Focus on the Positive Impact

The Vignette Gazette Edition #202 | stranger

Photo created by Michael John Scott

The sun hammered the white stone of Hvar. Igor, a photographer perpetually hunting for the perfect shot of a tourist’s ice cream disaster, squinted through his lens. He was aiming for a seagull when a colossal, potato-shaped rock appeared in the sky, blotting out the sun.

“My God,” he muttered. “The composition is terrible, but the lighting is divine.”

The asteroid, officially named “2026-Calamity,” was a trending topic, but to Igor, it was just a magnificent, poorly framed subject. The world was panicking, governments were convening, and Igor was just annoyed the rock was ruining his aperture.

A sudden, sharp voice cut through his concentration. “You there!”

It was a tall man in an impeccably tailored suit. He looked as out of place as a penguin in a pizzeria. A stranger who reeked of city panic.

“Is it going to hit us?” the man shrieked.

Igor lowered his camera, unimpressed. “Of course it’s going to hit us. In about four hours. Now, would you mind moving? You’re casting a shadow.”

The stranger sputtered. “But… this is an extinction-level event!”

“Yes, yes,” Igor sighed. “But look at that crater. It’s perfectly situated to illuminate this old bell tower for the first time in three centuries. Finally, some decent lighting.” As the stranger stared in horrified disbelief, Igor snapped another photo, muttering, “The real disaster is going to be finding a place to develop this film.”

Prompt given by Michael John Scott

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