The Block

Once upon a time is such a cliché way to start a story, but here we are. Once upon a time, you know, I was a writer. Oh, yeah, you'd better believe I was. I used to know all the right words, how to start a story, how to end it, and all the shit in the middle. Now I start my stories with "once upon a time" and "syntax" might as well be an alien planet. And don't even get me started on finishing stories. I haven't finished a story, a real one, in years.

Every writer knows the term "writer's block," knows it like an old friend. But this block, it's different. And it ain't just me, either.

I suppose it happened in the plague of '83. 2083, I mean, not the '83 with all the music and shit. There ain't no music anymore, no sir-ee. World's gone quiet it has. No music, no books, no pictures, no nothing.

Once upon a time, I was an artist.

Now, there's no art left.