© Miles Rost
If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.
There is no me. There’s just doing the laundry, paying the rent, riding the bus, going to work, going to school. You know. Nothing that’s important. So here I am feeding coins into the washers and dryers at the laundromat, trying to read a book and realizing that I don’t enjoy it. In fact, I don’t enjoy anything. Not a damn thing. I eat good food. I mean, I live in San Francisco, so there’s a lot of good food. But so what? I’ve considered suicide for a long time. I walk out of the building and into traffic.
I wrote this for Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 3 March 2023 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image above as an inspiration to write a wee story or poem no longer than 100 words. My word count is 99.
No ghost or time travelers today. I just woke up in a pensive mood and this is what came out. Oh, as a young man I did live in San Francisco (back when mere mortals could afford it) and did my laundry at a laundromat a few blocks from my apartment on 34th and Geary. Yes, the food was great.
To read other stories inspired by the prompt, visit inlinkz.
If you’re interested in more of my work, try Ice, my end of the world novelette about pirates, dinosaurs, global cooling, and Antarctica.
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I liked “There is no me”
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Thanks.
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A change of style, James. I ‘like’ it, in that sense, though a tragic story.
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I felt the need for a change. Thanks.
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Poor person, I hope someone finds and gives them a hug.
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I left “walked into traffic” somewhat ambiguous but with the idea they were looking to get run over.
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I got that. I just hoped someone would notice and save him.
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I new a young woman who walked out into traffic once. It ended in screeching breaks and a lot of yelling, and a deeply embarrassed young woman.
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Maybe that’ll happen this time as well.
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There’s truth there other than the great food in San Fransisco. We all need a sense of purpose. Otherwise, what’s the point? Well told.
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Thanks. It’s very easy to get caught in a rut and to feel like there’s nothing else in life.
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Sadly life can be like this… I pray that the traffic stopped for him, and he learnt to like with life’s up and downs
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I left the story ambiguous for a reason. Interestingly enough, one of my short stories, a cyberpunk piece that was just accepted for publication, has to do with my protagonist being hit by a car. She wasn’t suicidal, the driver ran a red light. Her life before and after became spectacular and she could never tell reality from fantasy. It was fun to write, but it was also hard because I don’t want to hurt people, even fictional characters.
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There are times when many people feel this pointless.
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I agree. Thanks.
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Hopefully, he survived and was jolted into realising that life’s not so bad after all.
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Hopefully. Thanks.
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Oh dear, a sad end i percieve.
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Quite possibly true.
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A human doing instead of a human being is a lonely place to be. I hope he survives that attempt and does get some help sorting it out.
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I hope so, too. Thanks.
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You’re welcome.
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This is definitely a change for you. I like it in the sense that it is a well-written piece. The outcome, not so much. Well done!
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I thought I’d do something different. Thanks.
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such a sad way to end a life ❤
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Yes, it is.
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Such a sad ending. Well done.
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Thank you.
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We should never assume… that is why I try to be kind. You never know when someone else might be feeling “there is no me”. I felt the emotion. Well done!
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Thank you, Kimber.
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Great writing and description of the feeling. Depression lies. Let’s hope the MC survives and finds help.
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Yes, we can only hope.
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Over the years I have noticed when those things people do become their identity. It seems to work fine until they no longer can. Are we what we do? Good story.
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Thanks, Bill.
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