Julian_Horvay

Aspiring writer of poetry and stories that delve into the mind. Support me by donating @ ko-fi.com/jhorvay

25 Posts • 21 Followers • 4 Following

Posts

Likes

Challenges

Books

Avifauna

12 reads

Alone

~Winter~

Driving through the blizzard was risky, I know, but I needed to check on my sister. She just cut off in the middle of our call and it made me worry. The roads seemed deserted as I drove into the city, which made me wonder if I was even on the road anymore. The going was slow; visibility was practically nonexistent in the total white-out.

I stumbled upon stopped cars, just sitting in the middle of the roads. A few were still running, but all of them were empty. As I came to a block in the road, too many cars were in the way for me to be able to drive. I still had a few blocks left to get to my sister’s apartment building, so I made sure I was bundled up and turned off my car before getting out into the snowy tempest.

I walked as quickly as I could, trying to look away from the wind so the biting cold wouldn’t steal my breath. The snow was deep, far deeper than I’ve ever seen on the sidewalks of a major city. I trudged through the thigh high snow drifts to the apartment building. Upon reaching the ice covered building, I struggled to dig out enough space in the snow to open and fit through the door. Despite my gloves being between me and the biting powder, my fingers soon grew cold and numb.

I eventually managed to pry open the door enough to get in and hurriedly closed the door behind myself as I rushed into the warmth of the lobby. The sudden burst of colours startled me, my eyes weren’t used to seeing anything but white. I looked over the lightly decorated lobby and peeked behind the counter. Finding it deserted, I shrugged and marched up the single flight of 12 stairs and down the hall. I passed four of the identical maroon doors, their golden numbers being their only claim to individuality.

Number 5. That’s her door, old maroon paint just like the others. The number 5 sat proudly above the peephole. I took a deep breath as I gathered up my courage to knock on the door, I didn’t know what could’ve made Carmine just suddenly stop talking without a sound. I knock on the door and wait.

Nothing.

Absolutely no sound. The entire building was silent, as if waiting for something big to happen. I hadn’t noticed it before and it was starting to make me uncomfortable. I knocked again, the sound filling the empty space uncomfortably.

When I couldn’t stand waiting any longer, after what felt like hours, I tried the door. Locked. Good, Carmine was remembering to keep the door locked. But unfortunate for me, I had no idea how to get in to check on her.

I stood there for a bit, thinking as the faint sound of wind and snow could be heard outside the window at the far end of the beige and maroon hall. I took a paperclip out of my pocket and, after wondering why it was in my pocket, tried to pick the lock. After a few minutes of futile jabbing at the lock, I gave up and slumped against the door.

I winced as something hit my head and clang to the floor. The sound made me jump as it tore through the silence. I looked on the floor to my left and blinked a bit at my luck. On the dark wooden floor lay a shiny silver key. It sat there as if laughing at my previous attempts at getting in. I picked up the cold metal and stuck it in the lock.

Finally able to get into the apartment, I walked in hesitantly. I made sure to pocket the key and lock the door behind myself before walking further into my sister’s home. I walked past the lit kitchen and was startled to see the black remnants of something burnt in a pot on the stove, still cooking. I turned it off and marveled at how the food didn’t start a fire.

“You really shouldn’t forget about food on the stove, Carmine,” I hollered into the silence.

Nothing. Not a single peep.

With a deep sigh, I walked out of the little kitchen and into the narrow hallway that lead to the living room and Carmine’s bedroom. I checked the empty bedroom on my way to the living room. I knew she’d be there, passed out on the couch with the TV on some show on Animal Planet. I walked into the room with a smile which quickly melted off of my face. It was empty, though the TV was indeed on Animal Planet.

I reached over and turned the TV off with a scowl as I looked around. I found her cell phone laying on the couch. She never went anywhere without her phone, where could she be? I began a more thorough search of her apartment and an hour later came up empty and with no answers.

After checking to make sure everything was powered off and her apartment was dark and locked up, I made my way back to the stairs. As I passed apartment number 3, I noticed something on the floor in front of the door. It was a little silver key that was identical in almost every way to my sister’s key. I reached up and placed it on top of the door frame, wondering why the owner dropped it on the floor.

I ran down the 12 stairs and into the deserted lobby again. I took out my phone to call the police, scowling as I saw that I had no service. Thinking it must be the storm, I tightened my layers and prepared to brave the raging blizzard once more.

After a while of struggling with the door, I was able to escape into the cold that nipped viciously at my nose and ears. I looked around a bit and couldn’t see my prints in the snow anymore. With a sigh, I tread a new trail through the fluffy drifts of white powder. The police station was a block back the way I came. The storm seemed frustrated and bitter with me as I tried to travel during its fit.

I finally reached the police station and was thankful that the entrance was clear, where the wind couldn’t reach it. I walked in and was amazed to find it empty. Not a single person was in the station. Papers were strewn across desks as if people were in the middle of working and phones lay randomly on the desks and chairs, needing to be hung up still.

~Spring~

The world is empty. Not a soul. Nowhere. I’m alone, utterly alone.

I’ve checked every major city that I could drive to, it’s all the same. Lights are on, cars are just stopped in the middle of roads or in ditches. Every house, every building, every street is deserted. It has been months since the first day that everyone disappeared and I’m alone.

The solitude is maddening. I try to think of what could’ve happened, but it only makes it worse. Was it the rapture? The end of the world? Aliens? Some new bio weapon?

There’s not a single trace of tangible evidence. The animals seem to have disappeared as well. It’s only the plants and me left. It’s too quiet. I try to listen to music but it just can’t drown out the deafening silence.

I don’t know how much longer I can last in this. There’s no point to life now that I’m alone. Nobody to live for, nothing to do that could better my existence.

Last night I found a pistol and some rounds and have been carrying it around ever since. I keep telling myself that I got it for self defence but did I really? What is there to defend myself from? The oxygen in the air? The trees?

I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to stand this. I’m home again. It feels so empty, my son is no longer here. I wonder if everyone will come back.

No. I’m alone.

I just found a photo album. My son’s birthdays, his first day of kindergarten, his first time riding a bike without training wheels, all wonderful memories. I look up and see his empty room. The momentary feeling of happiness is instantly crushed.

I feel so alone. I long to be with my son again. Did he die? Did all of the population die?

I can’t stand it any longer!

If anybody finds this journal, tell my son that I love him.