A New Player (Epilogue 3 of 3)

Harmony had always been a foreign concept to the inhabitants of this dying world. The world was slowly, but surely, tearing itself apart; a looming wave of corruption sweeping its way across the savage landscape. With each passing night new horrors were awakened from the depths; seemingly drawn out by the chaos and barbarism that spread like a wildfire across the withering remnants of civilization. Nowadays, even the slightest displays of weakness would guarantee you a swift and painful death.

Life hadn't always been this way.

As the sun began to peek over the canopy, carrying with it the torch of a new day, I stood over the ruins of what had once been my home. I could almost envision a time where the white washed walls stood in stark contrast to my gardens; beautifully balanced with tantalizing fruits. I always did have a knack for gardening…

Of course, that had been many long years ago. Now my home, or what was left of it anyways, lay in utter ruin. It was a pitiful sight; crushed, defiled and long lost to the elements. Even my orchards had grown wild and unruly with nobody left behind to tend to them.

Nature was already reclaiming its own from the rest of the suburbs. Wildlife, normally fearful of settled areas, had begun to wander inwards, as the buildings became abandoned, fallen from non-use, burned down or demolished. Grass, trees, wildflowers and vines had overrun the brick, wood and plaster that had once stood in their place for decades, leaving only the crisscrossing concrete foundations as reminders that the land had once been inhabited.

My neighbors had all long since left for greener pastures or tried at least…. Nowadays there was nowhere left to run to.

Humanity's a funny thing, isn't it? Despite are state-of-the-art gadgets and crisscrossing jungles of steel, we didn't stand a chance against nature's invading forces; we never did.

I remain alone, keeping watch over the empty streets. With nothing but my thoughts to entertain me, I had plenty of time to think. In this time I have wondered; why me?

Humanity's downfall is also a matter on which I continually speculate.

We were warned well in advance that our selfish and destructive ways would be our downfall, but when the news first broke people were unimpressed. They figured we had several hundred years ahead of us to scrape together a plan. Surely something could be done. Besides, it wouldn't affect them; they would be long dead by then.

When the second generation came a long, they were all a bit more concerned about the impending catastrophe. They had far fewer children, crime rates soared to all time high and were more on edge to say the very least. Yet, for the most part, life continued as usual. After all, why should they care? They would all live out their lives and whatever was to come would not affect them in any meaningful way. It was up to their children to find a solution.

The third generation, my generation, was born into world that would cease to exist within their lifetimes. All of a sudden, the future became a priority.

Mankind put everything it had into finding a viable solution. For the first time in human history, the people of the world became one. All it took was our assured annihilation as a species.

Governments set aside their petty disagreements, instead redirecting their resources for the greater good. Much good it did them…

In its final moments, humanity had done a beautiful thing. Every single human breath, every single human effort was united towards a single seemingly impossible goal; saving the world.

All those resources expended, all the scientific wasted… all to tell us what we already knew; annihilation is inevitable.

It's funny, isn't it? We never truly unlocked our true potential as a species until it was too late.

The world will continue in our absence uncaring as two hundred thousand years of art, culture and genius was lost; barely leaving a speck on the course of history. Give it another thousand years and the universe will simply sweep any remaining relics of humanity under the carpet to be long forgotten.

I do not know what keeps me alive while millions of other lives, individuals more capable and deserving than I am, are lost. Was it a matter a dumb luck or… fate? … It's a terrifying thought, yet somehow a reassuring one.

So long as I'm still around, I remain a beacon of hope; humanity's second chance. I have a legendary opportunity, a chance to leave mankind's final mark on history.

I really hope I know what I'm doing…