Life is full of big decisions, but what happens when the answers elude you? Follow a quirky journey of self-reflection, absurdity, and finding humor in the chaos.
Inspired by the word prompt “question,” this story explores the swirling uncertainties of life through the lens of one person’s relentless pondering. Jessie embarks on a hilariously introspective journey. But the answers? Well, those are still waiting somewhere in the blur of everyday absurdity.
Jessie sat on the edge of their couch—a sagging, plaid relic they’d picked up during a brief stint of optimism three years ago. The coffee table, cluttered with empty mugs and an uncracked guide to “Finding Your Inner Peace,” stared back like a judgmental life coach. Outside, the faint hum of traffic offered a muffled chorus of urban chaos—a sound Jessie loved to hate.
Today’s mission was simple: to solve every existential question plaguing their life. Jessie had even made a list, though its neat bullet points belied the underlying chaos.
- Should I move?
- Where should I move?
- Should I just buy a yurt and live in the woods?
- Should I stay here and buy a new car? If yes, what car screams “overthinking introvert with driving anxiety”?
- Why am I writing books no one reads? Should I stop? Start a podcast? Open a llama sanctuary instead?
Jessie stared at the list. The paper stared back. Somewhere in the apartment, a rogue fly buzzed ominously.
“Right,” Jessie muttered, slapping their thighs as though rallying a non-existent team. “Let’s do this.”
Question One: Should I Move?
Jessie imagined moving across the country again. They pictured themselves stuffing boxes while listening to yet another “How to Be Happy” audiobook that would inevitably recommend yoga. Would a new city really change anything? The last time they moved, they discovered the joys of unpacking—and promptly resumed staring at walls for hours, but with different scenery.
“What’s the point?” they asked aloud. The fly buzzed by, which Jessie took as a cosmic, if annoying, response.
Then came the fantasy of staying put. The apartment had its quirks—creaky floors, a neighbor who cooked fish every night, and a fire alarm that went off whenever someone sneezed too enthusiastically. But it was home. Sort of. Jessie wrinkled their nose. “Fish smell forever or moving trucks? Ugh.”
Question Two: The Vehicle Conundrum
Jessie stood and paced. Their current car, a trusty but ancient sedan, had a personality. It wheezed when the A/C was on, beeped incessantly when backing up, and smelled faintly of a mystery casserole. Buying a new car felt like a betrayal, but driving it felt like a survival challenge.
“Okay,” Jessie reasoned. “Maybe I get an electric car. Eco-friendly. Cool. Quiet.” Then they imagined a smug version of themselves plugging it in, only to be electrocuted when they spilled coffee on the charger. Jessie groaned. “Maybe a bike.”
Question Three: Writing or…?
The toughest question of all. Jessie loved writing—at least, they thought they did. They also loved turtles, but they didn’t expect turtles to pay their bills. Books didn’t sell, and social media? “I could post a picture of a flaming raccoon juggling pies, and I’d still get five likes,” they muttered.
Giving up writing felt logical, but Jessie couldn’t stomach the thought. What else would they do? Knit? Start a YouTube channel called “Anxious Hermit Tries Cooking”?
“Keep writing,” Jessie decided. “Even if it’s just for me.” The thought felt like a small victory.
The Universe Answers Back
Jessie flopped onto the couch, exhausted by their own brain. They needed answers. Clear, magical answers. Just as they considered Googling “how to make a life decision,” the universe intervened.
The fire alarm blared, signaling someone’s sneeze, or perhaps the neighbor’s latest fish experiment. Jessie startled, sending their tea flying into the air, where it landed squarely on the “Inner Peace” book.
“Perfect,” they muttered. The fly returned, hovering close as if mocking them. Jessie swatted and missed.
In that moment, it hit them: no move, no car, no life decision would solve everything. Wherever they went, the fire alarm would still blare, the fly would still buzz, and the tea would still spill.
But maybe, just maybe, they could find a little joy in the absurdity of it all.
Jessie smiled faintly. They reached for a pen and scrawled a new note beneath the list of questions: Life is weird. Embrace the weird. Also, buy more tea.
Then they opened their laptop and started a story about a fly that controlled the universe.
(c) Eric Montgomery
Did you enjoy this story?
If you enjoyed Unanswerable Mysteries, please help to spread the word.
I’d be forever grateful if you could share my story with your friends and family. As a small, unknown author, I’m counting on word-of-mouth to help get my work seen by more readers.
Simply copy and paste the URL of this story in a post on your favorite social media platform (or on all of your social media platforms). :)
Thank you in advance for your support!