The Void

A leaf falling from a Live Oak nearby gently wakes me up. I wake up in the middle of the street with no recollection of the night before. I quickly get up, fearing a car would speed by and trample me. But as I move, I realize that fear is ludicrous.

There are no cars, except those parked in their driveways.

The breeze blows softly. And yet this town today so silent it seems the wind is making a commotion.
It’s a bit nerve wrecking, really.
The streets are clean and kept; not an ounce of debris scattered. I make my way down the empty sidewalks, looking at the houses. They sit there, perfectly still and untouched. They all look the same when they are life less.

Where did all the neighbors go?

It all feels out of place. Why are there no children running around? Where are the cars that drive down the roads? They must feel empty knowing they won’t be used today, except for a wandering pedestrian who is losing her mind. I look up and even the skies are barren. No clouds to cover the absent sun. The whole block is alone.

I am alone.

I walk up a driveway from one of the houses and knock at the door several times. No answer. I move to the side and look in through the window, and the inside is empty. Not even a dog to bark at a stranger. Furniture neatly placed with no one to fulfill its’ purpose.

I reach down into my pockets. No notes, no phone, not even my wallet in there. Maybe if I make my way to a store I can find someone there. I may have stumbled on to a developmental property by mistake.

I continue down this long sidewalk. With the exceptions of the driveways, there are no turns to take. Once I finally reach the end of the lengthy path, it leads me to a cul-de sac. Just like the one I started at. Frustrated, I run to the backyard of the house.

There is grill with smoke waving in the air. A pool with chairs on the side. Someone was just here. I can tell. But, no one comes out of the house to greet me. I look at the patio door, wide open, and walk right in. Food laid out on the counters, waiting to be prepared. I head into the living room, and only static noise floods my ears.

I walk up the stairs and into each room. Beds are left unmade; restroom mirrors are fogged up. But the living are not here.

I walk back out of the lonely house. I am back in the yard. I run to the fence and try to climb out. Once I manage to reach the top, I look down to see there is no alley. It just ends.

Confused, I press my hand against the ending behind the fence. It’s a solid wall. Frightened, I rush back to the house to find some sort of instrument to break through. I grab a hammer I find in the storage room and rush back to the top of the fence. Balancing myself with my left arm, I use all my strength to break the wall. Instead, the hammer breaks, but the sound that is produced by the hit lets me know this is not a hollow wall.

I jump down flabbergasted. How could this be? Where can I be. And it hits me: I have no recollection of anything.

Not my name, place of birth, social, nothing.

Who am I and what am I doing here in this void?