[ WP ] Write an ending scene that hints at the enormity of the quest that came before it .

The raspy breath feels like razors all the way in, just as painful going out. It ’ s one of the last this body will ever take; this is certain. Eyes close. The sounds of inhaling is louder, more acute to the ears now. Air flows over dry, cracked lips, down a constricted trachea and into one lung. Sounds like chairs being pushed back from desks moments after the school bell tolls. None of this mattered any more. Peace had been made and everything was going to be just fine. Just fine. 
 
 A knee gives way without warning. That ’ s okay; I ’ m far enough now anyway. There ’ s solace in the dirt. It ’ s probably warm from the sun, but I ’ m cold all over and don ’ t feel it. It ’ s okay because I can imagine the warmth. Resurrect memories of summer and sandy beaches. The dirt is sticking to my hands, this I can feel. There ’ s solace in the dirt, like it knows that we ’ ll be one soon enough. I know we ’ ll be one soon enough. Eyes open. It stings, but I can find the strength now that I ’ m no longer using my legs. More strength comes and I shift my body and look back to where I ’ d come from. Vision is blurry, but the smoke rising in the distance is clear. I really had done it. I think I ’ m smiling. Can ’ t be sure, but it feels right. Eyes close. The smell of the smoke is suddenly poignant in my nostrils and I smile wider. A crack in my bottom lip splits and I can feel the blood run down my chin. That ’ s just fine. 
 
 I can ’ t hear my laboured breathing any more, but I can still feel the razor blades cut away with every slow breath. The ringing in my ears, I now realize, is drowning out all the other sounds in the world. It ’ s like being in a room of tuning forks and two year-olds. It ’ s all okay now; I don ’ t mind in the least. Eyes open. The smoke is darker now. The columns thicker. I try to smile, but I don ’ t think it ’ s happening. That ’ s okay; I know that I ’ m smiling in my mind. The tuning forks are ringing louder. Eyes close. I don ’ t feel the little nicks and pokes of the razors in my breath now. Eyes can ’ t open. The ringing in my ears, so loud. 
 
 That ’ s okay. 
 
 Everything is going to be just 

