Like a winter snow, ashes cascaded around me, falling gently to the ground where they stilled, joined by their millions of brethren. This was the closest thing I’d seen to snow since the end of the world. For four years now, the planet had been no more than dust, ashes, and ruins.

And me.

It was just me and the ashes.

Alone, until the end of time.

“Fuck!”

I slammed my foot into a nearby wall, the frustration, anger, and resentment taking hold. Yet instead of the pain a normal human would experience, my foot pierced through, cutting into the stone like a knife through butter. I pulled my foot out with a grunt, collapsing the building.

I sighed, the wanton destruction calming me a little. Rather, it was replaced by a sense of guilt. These may be the remains of my enemies, but they somehow felt sacred, like the corpse of a dead man you once knew. Like disrespecting it was somehow wrong.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Not that there is anyone left to tell on me. It was a sobering thought. I’d destroyed everything. I’d burned it all to ashes, then scorched even those.

That’s right.

I did it. Go ahead, tell on me. I destroyed the goddamn world.

Over Petty. Goddess. Damned. Revenge.

I sat down onto the ashes, the action scattering a handful into the air. Taking a deep breath, I leaned back against the wall, basking in the cool of its shadow.

The end of the world included most of its atmosphere being obliterated. That meant the sun’s unfiltered heat beaded down on anyone dumb enough to be stuck under it.

Which would be me.

Before I knew it, a chuckle escaped my lips. Given a second, it turned into full-blown laughter. The cacophonous sound erupted outwards like a blocked geyser bursting out. If there were any observers left, they may have noticed the tears falling from my face, but alas, it was only me. Alone.

I pivoted on my ass, setting my back flat against the ground, the ashes a harsh reminder of reality. With quiet acceptance, I relinquished my body to the escape we call sleep.

I’d made my bed.

Now it was time to lie in it.