Summary: An average Jane reflects on the quality of life she's lived as her fellow New Yorkers count down towards the end of the world.

Should the world spontaneously combust leaving a mushroom cloud and specs of gray matter in space tomorrow, what would you do? Say goodbye? Get laid? Compose your last words? What would you have liked to put on your epitaph? Not exactly a question anyone could answer in a heartbeat. In fact, it might even bring a pinch of panic in them because come on, the world is ending. You'll never get to finish that soap opera you've been religiously watching every single night! And this maybe it for several people; for others, missing a soap opera would be the biggest regret of their lives. Would you envy them? In this moment, I probably would. Sounds to me like they've already done everything they wanted to do in their lives, and are leaving the world with no regrets. Think of it as something like requesting for Armageddon to come already because these people have already decided that they're done before the world made that decision for them. Great exit from one's life, eh?

Wait, here's an important life lesson before biting the dust. Take this with you into the other world or something, will ya? Don't regret anything that you've done despite the tragic consequences; because you live, you learn right? Things in life move too quickly to have regrets. I'm approaching death, one second at a time and there are about a million better things that I could do rather than regretting in this world.

Let me build this scenery for you. It's 2 AM and the world as we know it ends in 22 hours; it's pitch black outside and a powerful storm havocked every soul as thunder and lightning roared into the mighty heavens. Very epic; exactly like how any decent world destruction plot should be.

How about me though, what would I do? Should the world end tomorrow and there's no alarm clock to save me from it, I would probably just sit in my cheap, mismatched couches on my living room and watch T.V. and most likely play some re-runs of Scrubs. From that sitcom's perspective, the world seems like a much friendlier place. Sure, some tragic life-changing events thrown here and there, but what kind of sit-com wouldn't have that? Scrubs would be boring without tragedy.

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Lightning cracked and disfigured the sky with a jagged scar. I'm so bored with life. It's the end of the world and I'm here, at home, trying to ride off a storm, sitting beside a stubby candle, all alone. But you know what would be pleasant just about now that will make everything about one hundred times better? Some hot ramen noodles. Extra spicy. I would also like a cat. Or a dog. Anything to keep me company.

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11:00 AM. I open my eyes realizing that I fell asleep sitting on the couch. I shuffle around to find a window so I can look out and see one of my last scenes on Earth. Outside, the sky twisted itself into some kind of hellfire; a great blanket of red and orange cloud-smoke covering New York City. Wow, you would think the cosmic forces facilitating the end of this world would save the special effects 'till the last hours of Earth. I bet Earth looks like Jupiter right now.

After my brief, unimportant reflection, I got off the couch and dressed. No showers for me because I don't believe in showering in the morning. I'm going to march to the beat of my own drum. My best friend used to always say that. She said don't be afraid of being different. How I wish I can live up to her standards. It's a bit hard being different, you know; especially when you're being different alone.

I took a stroll outside to look for what would be my last lunch. I'd like something light because I tend to fall asleep after eating. Falling asleep on the last hours of the world's existence is totally unacceptable, so I decided to buy some burgers from Rally's. Nothing like a double barbecue and bacon burger swimming in sweet sauce, cheese and sesame buns to wake me up.

I decided to eat lunch at a sidewalk curb next to a homeless man that day so I can watch how other people are living in the last hours. Stalkerly as it seems, I find this a very promising hobby (so does the bum next to me, apparently). Have you ever thought of what people would do if they were put in awkward situations? Maybe compare yourself to them? What would be their reactions? It's a nice habit to be observant of other people's reactions when interacting. That way, you'll know what kind of effect you have on them.

I took a bite out of my burger. I love how each bite is still as delicious as the last one. I suppose this would be the best burger in the world and it's definitely worth the $ 5.99 I paid for. Oh my. The world is about to end and I'm here, thinking of a hamburger. Have I gone crazy? Perhaps. Perhaps a have.

I was busy contemplating about my sanity so it took me a while to notice that the homeless man beside me staring. I gave him my spare burger. I think I should do as many good deeds as I possibly can on these last hours to secure my spot in paradise… or something. He accepted it.

"What were you thinking about a while ago?" he asked me, "You were distracted."

"Burgers," I answered honestly, "You?"

"Life."

"Life," I repeated, going back to my burger. Deep subject. I might space out.

"I lived a long life out on the streets," he told me, "Not once did I experience the finer things one would like to experience. I've never had a field day blowing my money at expensive stores or tasted crisp wine. I've never driven an expensive sports car or lived in a warm home," he looked at me in the eye, "But I have lived."

I kept looking at him, listening intently.

" I've traveled to places, slept under the stars and met interesting people. I've experienced life in jail and I know what it's like to have friends get killed," he said, giving an ancient sigh, "I've seen anger and pain molded into people, I've seen others reach their dreams of happiness and I've seen failure. I know what it's like to love and be loved. Over half my life, I struggled to be in some other place, but I soon realized that this is where I'm supposed to be. I am an old man now, and I've accepted that. Have you?"

Couldn't understand the rest of the old man's words because a long truck passed by; but he did have a good point. How's my life? Who am I? It seems that right now, I don't have the slightest idea of who I am, so in the end, I didn't answer the old man's question. I tend to avoid things I can't deal with for the moment. I guess I was one of those people who hoped that nothing bad would happen throughout her day. I was one of those who would wish for excitement, but would be contented if that day was just a normal, uneventful day. I was the relaxed one who had no care for the future. No responsibility, no seriousness, only the light happy feeling that I get every morning whenever the sun glows on my sleeping face to which I would pull down the curtains to and emit a string of colorful curses as I go back to sleep. I'd like to think that I am still that same person.

However, I've just realized that I'm trying to force myself to stay like that. That was five years ago. I am not that person anymore. The cards are different now and if my life was a game of 'Go Fish' back then, it's probably a dreadful game of Russian Roulette now. The world will keep changing and all I can do is live around that and try to live with the circumstances I'm dealt with. As much as it depressed me, I have to change.

What an interesting man. I spent the rest of the afternoon talking to him and soon, I learned about what happened in his 65 years of living. It was during this time that I realized that I should've tried more in life. Loved more, forgave more, done more for myself and everyone else. Yeah, I should have.

It's 11:59 PM now and here I am, still writing to myself. I can see the sky splitting from this coffee shop window, the black night suddenly swirling into mysterious shades of cold colors. The world has formed a violet tornado in heaven. What glorious last scenery for the end of the world. Nothing in my 21 years of life can surpass this sight. Then from a distance, I heard a deep rumbling sound; like a boulder rolling. Every second, it became louder until it almost felt like it's coming from inside me.

My last mortal thought was, 'Why did I take so many days in my life for granted?'