Being Underwater
I read a long time ago of a king who when it all came crashing down, the world and forces that be out of his control, those who stood by him were left behind. They drowned (quite literally it was a flood in the story but obviously a metaphor). In the story, the king had destroyed everything. The people and the land were reduced to nothing. His castle became bigger and bigger. The hoard of money and jewels grew. Then one day a massive rainstorm came. Unlike anything they ever saw. His most loyal helped the king to the highest tower as the castle did nothing to stop the flood. After all the castle only had wooden doors and stone walls as it's main defense, the water easily cut through the doors. Bashing through everything. He left these subjects behind as he locked the door to the tower. They just...drowned with no one to help. The king at the top of the tower lifted his head and shouted at the sky for mercy from anything or anyone that can hear him. The water toppled the tower, and he drowned as well.
The drowning of the loyal subjects I found the most interesting. Water when you're under it, things become silent and a calming blue. You have a moment to really think without all the noise and distractions. I wonder if the subjects in the story had a moment when the quiet came, did they have clear thoughts? Did all the moments that lead to this fate flash through their minds? Did they long for a second chance? The power that be that created the flood said no. No more chances. Same for the king as well. The land moved on and the people didn't nothing to memorialize the king. If anything, they did everything they could to not remember him.