Willa Mansi

The Quiet

When I awoke, it was quiet.
Suffocating quiet. The quiet of deep winter where no birds or animals of any kind moved. The only sound you could hear was the snow coming down.

I reached up and pushed the plexi glass lid away. I sat up from the bed and inches of dust trailed down the lid. I brushed back the blankets, coughing slightly. How long had I been sleeping?

I looked down at the white tank top and khakis I wore. My bare feet touched the worn carpet. I looked around the darkened bedroom.

I had no idea where I was.

Suddenly, I was painfully aware that I had no idea who I was either.

What had happened so long ago?
How was I alive?

I listened again; my ears strained beyond their ability. I heard absolutely nothing. My ears strained so hard, I could hear the blood rushing around in my head.

Loneliness engulfed me. I felt as if I was the only one alive on the planet. Planet......wherever I was. I couldn't remember that either. I shook my head. I was in the worst spot I could ever be in. Not that I could remember a worse moment, but in the fifteen minutes I had been awake; this was the worst.

I looked across the room at the milky window. Years of neglect only let in light, but hindered me seeing out of it. Movement behind the glass told me that bushes or a tree had grown wild against the window.

I walked painfully to the door and pulled on the handle. Locked? I twisted and pulled. I pulled again and it burst open, causing me to stumble back. I gripped the door, to keep from falling. I winced down at my toe. "Stupid door!" my voice cracked in a deep baritone. I rubbed my neck. My throat hurt.

I looked out into the next room. It was cooler. The furniture broken down and covered with leaves, broken limbs and other debris from outside. I looked up at the open roof and down at the leaf covered floor. A giant tree had fallen countless years ago and nature was reclaiming the space. I looked around at the shambles and my big toe throbbed. I couldn't walk through that without some kind of protection.

I instinctively went back into the bedroom and went to a closet. I couldn't remember how I knew it was there, but I needed clothes. I quickly changed into a pair of jeans. Put on socks and stomped on a pair of hiking boots. "Yep," I winced, "should've wrapped that toe." I shook my head once and put on my favorite jacket. How did I know that?

I grabbed an empty backpack and tossed it over one shoulder. I searched the bedroom for anything. I went to the living room, then found the kitchen. I searched each room quickly.

I had found a brush, lighter, a small notebook and a stub of a pencil in the bedroom. In the kitchen, I found a couple of knives and a can opener. I also had found a cabinet of rusty cans, but I put the can opener in my backpack; just in case.

I wiped my sweaty face, sliding my hand down my jeans and readjusted my baseball hat. What would I find "Out there" ? I had no idea. I looked around at the house that was literally falling in on me. I sighed heavily, "I can't stay here."