Meaning for our life, meaning for our existence, meaning for the universe. We find joy in sitting around a warm campfire, laughing with friends, not worrying about the future for just a moment
Life is a song we keep humming to ourselves. It’s not perfect, sure, but it’s a hell of a lot better than anything else we have. Everything in this world wants to kill each other.
So who knows? Come on, the world might just explode. Why can’t we have a little fun?
I like what you were going for, its short but still I think its pretty good. Im a fan of existential stuff and yours is decently made, good job on that.
I have a little criticism though, take this as something constructive to improve your own writing but dont worry too much about it. We all have things to improve and some light feedback can be very helpful.
The only thing I’d really say to change is to add more detail and elaborate upon these ideas, it doesn’t have to be much but I feel just a little bit more can make it so much better. Take the time to link it back to AO more clearly by describing the dangers of the world (like the Grand Navy example), the efforts people make to improve their power or survive, and your characters observations of life. Instead of just “I think…” have them say a short story of something they saw that made them think that idea, it can be just a sentence or two, “Sitting at the campfire, laughing with dear friends of mine, it made me ponder…”
I know its a bit of a self promote, but you can look at my own short story as an example. Here I tried to make my character have similar existential thoughts, though I put in a lot of effort with linking it back to WoM and the character’s experiences that would have made them act the way they did.
But yeah, the story I was going to was purposefully vague. It’s Theo Sheild discussing the world with someone, and it’s supposed to be vague. There is no character development, but it’s more like a character refresher.
Vague on purpose so people can theorize their own ending or places that Theo Sheild is. Maybe at his desk writing to his friends, or around a campfire talking with someone, or just alone thinking about it
Good criticism though, shameless self-promotion I can accept
Ah ok, I see what you mean by purposefully vague. Although it isnt what I would do personally, I see its use. I just found it a bit bold in some parts especially to start off with “The universe is unknown and giant,” but I guess thats what you were going for. If its your writing style, then by all means go ahead and continue what you’re doing. Just thought it could use a little more detail, but now that you mention its purpose it seems pretty good for what you were intending.
Oh damn I hadn’t even noticed the music, that is a uh, interesting pick for music. I mean theres nothing like philosophy and existentialism in an abandoned store.
