Utopia

Chapter 2

Keyonne strolled along the desolate street of his neighborhood, walls adorned with graffiti, shops reduced to ashes, and cars in ruins. He buried his hands deeper into his pockets, pulling his hoodie over his head, trying to blend into the gloomy surroundings. 

The risk of going to school weighed heavily on his mind, as most students had either vanished or were in hiding. His thoughts drifted back to the letter he had received yesterday. With only one day left to decide, conflicting emotions tugged at his heart. One part of him yearned to seize the opportunity, while another part remained uncertain. He couldn't continue living like this; his uncle had been absent for days, leaving him with scarce food and no money.

Key'onne walked quickly into the apartment lobby, even where he stayed wasn't safe. Most of the residents had disappeared, the entrance had no door, no security. The building was running down slowly. 

As he entered the hall, it looked exactly as he had left it - a complete mess with bottles strewn all over and a disgusting stench lingering in the air. A strange feeling crept over him, so he decided to approach his uncle's room and knocked on the door to see if he was inside. After several attempts with no response, he finally mustered the courage to open the door.

 Keyonne's heart sank as he stepped into his uncle's room and found it completely empty. There were no clothes, no shoes, no personal belongings - nothing. The only evidence that someone had lived there were the empty liquor bottles that lay scattered on the floor. It was clear that his uncle had abandoned him, leaving Keyonne to fend for himself. He stumbled back to his own room, feeling numb and overwhelmed, and collapsed onto his bed, his face buried in his hands.

He fought back his tears, hastily brushing them away with his hand. A wave of anger washed over him. Tugging at his hair, he swayed back and forth, attempting to regain composure. The feeling of betrayal consumed him; everyone had deserted him, leaving him completely alone. He curled up on the bed and drifted off into slumber. 

In the dead of night, Key'onne woke up thirsty. In a drowsy haze, he stumbled through the darkness, desperately seeking the light switch. Finally, his hand brushed against it and he eagerly flipped it up, anticipating the warm glow.

 To his dismay, the room remained shrouded in darkness. He tried again and again, but the light stubbornly refused to illuminate. Growing increasingly agitated, he dashed to the hallway, hoping for a different outcome. After exhausting all possibilities, he sank into the couch, defeated. Rubbing his face wearily, he couldn't shake off the overwhelming frustration and bitterness that enveloped him in the dark.