This post is submitted to Friday Fictioneers.
It was a cold March day. Patches of snow still remained from the harsh winter. That was nothing new here in the desolate southwest desert. Living conditions were hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation had exposed the the ground to extreme denudation.
Dirk had made this his home for the past three years. Existing on trash thrown from passing vehicles on the nearby highway or occasional forays four miles away at the interstate exit where the giant green dumpsters were like dining at five star restaurants for him. The end was near and he knew it.
Oh Danny Boy! 
What a way to go 😦
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So many of us went down this bleak road. The community zeitgeist is strong with this one.
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Bingo!
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Doomsday is nearer. A bleak canvas painted.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/05/barbed-fence.html
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Gloom and despair. Well painted.
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Story of a life as cold and bleak as the surrounding. Nicely painted picture.
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An end-of-the-world story, or has he just decided to quit?
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Written as the end of the world. But who knows if he is correct.
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Definitely a different take on the prompt. You did an excellent job describing Dirk’s bleak existence. Kudos!
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Thanks for the nice words.
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Gives a new meaning to living off the grid.
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That’s true!
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Good story and writing, Danny. It made me wonder what drove him to live like that. He really needs help but it seems unlikely he’ll get it. He’s probably right. He doesn’t have a long life ahead. —- Suzanne
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Indeed his life ahead is a short one.
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Great take on the prompt. I imagine there are quite a few people living like that, say several million around the world. A lot to think about…
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Hopefully that number will not increase greatly. But, I doubt it.
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A harsh life. I hope Dirk finds the strength to make his way to civilisation, give himself a chance.
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I doubt it.
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A most bleak way to live. Wonder why he chose this, if choose he did.
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His choice. Not a very optimistic person.
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There is a sense there is a long story that led up to this place. My heart goes out to him.
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He does have a long history of depression.
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The end is nigh! What a horrible predicament he’s found himself in.
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And it will not get any better.
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Almost sounds like a prepper to me, preparing to survive some holocaust nuclear or otherwise. Only he forgot to prepare, or he ran out of what he had. Or perhaps he is waiting for the end of days, and resigned or even hopeful on that account.
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I think the end of his days have him confused and desperate.
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Whatever ‘end’ he’s waiting for, I hope it isn’t what he thinks it is …
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You are an optimist.
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Yep. Incurable, I’m told … 😉
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There’s a sense of sorrowful acceptance in your character’s situation as if he’s given in and is just waiting for the inevitable.
‘Retribution’, my short story.
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He’s pretty well given up.
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Okay, lots of “why” here. Why is he content to live this way? Why has he removed himself from everyone? Why does he thing “the end” is coming–his end? The end of the world? Is he sick?
It’s a good story when you can establish so many questions 🙂
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Indeed you wonder what makes him feel that way.
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Oh, Dirk….. 😦
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Not looking good for him. At least in his own mind.
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There is an echo of sadness in your story. Well done.
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Thanks. And thanks for stopping by commenting.
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He’s resourceful. I think the nearing end is not his but merely that spot’s
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Could be!
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Bleak, but well done, I liked it.
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Always glad to hear from you!
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I’m assuming something is keeping him from re-joining civilisation rather than living off what it discards on his doorstep. Interesting.
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I think you are correct!
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All he needs to do is follow those cars and find out where they get the stuff they keep throwing out. Very bleak scenario indeed.
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I don’t think he is the kind of person to socialize much.
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One assumes the rest of the planet might be in a similar state if he can’t move on to find something better.
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You got it!!!
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