25/9/23
There was a sound, a low rumbling kind of thing. It weighed upwards through the bones, made you feel all heavy. Dripping, tinkling tings scattered over the top, making a cacophony of unerring unpleasantness. It seemed uncaring of the minds it carried, so delicate and easily snuffed out, in spite of its purpose; the salvation of intelligent life. A roaring, screaming void rushed by outside, shielded by gumption and hard work, mankind's last big "fuck you" to the encroaching unreality poised to destroy it. Their destination: anywhere that could harbour a stable enough reality to reestablish earth. And that was their cargo: the entire planet. Shrunk down with an ingenious usage of unreality held together with paper clips and gaffer tape. Anyone would have thought them insane, but anyone who was sane would have probably died with their dignity intact. This plan was a real embarrassing balls-to-the-wall kind of affair, an I-don't-care-if-I-look-stupid-as-long-as-I-live-long-enough-to-be-able-to-look-stupid kind of affair.
2/10/23
"Never mind that," he said, affecting an air of benevolence, and somehow managing to maintain his insufferableness. "Now, tell me about yourself."
I went to do exactly that, but I'd barely gotten half a sentence out when my new 'friend' managed to turn the conversation back to his favourite topic: himself.
"You know, I once went canoeing in Burma. Now I know what you're thinking," he said.
That I don't care.
"How's that possible? Burma's dry as a bone, there's nowhere to canoe. Well, the story starts with a toothpick, three thespian wastrels and a Burmese mountain lion..."
Burma's coastal, you tosser, I thought, maintaining an agreeable smile. Do you think we don't have schools out in the country?
"I'm sorry to cut you off and miss such an interesting story, but I was on my way somewhere when I bumped into you."
"Oh, not at all, let me escort you there!"
"No, no, I'm sure a man of your calibre has no shortage of things to be doing right now."
"Why, yes, yes, of course I do," he said, suddenly flustered. It seemed that flattery would get me everywhere with this man. "Very considerate of you. By the way, what's your name?"
"Trevor Siatskis."
"William Longfellow, at your service. And now I must bid you adieu."
Little did I know the role this strange man would play in my life over the next six months, how hard it would be to get rid of him now that I had imprinted on him, and how he would change me for the better.
4/10/23
Take it from me, you don't want to go down that road. Nothing good comes out of that place, and that includes people, too. Every good thing you bring in there will be taken from you, and when you leave, it will be as a husk of yourself. There is no relief, no recourse, and no recompense once you cross over into that world. I went into it thinking I would make it better, but you can see what happened to me... But I can see it in your eyes. You're not going to listen to me. You've gotten a taste of it, the freedom, the power, and you won't turn back until you realise it was the metallic taste of chains all along. Well, so be it. Just make me one promise. When you come back - if you come back - don't bring your woes to me.
