Edge of Tomorrow

The world outside was a madhouse. Crowded, noisy, always on the go. People were like ants, all piling over each other. Not here. The Edge was different.

Nobody knew how it started. Maybe folks just got sick of the city racket and bailed. Or maybe it was luck, like a boatload of folks ending up in the wrong place at the right time. Either way, the Edge was home now.

It was rough, sure. No fancy stuff, just people trying to make it work. Grow food, fish, build shelters. No bosses, no rules, just figuring it out as they went. It was hard, but it was free. Real free.

Bethany wasn’t like the rest. Most folks were happy enough planting and fishing, but Bethany had this itch. She was always looking out at the big blue, wondering what was out there. People thought she was nuts, but Bethany didn’t care.

Then came the storm. A monster. When it cleared, there was this weird box on the beach. Inside was a screen showing a world unlike anything Bethany had seen. Tall buildings, flying machines, and a crazy amount of people. It was like a whole different planet.

Bethany had a choice. Stay on the Edge, simple but free, or dive into that crazy world. It wasn’t easy.

The days after the storm were a blur. Bethany spent hours staring at the screen, learning about this other place. There was stuff she liked – like flying machines and talking to people far away. But there was also stuff that scared her – like huge cities and people fighting.

The Edge started to feel small. Too small. She missed the wide-open sky, the feel of dirt under her nails. But the screen showed her a world full of stuff she’d never even dreamed of.

One night, under a blanket of stars, Bethany made a decision. She’d see what this other world was like. Maybe she’d come back, maybe not. But for now, the unknown was calling.

The morning was crisp, the ocean calm. Bethany packed a small bag with essentials: a knife, some dried food, and a few tools. She left a note for her friends, a simple "Be back soon, maybe." Then, with a mix of fear and excitement, she stepped onto the small boat she'd built. The Edge faded into the distance as she rowed towards the horizon, the unknown stretching out before her.

The journey was tough. Storms, hunger, and loneliness tested her spirit. But she was determined. The world on the screen had called to her, and she was answering. Days turned into weeks as she sailed, guided by the stars and the compass she’d found in the box.

Finally, land appeared on the horizon. It was big, imposing, and unlike anything she'd ever seen. The Edge felt like a distant memory as she stepped onto the foreign shore, ready to face whatever the new world would throw at her.

Bethany stumbled onto the dock, heart pounding. The city was a monster, all noise and lights. She felt small, like a bug in a jar. Days turned into nights, and nights into weeks. She worked in a place with flashing lights, met all sorts of strange people, and saw things she couldn't believe.

But something was missing. The smell of the sea, the taste of homegrown food, the feel of sand between her toes. She missed the quiet, the stars, and the way everyone knew everyone. She missed the Edge.

One night, sitting by a river, watching the city lights shimmer, she pulled out the old photo of the Edge. It looked like a dream now. A safe dream. Maybe it was time to go back. Not forever, maybe just for a visit. A long visit.

She booked a flight. As the plane took off, she looked down at the city, a tiny ant farm of lights. A part of her was drawn to it, but another part yearned for something different. Something real.