Beyond the edge of the world, did you create anything? Here, the illusion is perfect, even hyperreal. The colour is unusually sharp, the light pellucid as the laughter that gurgles from happy children and thronging crowds. And your gifts keep coming. Here, nothing could make me want to ever leave.
But, if I dash round the corner fast enough, will I find the street ends on a yawning chasm? Or will you fill-in detail faster than my eye can catch your making?
Once, I thought I spotted empty grid lines before the flats zoomed skywards. And I was terrified.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
Intriguing, Neil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle
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Fascinating, Neil I liked where this story took me
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Thanks so much, Michael
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I can tell you exactly what’s round that corner having visited it many times, but I will leave you to dash round and discover for yourself.
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Anything I can imagiine. That’s the great thing about fiction
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Great stuff. Put me in mind of the Truman Show, Dark City, and Tron.
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Thanks so much, Joshua
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An intriguing train of thought. Nice one Neil.
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Thanks so much, Keith
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Yes! It’s when we see those grid lines the illusion gets scary. Love this!
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Maybe that’s what physics is — seeing the grid lines
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Or erasing them…
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Should whatever lies around the corner influence your behaviour in the world you can see? You’ve written an intriguing little nugget of theology, Neil.
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It’s hard for us to stop making plans
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Captivating…a scary sense of security that can be shattered at any moment when the grid lines come into view.
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Thanks so much
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The Matrix is Real! Just take the red pill and you’ll see… Good story, Neil!
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Thanks so much, Jade
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You are welcome.
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This is the Truman Show… Just find the boat and cross the sea.
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A bit more metaphysical than the Truman show I hope. Though I understand why it summons remembrances of the Truman Show or of the Matrix
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Like many others, I thought of the Matix and The Truman Show. It begs the question, do we really want to know what’s behind the curtain? Or do we want to walk blindly through our happy little fictions?
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Oh blindness every time
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An alternate manufactured reality when desired has to keep up with the desire, doesn’t it? Enjoyed your story, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Dora
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pellucid light is a wonderful term, this is a sinister tale for sure, loved it
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Thanks so much
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Surreal–perhaps a portent of things to come. While there was “pellucid light” there is also great darkness in the unknown. Thought-provoking.
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Thanks so much, Linda
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how can one prepare from the unexpected? just grin and bear it. 🙂
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Depends whether it’s a known unknown or an unknown unknown
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I adore this. Absolutely perfect from the first line to the last.
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Perfect! Wow! Thanks
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A great sense of place. Wonder what is around the corner…
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Thanks so much, Tannille
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Imagination.
Beyond the edge of the world, there’s another world that springs alive in your words 🙂
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If we make the world, yes. If someone else has made it, they may not have bothered to make anything round the corner
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Tightly woven writing. Lovely. But it seems ignorance is bliss, protagonist. Best you step away from the corner.
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Thanks so much, Jilly
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I am left to ponder if the world around us is an illusion trapped in the pellucid light and distorted by human interaction.
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There is a school of philosophy that argues we are much more likely to be living in a simulation than in a real universe
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Imagine if someone plugs the simulator, then phew!
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I mean unplugs the simulator.
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We need to make sure we’re entertaining, so they don’t
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Deep thoughts Neil. Makes me wonder, without reality, what would we simulate? Well done, Sir.
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And is reality itself a simulation?
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Simulating what? Nope. It is just reality, unless (of course) one takes the red pill. 🙂
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You never know what colours life show in the next turn.Till then, keep exploring 🙂
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Thanks for reading
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That’s a scary thought. If I’m not looking at it, is it still there… a bit like being in a computer game.
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Yes, exactly like being in a computer game
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Oh! An alternate reality, perhaps? I love the mystery and possibilities in your story.
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Thanks so much, Sue
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Beautifully written – and I am so glad I didn’t go with my first though, which was similar, but which I couldn’t have written as well as this!
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Thanks so much, Liz
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This was most intriguing, Neil. And as many have said, reminds one of The Truman Show… but maybe ignorance is bliss. Who knows?
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Thanks so much, Dale
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Ooooooo stuck in a hologram or Virtual reality? Looks like not by choice, or perhaps fear of reality is worse than being stuck inside an unreal life
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Who’s to say we’re not living inside a simulation?
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Indeed!
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To be honest, it was the advert on top of the tram that got my attention, and then with your descriptive words to follow, I am no hooked on your work. Looking forward to more. Cheers
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Thanks so much, Johnny. The book is available to preorder now
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I thought this was told through the eyes of one of our novel’s characters, as if he is speaking to the writer. Intriguing piece, loved the description.
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What an interesting perspective, Fatima
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Life’s a simulation, of sort, perhaps? Nicely painted!
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Thanks so much
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Beautiful writing. The world is an illusion, reminds me of the concept of ‘Maya’ in Indian philosophy – a cosmic illusion which arises from the self’s consciousness.
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Thanks so much
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A typically imaginative and vibrant story from you, Neil. Step inside the Matrix, eh?
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Thanks, Lynne. Maybe I should try to be less typical
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Ha! That was no criticism, I assure you. I’ve just come to expect an imaginative approach from you – a good thing, I think 🙂
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Yes, I know. I was joking. I understood the compliment
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🙂
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