Though he was literally on the top of Africa, he felt a certain sense of loneliness seeing the vast tracts of emptiness all around.
He loved exploring the world and had visited more than 120 countries. While he did encounter many strangers on such trips who eventually became friends, he had started to feel the need for a travel companion.
And now as he sat on Mount Kilimanjaro, he couldn’t help but wonder how different life would have been if he had instead taken up the software job he rejected in favour of this one. Had he made the right decision?
Linking to Pegman Prompts venturing to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
I am taking the A to Z Challenge 2020 with Blogchatter and my theme is Microfiction.
J Hardy Carroll
Love this. A quandary that only time will solve.
transitionofthoughts
Thanks Hardy :).
sundeepananthd
Interesting theme and story. Although I might have missed a couple of your posts. Will check them soon.
— rightpurchasing.com
transitionofthoughts
Thanks Sundeep for your kind words :).
Anagha Yatin
When at the top, one is always alone. Longing for company is basic human need. As for knowing whether it was right or wrong decision to choose a particular path, one should just look back and ponder why did one started with a particular direction to begin with.
Pensive story!
transitionofthoughts
True Anagha, loneliness is always there at the top. But I guess it’s also about looking at the glass half full or half empty. He had a lot going for him and generally he had enjoyed travelling which had taken up far and beyond across 100 odd countries. But then lack of a companion does get to you sometimes for sure.
Monika
Interesting theme . Loved the story . Those are traits of every human being . One that he is a social animal . He needs a bond . The second is that he is never satisfied .
transitionofthoughts
Oh yes, we humans are social animals. And I guess in the current situation so many of us are feeling it more than ever. And he was surely never satisfied enough considering the fact that he ended up traveling more than one could even imagine. Thanks for stopping by :).
Frédérique
I totally agree with Monica, so true 😉
X is for…
transitionofthoughts
Thanks Frederique :).
mommytincture
This story reminds me of Ranbir Singh’s character from Yeh Jawaani Hai Diwani…
transitionofthoughts
Oh yes I do remember that one. I guess in a similar one, my character also realized what he was looking for from life while loneliness did strike at the top.
Joy Pixley
I imagine that many people, succeeding at making that difficult climb and finally sitting atop such a high mountain and viewing such dramatic sights, would find themselves reflecting on their choices and their future and what’s really important in life.
transitionofthoughts
I guess when the loneliness and lack of oxygen hits you at the top, then one starts to think a lot of this and more.
Joy Pixley
I wasn’t thinking about the lack of oxygen. It seems like it would be a really profound experience to me.
transitionofthoughts
Oh it surely was profound and an experience where he could re-discover himself.
alpanadeo
At times, we doubt our decisions but the best way is to look back and see in which state we were more happy. Which phase made brought happiness and satisfaction into our life.
transitionofthoughts
Oh yes, hindsight is definitely an interesting point. Sometimes we regret our decisions while at other times we are pleasantly surprised that we did make the right decision.
k rawson
Great to see you on Pegman! As a software developer, I’m inclined to say your narrator made the right choice. Traveling to 120 countries sounds fun to me.
transitionofthoughts
Thanks Karen :). Travelling is surely a lot of fun :D.
Cara Hartley
I surely think he did. I would love to have adventures like this if I had a body that would cooperate. Unfortunately, back injuries plus asthma and diabetes say “no.”
~Cie from Naughty Netherworld Press~
transitionofthoughts
Ahh that’s a bummer. Hope things get well for you soon on the health front. But I am sure we all have different kinds of adventures and scaling mountains is just one of them. I am sure that you must have found your calling as well :).
pennygadd51
From what I read, the ascent of Kilimanjaro involves effort, discomfort and altitude sickness, without the challenge of technical climbing. If your MC was going to question his choice of lifestyle, the summit of Kilimanjaro would be the place he would do it. Perhaps he needs a holiday? He could go somewhere quiet and develop some software!
transitionofthoughts
While he did love travelling, I guess loneliness struck him when he was at the top since he saw vast tracts of emptiness all around. Maybe a holiday with some friends or as you said developing software could help him divert his mind :).