Last 24 Hours

What is the last thing that you would do if the world is ending tomorrow?

“The world is ending tomorrow.”

It sounds surreal and explicitly horrifying.

Humans, as much as they are fans of fascinating things that orbit the universe, also believe in the concept of endings—that everything may end in a snap no matter how beautiful it is—like life.

The concept of the world ending might be something that they’ve heard over elders conversing about it, or it might be just a sprinkle of thoughts that piqued their curiosity. Nevertheless, it is both spine-chilling and astounding to think that the world might really end in a matter of years or even a second.

A kid in me remembers being taught that the end of the world might happen in a form of apocalypse, as described in the Biblical context of Christianity stating, “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” (Peter 3:10). This is just one of many beliefs being passed on through generations.

When I was 10 years old, an innocent child, I remember the concept of ‘end of the world’ being the talk of the town. Looking back, I was able to satisfy my curiosity towards that conspiracy and found out that it came from the Long Count calendar of the Mayan civilization that spans roughly 51,255 years, starting in 3114 B.C. and ending its cycle on December 21, 2012—thus, the conspired end of the world date.

Breaking news: It’s already the year 2024, and we can prove that the world didn’t really end. However, looking back, what if the world really ended by then? What could be the last thing that I did the day before it?

If you asked me, I would say that I probably will just spend the last 24 hours with the people I love. I guess that’s something many people would consider first when you ask them the same question.

But, if you asked me on a deeper level, I am certain that this page will run out of space, and I still won’t be able to tell everything to you. The letters won’t be enough, and no words can justify every single thing that I wanted to do before the world ends.

I am a dreamer, that’s for sure. 

A dreamer who loves to write a bucket list, clinging onto the smallest possibility that it will eventually come true. A dreamer who feels like 24 hours is not enough to do everything and be fulfilled when the sun finally sets. A dreamer who always hopes for a better and brighter tomorrow.

If the world really ended by then, I probably wouldn't be able to finish this story that you’re reading right now. For sure, I am not what I am today. If the world ended by then, I might never have the chance to peel more oranges for the people I love or to even pet my cats whenever they need head pats and belly rubs. I might never have a chance to challenge myself to eat spicy foods despite having no courage way back then. Most likely, I won’t even have the odds of meeting the people that I have in my life today. For sure, I won’t be able to meet the current version of myself either.. 

As the calendar keeps on changing and the clock remains ticking, I got the chance to wake up in the midst of sunrise knowing that there is so much that life has to offer. Knowing that the 24-hour limited time left isn’t enough to fulfill my dreams and to explore deeply what the universe has to offer.

That would be cruel for people like me—dreamers who long for a better tomorrow and the limitless chances of pursuing my dreams .

So, what would be the last thing I would do if the world ended tomorrow?

Probably, I’ll hope.

I'll hope that tomorrow brings the same cycle of life wherein I will be greeted by warm rays of sun waving as a sign for a new day and the orange sky where the sun bids goodbye;  welcoming the new phases that the moon prepared for. I’ll hope that tomorrow is not the end, but just something to begin with.

Khengie Hallig is the Feature Editor of 4079 Magazine. A 4th-year BA Journalism student who specializes in feature and creative writing. She has experience as a writer-intern and contributor to the Philippine Daily Inquirer's SUPER K.