The coffee was cold, and the machine broken. Gabriel checked the plug, tried wiggling it in the socket and swore as the thing zapped him.
‘Smooth brother.’ Raphael stood with his head still bent over the control panel across the room. ‘If you’re done playing around, I need you to check these stability levels.’ He waved at a series of flashing lights.
‘Why call them that?’ Gabriel sucked the burn on his finger and edged towards the controls. ‘There’s nothing stable about this realm. Why bother keeping things ticking over. Why not fix it all, or simply hit the kill switch?’
Raphael’s brow tightened.
‘I prefer keeping in mind, even the possibility, that existence has its own reason for being. We’re here to keep the others from tampering.’
‘Makes more sense to let them.’
‘No brother, there is no sense in endings at all.’
I prefer keeping in mind even the possibility that existence has its own reason for being.
Wisława Szymborska, ‘Possibilities‘
Tonight’s line for the prosery prompt was chosen by Merril, and is perhaps one of my favourite, ever, prompts. 144 words doesn’t feel like quite enough for this wonderful line, so I might have to come back to it later on and work this into a longer piece because ideas have been sparked, and it would be a shame to let them fizzle out.
Carol J Forrester - Writing and Works 
I like this little bit, but I can sense there’s more to this story!
There is something especially believable about a crappy space-ship… would love to hear more about those visitors they are guarding against.
The last line is my favourite, that there’s no sense in endings. The quote flows effortlessly. Well-done.
Great title and fun conversation.
Fascinating read Carol, I enjoyed it.
An enjoyable piece of sci-fi, Carol, and I’m relieved to see that even space technicians have trouble with their coffee machines! I like Gabriel’s tenacity.
I think you could do a lot with these ideas! I really enjoyed how you took a celestial viewpoint of our existence and worked the prompt in perfectly.
I love this Carol, and you left us wondering.
This is exquisitely drawn! 😀 I love how seamlessly you have incorporated the line by Szymborska 💝 and yes, “there’s no sense in endings.”
So much possibility I was immersed!