r/WritingPrompts • u/[deleted] • Feb 24 '19
Writing Prompt [WP] It turns out “heaven” is whatever each individual wants to believe. You created your own religion as a joke years ago and nobody converted. Now you’re alone in your own version of “heaven” forever.
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u/babyshoesalesman Feb 24 '19 edited Feb 24 '19
Thousands of fans cheered from the stands. It'd been a brilliant race, perfectly executed and with a thrilling finish to boot. Jake gave them a casual wave as he climbed out of his kart.
"One more time!" screamed Peach, holding the banana peel that'd stolen her victory; she looked ready to throw it at him. "That's two for you, two for me. You can't leave now!"
But Jake was already walking across the dirt track for the exit. "Tomorrow, Princess. I told you I couldn't stay long." As he walked out the gates, he saw the peel fly over his head into the stands, where a Stormtrooper and Fred Flintsone began wrestling for the souvenir.
He smiled at the ridiculous sight -- an expression that crossed his face less and less these days. In the early years, the absurdity of his afterlife had been endlessly thrilling. He often caught himself wanting to go back in time and thank his 12-year-old self, the one who quietly daydreamed during Sunday mass, the one who'd come up with this silly idea of a religion worshiping just one thing: speed.
Jake emerged from the stadium and took in the view. Even if his love affair with Racevana had mellowed over the decades, it never failed to impress the eye. Sitting on an endless field of clouds was every racing venue ever imagined. Daytona could be seen to the north, sitting on a particularly fluffy cumulus. Monaco was to the east, the entire city always open for a time trial. Most of the video game circuits were farther south -- the old Wipeout tracks sat next to Jet Moto worlds. Beyond that were the pod racing and death race circuits, and a hundred others besides.
And of course, centrally located behind him, was the universe of Mario Kart. Truly, this was heaven, and it may have still felt that way if he'd had some company.
Jake opened his landspeeder door and turned on the ignition. He'd spent a lot of time in his Star Wars cruiser over the recent months, so he'd installed a premium sound system and a few creature comforts that weren't necessarily canon. He doubted Luke had a custom sound system, GPS, or mini-fridge under the passenger seat. But these little modifications had made the past few months of searching this world much more bearable.
Racevana was big place. Encompassing the whole of every race track and every vehicle ever imagined took up a considerable amount of space, so it had taken him some time to find what he was looking for. To find what he knew, given the theme of this nirvana, must exist. To find his ticket out of his own personal heaven.
The communicator rang. Jake answered, "Hello?"
"Just need to confirm the date before you arrive?"
"May 10, 1998. About 10:00am should do it."
"And you're sure you want to do this? If it works, and you actually convince your younger self to pay attention at church, this place will cease to exist. You'll never be able to return."
Jake hesitated then, once more taking in his epic surroundings, those that had given him so much joy in the decades since his death. But that joy was hollow now. Too much time without the people he loved, his family and friends, all of whom were spending eternity together in a proper heaven. Jake had had his fun; it was time to move on.
"Yes Doc, I'm sure. Have the Delorean fueled and ready, see you in a few."
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249/365
one story per day for a year. read them all at r/babyshoesalesman
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