Paradise (813 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.82 on 26 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by K.M (View user info) at 2004-05-21 16:05:50 EDT
And just like that, you're lying in the sand of a Deserted Island, and seagulls are spiraling about, high above your head, celebrating.
Something says, "Beep", and then you're immersed in a world of silence.
You're celebrating, too, but not in any usual sense. That would require the necessary materials. For some people, these materials are booze, or drugs. For others, they are funny hats, or maybe Other People and a room with a rotating crystal ball. Indeed, if you were anywhere else except for this island, you would need to channel your elated state of consciousness through these objects, in order to feel that you have sufficiently expressed your good cheer.
These objects just aren't needed. They don't even exist. All you have is the granules of sand beneath you, and the water in the sea. Each grain of sand on your island, and every droplet of water in the vast ocean in front of you, serves as a container for some undiscovered element of Pure Ecstasy. Each thing you see in front of you is nothing short of you, yourself, in the throes of the most orgasmic and perfect moments of your life, all expressed as sand and water and setting sun.
It's your birthday.
You know this because this perpetual sunset is too stunning, not to indicate something as significant as the moment you came into this earth. Right now, you're standing in a perfect photograph. You can't alter this, even if you wanted to. The sand, arranged by the wind into hypnotizing, enthralling designs, refuses to be tainted under the weight of your own body. Your own footprints are rendered unacceptable.
You close your eyes.
You also know that there is a small gift box in your pocket. Or at least, there might as well be, because you refuse to put your hand in and find out for yourself. You are too intimidated to look, too overwhelmed to pull it out and observe its true properties. Because it's clear, for unknown reasons, that this box contains a gift that's totally inexpressible. Its nature, so intrinsically profound and intense, would utterly fail to be conveyed through the sensory highways of sight, touch, sound, or smell.
Still, you need another person's insight, or perhaps, just someone to Share the gift with. You scan the horizon, and to your delight, there are other islands scattered in the distance all around your own. Even more fortunately, some are close enough to communicate with. You can see people just like yourself, on islands just like yours. Each of them as entranced as the next, all looking towards you over an ocean's ether, filled to the brim with harmony.
The tragic thing, though, about this predicament, is that you are self contained on your little paradise. Communication proves difficult. You must resort to smoke signals, in order to convey yourself to your companions. These are always ambiguous, and difficult to interpret. What is more, there never seems to be enough driftwood to start a fire, and even when there is, the wind seems to distort your signals, and everything emerges hazy.
A storm seems to be brewing in the distance.
Sufficient driftwood finally washes ashore, and you set to work starting a fire. Right now, there is absolutely no wind, and the entire ocean is set in glass. Your moment has arrived, and it's time to communicate with your neighbors. The first signal goes up, in a plume of black, pungent smoke.
"Gift"
Lightning cracks. Thunder rolls.
Your ecstasy ebbs away, and in its place, a seed of terror takes root. You have no shelter on this island, and should the storm move this way, you will be utterly helpless. Your distant companions are no longer looking at your fire; they are gazing off at a mass of clouds moving rapidly towards them. Black, vicious, and menacing, these clouds entirely blot out whatever essence of sunset remained.
A single bolt of electricity plunges itself into the ocean. Then again, and again. The water, once a tranquil and peaceful manifestation of all that is right in existence, begins to boil. Fish, and other inhabitants of the sea float to the surface, their gills destroyed by the severe heat. Gale force winds sweep through the area, and you find yourself lying flat on your island, just to keep from being swept out to sea. Thunder and lightning hammer every square inch of the entire paradise, and the roar of the wind drowns out the faint screams of your distant strangers.
And just like that, you're on a stiff bed in a white room, and strangers in white coats and strapped masks are shaking each others hands, celebrating.
Something says, "Beep", and then you're immersed in a world of noise.
User Reviews
Submitted by ruthless (user info) at 2005-12-22 14:15:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Cool.
Submitted by Adona (user info) at 2004-05-23 19:25:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked it. Pretty well written.
Submitted by someone (user info) at 2004-05-23 19:19:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
awesome.
Submitted by Fabish (user info) at 2004-05-23 02:30:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2004-05-22 23:38:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Damn...
Submitted by mystiamoon (user info) at 2004-05-22 03:11:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
wow this is pretty awesome.
Submitted by schulte123 (user info) at 2004-05-22 02:58:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
new zealand is paradise
Submitted by McCutty (user info) at 2004-05-21 20:38:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Now if only ubersite consisted only of writing this quality
Submitted by Fixer (user info) at 2004-05-21 18:53:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
That driftwood sure did burn easily!
Submitted by Herpes (user info) at 2004-05-21 18:49:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The boy can write...
Submitted by indigogecko (user info) at 2004-05-21 17:42:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Whoa - bad trip. Would knock off points for drugs but this was so well done I can't justify doing so.
Submitted by Tom (user info) at 2004-05-21 17:27:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh yeah, +2 fo sho.
Submitted by Yes (user info) at 2004-05-21 17:14:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2004-05-21 17:11:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
If there were 10 K.M.s for every idiot instead of vice versa, what a wonderful world it would be.
Submitted by chipolatte (user info) at 2004-05-21 17:04:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
cool
Submitted by Kristen (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:55:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:41:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice.
Submitted by lilbill87 (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:36:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
One of the best posts ever written, Well done
Submitted by iamhewhoisnot (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:29:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i likes
Submitted by JMG114 (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:24:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This is what we need more of.
Submitted by Nator (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:24:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Rule.
Submitted by Falconer (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:21:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Awesome.
Submitted by polyamorousaj (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:19:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
About fucking time you post again.
Submitted by youarsoghey (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:15:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I likes.
Submitted by Tom (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:12:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
From what I read it looks good. I like it, but I am a bit busy now. Just poking my big ugly head in. I'll read the rest later.
Submitted by ohlookasquirrel (user info) at 2004-05-21 16:12:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You haven't posted in a while buddy!
Classic KM.