I
woke up this morning on the corner of an empty street. That’s usual for me.
Every day for the past fifteen years, woken up on a street corner, but it’s never
been entirely empty before. I thought I’d just hit another patch of bad luck;
it’d be just like me. Had my luck go progressively downhill over the years.
I’ve hit rock bottom so many times that I must’ve hit the center of the earth
twice over.
This
morning, though, it’s nothing but quiet, grey, and chill. Low mist in the air,
soaking my dirty clothes right through. I got up, looked around, tried to check
the time.
Oddity
one: no clocks.
I
figured, though, if there wasn’t even traffic and the sun was up, I was on the
wrong corner. Started wandering along sidewalks. Cut through an alley once or
twice. Normally wouldn’t run the risk, I’ve seen what rough types’ll do, even
to someone they can see they can’t get no money from. Still, bright grey day
like this, I could see right through to the other side.
About
the third time I cut through between buildings, the alley turned. Didn’t think
alleys could turn – they’re like lanes, between buildings, so it didn’t make
sense.
Oddity
two: strange turns and twists.
I
decided it was a kind of sign and kept going, followed it right through. It
took me out onto Main – least, it looked like Main. Looked just like my city,
down to every last speck, to be honest with you. Except;
Oddity
three: not a soul around.
It
was like everyone had up and gone. Like the Rapture, but not even clothing left
behind.
Crossed
the street, not a single car to blare their horn. I fished around in my pocket
for some change, because my stomach was starting to burn enough to make me
notice; went into a café, overpriced little strumpet that is was, and looked
for a person. There was no one. It looked like people had been there minutes
ago, and then just evaporated.
So
I sat down, helped myself to a biscotti and some trendy little student’s
laptop, and relaxed a little. If they came back, I would let them have it.
Wasn’t going to steal it, just been ages since I’ve caught up on the news.
There’s an election coming up, haven’t voted in years. Big news overseas. Lot
of trouble in Korea, then it calmed, then there was trouble again, now things
seem quiet. Hearing tiny scraps of information from Republican media really
doesn’t compare to all the information out there.
