Caldera

When he closed his eyes Tom felt like he was falling in on himself, like an endless wave pouring into a caldera.  Once the water had drained away, he sensed that would be the end.  The big nothing.  He was calmer than he thought he’d be.  Not exactly resigned; more at peace.  He’d made a mess of his life, but who hadn’t?  Wrong choices, bad decisions, a myriad of indiscretions.  But there’d been good moments: laughter, love, small triumphs.  And now there was death. The first thing at which he’d excelled. He smiled as the water slowed to a trickle.


A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.